[c++] How do you enable auto-complete functionality in Visual Studio C++ express edition?

Please guide me, how do you enable autocomplete functionality in VS C++? By auto-complete, I mean, when I put a dot after control name, the editor should display a dropdown menu to select from.

Thank you.

This question is related to c++ visual-studio autocomplete

The answer is


I came across over the following post: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/raulperez/archive/2010/03/19/c-intellisense-options.aspx

The issue is that the "IntelliSense" option in c++ is disabled. This link explains about the IntelliSense database configuration and options.

After enabling the database you must close and reopen visual studio for autocomplete use 'ctrl'+'space'


'ctrl'+'space' will open C/C++ autocomplete.


When you press ctrl + space, look in the Status bar below.. It will display a message saying IntelliSense is unavailable for C++ / CLI, if it doesn't support it.. The message will look like this -

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All the answers were missing Ctrl-J (which enables and disables autocomplete).


Include the class that you are using Within your text file, then intelliSense will know where to look when you type within your text file. This works for me.

So it’s important to check the Unreal API to see where the included class is so that you have the path to type on the include line. Hope that makes sense.


  • Goto => Tools >> Options >> Text Editor >> C/C++ >> Advanced >> IntelliSense
  • Change => Member List Commit Aggressive to True

Start writing, then just press CTRL+SPACE and there you go ...


VS is kinda funny about C++ and IntelliSense. There are times it won't notice that it's supposed to be popping up something. This is due in no small part to the complexity of the language, and all the compiling (or at least parsing) that'd need to go on in order to make it better.

If it doesn't work for you at all, and it used to, and you've checked the VS options, maybe this can help.


Have you tried Visual Assist X ? Sort of lights up the VS editor.


It's enabled by default. Probably you just tried on an expression that failed to autocomplete.

In case you deactivated it somehow... you can enable it in the Visual Studio settings. Just browse to the Editor settings, then to the subgroup C/C++ and activate it again... should read something like "List members automatically" or "Auto list members" (sorry, I have the german Visual Studio).

Upon typing something like std::cout. a dropwdownlist with possible completitions should pop up.


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