How to change tab size on GitHub?

You can append ?ts=2 or ?ts=4 to the URL to change the tab-size.

Example: https://github.com/jquery/jquery/blob/main/src/core.js?ts=2

It seems that the value can be anything from 1 to 12. It does not work on Gists or raw file views though.

Source: GitHub Cheat Sheet

Set default displayed tab size for your repository

When you have a .editorconfig in your repository it will respect it when viewing code on GitHub.

indent_style = tab and indent_size = 4 shows tabs with 4 columns instead of 8 https://github.com/isaacs/github/issues/170#issuecomment-150489692

Example .editorconfig for multiple extensions which works in JetBrains' products:

root = true

[*]
end_of_line = lf
insert_final_newline = true

# Matches multiple files with brace expansion notation
[*.{js,jsx,html,sass}]
charset = utf-8
indent_style = tab
indent_size = 4
trim_trailing_whitespace = true

[*.md]
trim_trailing_whitespace = false

Change how you see tabs on other repositories

Install Stylus in your browser, than install GitHub: better-sized tabs in code.

There are also Google Chrome extensions:

• https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/github-tab-sizer/djpnapkcpjomnkfekaedkigfomiedpjf
• https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/github-tab-size/ofjbgncegkdemndciafljngjbdpfmbkn/related

It actually is possible to do it, with a browser extension. Install Stylish (in Firefox or Chrome), then install this user style: “GitHub: better-sized tabs in code”.

It might not work for some languages. For example, I was viewing a JavaScript file and I did not notice any changes. So I deleted the style the author had and put the following lines into it:

.tab-size {
  -webkit-tab-size: 4 !important;
     -moz-tab-size: 4 !important;
       -o-tab-size: 4 !important;
          tab-size: 4 !important;
}

And it worked on Chrome (screenshot).

As you can see from the screenshot, I also enabled widescreen mode and changed the color scheme to Solarized. So I have three user styles running on GitHub pages via the Stylish extension for Chrome. I hope this helps someone.

Since Sept. 2021, you can set the tab size directly in your GitHub settings: github.com/settings/appearance.

Announced in Changelog "Tab size rendering preference".

• No more .editorconfig
• No more ?ts=2 added to the URL

Just:

Note: you cannot enter "3" for instance. You would get:

Tab size rendering preference could not be saved:
Validation failed:
Tab size is not included in the list