INI Formatter Online
Beautify or minify INI configuration files instantly in your browser.
When an INI formatter is the right tool
Use this page to tidy or compact an INI file in the browser. Paste the text, choose Beautify or Minify, and read the live output. To convert the same file to JSON, use INI ↔ JSON.
Use cases
Normalizing spacing
Beautify is useful when keys are written as key=value or with mixed spaces. Sections are separated by a single blank line. Leading comments are kept.
Dropping comments for a compact file
Minify removes full-line ; and # comments and the blank lines between sections. Use it only when you do not need those comments.
How formatting works
Carriage returns are normalized to newlines, each line is trimmed, and empty lines are discarded before rewriting. The first = on a line splits the key and value.
; Application configuration
[database]
host = localhost
port = 5432
[server]
host = 0.0.0.0
port = 8080What this tool does not do
It does not interpolate values, preserve layout inside quoted strings specially, or convert types. Formatting stays in your browser.
How to use INI Formatter
- Paste an INI file, or use Load Sample.
- Choose Beautify or Minify and read the live output.
- Copy when the result looks right. Clear resets the input.
Frequently asked questions
How does INI Formatter work?
Beautify or Minify updates as you type. Beautify trims lines, drops blank lines, keeps full-line ; and # comments, writes key = value with spaces around the first equals sign, and inserts a blank line before every section after the first. Minify drops full-line comments and blank lines and writes key=value with no spaces around equals. Load Sample pastes a short database/server/logging example.
Are inline comments and unusual lines preserved?
A trailing comment on a value line is not stripped; it stays part of the value after the first =. A line that is not a comment, a [section], or a key=value pair is passed through unchanged. Minify only removes comments when the trimmed line starts with ; or #.
Is this a validator or a converter?
Neither. There is no schema check and no indent-size control. To turn INI into JSON (or back), use INI ↔ JSON. Values are not re-typed here.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Formatting runs in your browser. Clear empties the input. An error panel exists in the UI, but the current functions do not throw.
Related tools and guides
References
- INI has no single standard. This formatter only normalizes spacing, section gaps, and (in Minify) full-line comments.