Split diffs are now available in Zed as the new default, replacing unified diffs

Zed, the high-performance code editor from the creators of Atom, now defaults to split diff view with the release of version 0.224. When you open a project or branch diff, the base text appears on the left while your working copy is on the right, both scrolling in sync. This update responds to the top user request following Zed’s introduction of Git integration in March 2025.

Beyond a simple layout change, the split diff builds on Zed’s multibuffer architecture. Instead of isolated file-by-file comparison, the editor presents all changed files in a single editable surface. As a result, you can move the cursor between files, select across file boundaries, and navigate deleted regions like standard text editing, all within the same project diff.

Split diffs in Zed are already fast on large changesets and remain properly aligned as you type. These features are now part of the stable release, and the development team is pursuing further performance gains for upcoming versions. While split diff is the default, users can revert to unified diffs by changing their settings.