How to make *Messages* use visual-line-mode?

Question

I'd like to use visual-line-mode in the *Messages* buffer. I can switch to that buffer and run M-x visual-line-mode, but I want to configure it automatically. I've tried adding this to my init.el, but it's not taking effect:

(add-hook 'messages-buffer-mode-hook #'visual-line-mode)

I've also tried this, hoping it would apply visual-line-mode to *Messages* and *Warnings*, but again, no luck:

(add-hook 'special-mode-hook #'visual-line-mode)

Maybe it's adding the hook after the messages buffer has already been initialized? Is there a correct way to do this?

Answer 1

None of those hooks will apply because the buffer (and its mode) has already been created long before your add-hook happens.

I suggest you add

(with-current-buffer "*Messages*"
  (visual-line-mode))

to your ~/.emacs instead.