diff --git a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_custom_language.py b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_custom_language.py
index 70ee7e16b9..1fba664032 100644
--- a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_custom_language.py
+++ b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_custom_language.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class HelloWorld {
 
 class TextAreaCustomLanguage(App):
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
-        text_area = TextArea(text=java_code)
+        text_area = TextArea.code_editor(text=java_code)
         text_area.cursor_blink = False
 
         # Register the Java language and highlight query
diff --git a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_example.py b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_example.py
index 2e0e31c060..f7534a449f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_example.py
+++ b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_example.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def goodbye(name):
 
 class TextAreaExample(App):
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
-        yield TextArea(TEXT, language="python")
+        yield TextArea.code_editor(TEXT, language="python")
 
 
 app = TextAreaExample()
diff --git a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_extended.py b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_extended.py
index 8ac237db88..26d29ceadb 100644
--- a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_extended.py
+++ b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_extended.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def _on_key(self, event: events.Key) -> None:
 
 class TextAreaKeyPressHook(App):
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
-        yield ExtendedTextArea(language="python")
+        yield ExtendedTextArea.code_editor(language="python")
 
 
 app = TextAreaKeyPressHook()
diff --git a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_selection.py b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_selection.py
index 4165eb2d2d..980f597e1f 100644
--- a/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_selection.py
+++ b/docs/examples/widgets/text_area_selection.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def goodbye(name):
 
 class TextAreaSelection(App):
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
-        text_area = TextArea(TEXT, language="python")
+        text_area = TextArea.code_editor(TEXT, language="python")
         text_area.selection = Selection(start=(0, 0), end=(2, 0))  # (1)!
         yield text_area
 
diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_text_area.py b/src/textual/widgets/_text_area.py
index 48e835020d..6c8abd101c 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_text_area.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_text_area.py
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ def code_editor(
             classes: One or more Textual CSS compatible class names separated by spaces.
             disabled: True if the widget is disabled.
         """
-        return TextArea(
+        return cls(
             text,
             language=language,
             theme=theme,