diff --git a/packages/svelte/messages/client-warnings/warnings.md b/packages/svelte/messages/client-warnings/warnings.md
index 4266f75184..2baf88432a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/messages/client-warnings/warnings.md
+++ b/packages/svelte/messages/client-warnings/warnings.md
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 
 > `%binding%` (%location%) is binding to a non-reactive property
 
+## enable_custom_formatters
+
+> We recommend enabling custom formatters for better results when logging `$state` objects — in your devtools, click the gear icon and check the 'Custom formatters' box
+
 ## event_handler_invalid
 
 > %handler% should be a function. Did you mean to %suggestion%?
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/log.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/log.js
index 0e5c028896..d076d7634a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/log.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/log.js
@@ -1,43 +1,43 @@
 import { STATE_SYMBOL } from '../constants.js';
+import { VERSION } from '../../../version.js';
+import { snapshot } from '../../shared/clone.js';
+import * as w from '../warnings.js';
 
-export function monkey_patch_console() {
-	for (const method of Object.keys(console)) {
-		// @ts-expect-error
-		const original = console[method];
+export function install_custom_formatter() {
+	// Custom formatters are 'supported' in Firefox, but they're worse than useless.
+	// They're not supported in Firefox. We can maybe tweak this over time
+	var is_chrome = navigator.userAgent.includes('Chrome');
+	var custom_formatters_enabled = false;
 
+	if (is_chrome) {
 		// @ts-expect-error
-		console[method] = (...args) => {
-			for (const arg of args) {
-				if (contains_state_proxy(arg)) {
-					// TODO make this a proper warning
-					console.warn('contains state proxy!!!!');
-					break;
-				}
-			}
+		(window.devtoolsFormatters ??= []).push({
+			/**
+			 * @param {any} object
+			 * @param {any} config
+			 */
+			header(object, config) {
+				custom_formatters_enabled = true;
 
-			return original.apply(console, args);
-		};
-	}
-}
-
-/**
- * @param {any} value
- * @param {Set<any>} seen
- * @returns {boolean}
- */
-function contains_state_proxy(value, seen = new Set()) {
-	if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null) return false;
+				if (STATE_SYMBOL in object) {
+					return [
+						'div',
+						{},
+						['span', { style: 'font-weight: bold' }, '$state'],
+						['object', { object: snapshot(object), config }]
+					];
+				}
 
-	if (seen.has(value)) return false;
-	seen.add(value);
+				return null;
+			},
 
-	if (STATE_SYMBOL in value) {
-		return true;
+			hasBody: () => false
+		});
 	}
 
-	for (const key in value) {
-		if (contains_state_proxy(value[key], seen)) {
-			return true;
-		}
+	console.log(`Running Svelte in development mode`, { version: VERSION });
+
+	if (is_chrome && !custom_formatters_enabled) {
+		w.enable_custom_formatters();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/index.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/index.js
index 6fc9033805..d7f04df654 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/index.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { DEV } from 'esm-env';
-import { monkey_patch_console } from './dev/log.js';
+import { install_custom_formatter } from './dev/log.js';
 
 export { FILENAME, HMR } from '../../constants.js';
 export { add_locations } from './dev/elements.js';
@@ -169,5 +169,5 @@ export {
 export { strict_equals, equals } from './dev/equality.js';
 
 if (DEV) {
-	monkey_patch_console();
+	install_custom_formatter();
 }
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/warnings.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/warnings.js
index 36d7345b86..134ef367c8 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/warnings.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/warnings.js
@@ -138,4 +138,16 @@ export function state_proxy_equality_mismatch(operator) {
 		// TODO print a link to the documentation
 		console.warn("state_proxy_equality_mismatch");
 	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * We recommend enabling custom formatters for better results when logging `$state` objects — in your devtools, click the gear icon and check the 'Custom formatters' box
+ */
+export function enable_custom_formatters() {
+	if (DEV) {
+		console.warn(`%c[svelte] enable_custom_formatters\n%cWe recommend enabling custom formatters for better results when logging \`$state\` objects — in your devtools, click the gear icon and check the 'Custom formatters' box`, bold, normal);
+	} else {
+		// TODO print a link to the documentation
+		console.warn("enable_custom_formatters");
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file