Configure IDE settings
In CLion, you can configure the settings on two levels: the project level and globally.
![Types of settings Types of settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2024.2/settings-types_cl.png)
Global settings apply to all projects that you open with a specific installation or version of CLion. Such settings include IDE appearance (themes, color schemes, menus and toolbars), notification settings, the set of the installed and enabled plugins, debugger settings, code completion, and so on. Global settings are stored in the configuration directory.
Project settings apply to the current project only, unless you configure them as default settings for new projects. Such settings include VCS configuration, code style options, the list of language inspections, and so on.
To configure your IDE, select on the toolbar.
Settings that are NOT marked with the icon in the Settings dialog are global and apply to all existing projects of the current CLion version.
![Global settings marked in the Settings dialog Global settings marked in the Settings dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2024.2/cl_ide_settings_globalprj.png)
Restore IDE settings
When you restore the default IDE settings, CLion backs up your configuration to another directory. You can always restore your settings from that backup.
Back up your settings and restore the defaults
Go to
.Alternatively, press Shift twice and type
Restore default settings
.CLion shows a confirmation popup:
Click Restore and Restart. The IDE will be restarted with the default configuration.
When CLion restores the default IDE settings, it creates a backup directory with your configuration in:
- Syntax
%APPDATA%\JetBrains\<product><version>-backup
- Example
C:\Users\JohnS\AppData\Roaming\JetBrains\CLion2024.2-backup
- Syntax
~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/<product><version>-backup
- Example
~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/CLion2024.2-backup
- Syntax
~/.config/JetBrains/<product><version>-backup
- Example
~/.config/JetBrains/CLion2024.2-backup
Apply the IDE settings from a backup
In the main menu, go to
.In the dialog that opens, specify the path to the backup directory and click Open.
CLion shows a confirmation popup. Note that after you apply the settings from the backup, these settings will be overwritten with your current IDE configuration.
Apart from the backup configuration directory, you can select the configuration directory from another CLion version or a .zip file with the previously exported settings.
Click Restart to apply the settings from the backup and restart the IDE.