Configuring the IDE

Last modified: 15 November 2024

IntelliJ IDEA allows you to configure the settings on several levels: the module level, the project level, and globally.

Types of settings

Global settings apply to all projects that you open with a specific installation or version of IntelliJ IDEA. 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 IntelliJ IDEA | Settings for macOS or File | Settings for Windows and Linux. Alternatively, press or click the Settings button on the toolbar.

Settings that are NOT marked with the For current project icon in the Settings dialog are global and apply to all existing projects of the current IntelliJ IDEA version.

Global settings marked in the Settings dialog