How to Install IntelliJ IDEA on Windows
Install IntelliJ IDEA on Windows if you want a full Java and Kotlin IDE with built-in Maven, Gradle, testing, and debugging support.
Supported Versions
Official Source
jetbrains.com (official)
Environment Setup
1 PATH entry
Verify Step
Check Start Menu for "IntelliJ IDEA"
DevTools Installer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the publisher of IntelliJ IDEA. All product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Downloads are sourced directly from the official publisher.
Install With DevTools Installer
Use this path if you want DevTools Installer to download the official package and handle the Windows setup for you.
- 1Open DevTools Installer.
- 2In IDEs & Editors, select "IntelliJ IDEA".
- 3Click "Install Selected".
- 4Let the installer download the official Community Edition package and run it silently.
- 5Open IntelliJ IDEA from the Start Menu after the install finishes.
- 6Create or import a project and confirm IntelliJ can see your JDK.
Download Source
DevTools Installer downloads from the official publisher:
https://data.services.jetbrains.com/products/download?code=IIC&platform=windows
PATH & Environment Variables
DevTools Installer sets the following automatically:
PATH entries
C:\Program Files\JetBrains\IntelliJ IDEA Community\bin
Verification
DevTools Installer verifies the install by running:
Check Start Menu for "IntelliJ IDEA"
Expected output: IntelliJ IDEA should appear in Start Menu / installed programs
Manual Installation Steps
Use these steps if you want to run the installer yourself and apply the Windows PATH or environment changes manually.
- 1Download the official installer from https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/#section=windows
- 2Run the installer and follow the wizard.
- 3Launch IntelliJ IDEA from the Start Menu after the install finishes.
- 4If you enabled the launcher during setup, you can also start it from its bin directory.
- 5Open Project Structure and confirm the IDE detects the JDK you want to use.
Need to upgrade, downgrade, or remove IntelliJ IDEA?
DevTools Installer can also upgrade IntelliJ IDEA to a newer version, roll back to an older one, or cleanly uninstall it — including PATH entries and environment variables. No manual cleanup required.
What Is IntelliJ IDEA Used For?
- Professional Java and Kotlin development with advanced refactoring, code analysis, and debugging.
- Spring Boot and Jakarta EE backend development with built-in framework support.
- Android development (Android Studio is based on IntelliJ) — the Community Edition shares the same core.
- Database management with the built-in database client (Ultimate Edition).
- Gradle and Maven project management with integrated build tool windows.
Recommended Plugins
These plugins are widely used in professional Java development with IntelliJ IDEA:
Lombok
Eliminates boilerplate Java code — automatically generates getters, setters, builders, and equals/hashCode implementations via annotations like @Data, @Builder, and @Value.
SonarLint
On-the-fly static analysis that catches bugs, security vulnerabilities, and code smells as you type, before they reach code review.
Rainbow Brackets
Colorizes matching bracket, parenthesis, and brace pairs in distinct colors — dramatically improves readability in deeply nested code.
CheckStyle-IDEA
Runs Checkstyle code style checks directly in the IDE, helping enforce consistent formatting across the entire team.
Common Issues And Fixes
Check the problem and the exact fix before you reinstall anything. Some guides also include the reason the issue happens.
Problem
IntelliJ cannot find the JDK after installation
Exact fix
Go to File → Project Structure → SDKs and add your JDK path (e.g., C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21.0.10). IntelliJ does not automatically detect all JDK installations.
Problem
IntelliJ is slow to index large projects
Exact fix
Mark directories that do not contain source code (build, node_modules, .gradle) as Excluded via right-click → Mark Directory as → Excluded. This speeds up indexing significantly.
Problem
The IDE uses too much memory
Exact fix
Increase the heap size via Help → Change Memory Settings. For large projects, 2048 MB or more is recommended. The default is usually 750 MB.
Problem
Community Edition is missing features you need (database tools, Spring support)
Exact fix
The Community Edition is free but limited to core Java/Kotlin. For web development, database tools, and framework support, you need the Ultimate Edition (paid, 30-day trial available).
Tips for IntelliJ IDEA
- ✓DevTools Installer installs the free Community Edition. It supports Java, Kotlin, Groovy, and basic Git integration.
- ✓Use Ctrl+Shift+A (Find Action) to search for any IDE action, setting, or tool window.
- ✓IntelliJ works best with Maven or Gradle projects — import the pom.xml or build.gradle directly to auto-configure the project.
- ✓Install the JDK before IntelliJ so the IDE can auto-detect it during first launch.
Related Guides
Java (JDK)
Install a JDK on Windows so Java apps, build tools, Android Studio, and IDEs can find java, javac, and JAVA_HOME.
Apache Maven
Install Maven on Windows so you can build pom.xml projects, resolve dependencies, and run Maven commands from any terminal.
Gradle
Install Gradle on Windows so you can run gradle commands, create new builds, and work on projects that do not already ship with the Gradle Wrapper.