# Run CLion for the first time

You can use the [Toolbox App](installation-guide.html#toolbox) to run any JetBrains product. In the case of a [standalone installation](installation-guide.html#standalone), running CLion depends on the operating system:

Windows:

To run CLion, find it in the Windows Start menu or use the desktop shortcut. You can also run the launcher batch script or executable in the installation directory under `bin`.

macOS:

Run the CLion app from the `Applications` directory, Launchpad, or Spotlight.

Linux:

Run the `clion.sh` shell script in the installation directory under `bin`. You can also use the desktop shortcut if it was created during installation.

For more information about running CLion from the command line, refer to [Command-line interface](working-with-the-ide-features-from-command-line.html).

## Customize the IDE appearance

Click Customize and  select another [color theme](user-interface-themes.html), [color scheme](configuring-colors-and-fonts.html), or select the Sync with OS checkbox to use your system default theme. Here you can also configure [accessibility settings](accessibility.html#red_green_deficiency) or a [keymap](configuring-keyboard-and-mouse-shortcuts.html).

![Customize the IDE when running for the first time](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_set_UI_theme.png)

> **Tip:**
> You can change the theme at any time later in the  Switch  popup (`Ctrl+`` (Windows), `⌃ `` (macOS), `⌃ `` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌃ `` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+`` (XWin), `Ctrl+`` (GNOME), `Ctrl+`` (KDE), `Ctrl+`` (Emacs), `Ctrl+`` (Sublime Text), `⌃ `` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `⌃ `` (Xcode), `Ctrl+`` (Visual Studio), `Ctrl+`` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+`` (ReSharper), `Ctrl+`` (ReSharper (macOS)), `Ctrl+`` (QtCreator), `⌃ `` (QtCreator (macOS)), `Ctrl+`` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+`` (Eclipse), `⌃ `` (Eclipse (macOS))). For more information, refer to [User interface themes](user-interface-themes.html).

## Configure the default settings

Click Customize and select Import Settings if you already have a [copy of the required settings](sharing-your-ide-settings.html#import-export-settings) that you want to apply.

Alternatively, click All settings to open the settings dialog. The settings that you modify at this moment will become the new default configuration for your projects and the IDE.

![Configuring new default settings for projects](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_welcome_customize_settings.png)

## Install additional plugins

Click the Plugins button on the Welcome screen. Download and install additional plugins from [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/idea).

Click Plugins in the left pane and download and install additional plugins from [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/idea).

![Install additional plugins](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_FirstRunDownloadPlugins.png)

## Learn CLion

CLion offers learning possibilities for users to get more familiar with the shortcuts, features, and workflows that the IDE has to offer.

To run the learning module, click Learn.

![Learn CLion](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_welcome_screen_learn_clion.png)

## Develop your applications remotely

Click  Remote Development  to configure an entry point to connect to a remote server and code, run, debug, and deploy your projects remotely. For more information, refer to [Remote with the thin client](remote-development-starting-page.html).

![Configuring remote development settings on Welcome screen](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_develop_remotely_welcome_screen.png)

## Start a project in CLion

From the Welcome to CLion dialog, you can do the following:

* [Create a new project](creating-new-project-from-scratch.html#create-prj)

* [Open a project](opening-reopening-and-closing-projects.html#open-project)

* [Get a project from a version control system](version-control-integration.html)

![Welcome screen](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_welcomeScreen.png)

## See also

### External Links

[Webinar Recording: CLion 101 and Beyond](https://blog.jetbrains.com/clion/2020/06/webinar-recording-clion-101/)