IntelliJ IDEA 2019.3 Help

Mastering IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcuts

IntelliJ IDEA has keyboard shortcuts for most of its commands related to editing, navigation, refactoring, debugging, and other tasks. Memorizing these hotkeys can help you stay more productive by keeping your hands on the keyboard.

The following table lists some of the most useful shortcuts to learn:

Shortcut

Action

Double Shift

Search Everywhere

Find anything related to IntelliJ IDEA or your project and open it, execute it, or jump to it.

Ctrl+Shift+A

Find Action

Find a command and execute it, open a tool window or search for a setting.

Alt+Enter

Show intention actions and quick-fixes

Fix highlighted error or warning, improve or optimize a code construct.

F2
Shift+F2

Navigate between code issues

Jump to the next or previous highlighted error.

Ctrl+E

View recent files

Select a recently opened file from the list.

Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Complete current statement

Insert any necessary trailing symbols and put the caret where you can start typing the next statement.

Ctrl+Alt+L

Reformat code

Reformat the whole file or the selected fragment according to the current code style settings.

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T

Invoke refactoring

Refactor the element under the caret, for example, safe delete, copy, move, rename, and so on.

Ctrl+W
Ctrl+Shift+W

Extend or shrink selection

Increase or decrease the scope of selection according to specific code constructs.

Ctrl+/
Ctrl+Shift+/

Add/remove line or block comment

Comment out a line or block of code.

Ctrl+B

Go to declaration

Navigate to the initial declaration of the instantiated class, called method, or field.

Alt+F7

Find usages

Show all places where a code element is used across your project.

Alt+1

Focus the Project tool window

Escape

Focus the editor

If you are using one of the predefined keymaps for your OS, you can print the default keymap reference card and keep it on your desk to consult it if necessary. This cheat sheet is also available under Help | Keymap Reference.

Choose the right keymap

To view the keymap configuration, open the Settings/Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+S and select Keymap.

  • Use a predefined keymap

    IntelliJ IDEA automatically selects a predefined keymap based on your environment. Make sure that it matches the OS you are using or select the one that matches shortcuts from another IDE or editor you are used to (for example, Eclipse or NetBeans).

  • Tune your keymap

    You can modify a copy of any predefined keymap to assign your own shortcuts for commands that you use frequently.

  • Import custom keymap

    If you have a customized keymap that you are used to, you can transfer it to your installation.

Learn shortcuts as you work

IntelliJ IDEA provides several possibilities to learn shortcuts:

  • Find Action is the most important command that enables you to search for commands and settings across all menus and tools.

    Press Ctrl+Shift+A and start typing to get a list of suggested actions. Then select the necessary action and press Enter to execute it.

    Find Action
  • Key Promoter X is a plugin that shows a popup notification with the corresponding keyboard shortcut whenever a command is executed using the mouse. It also suggests creating a shortcut for commands that are executed frequently.

  • If you are using one of the predefined keymaps for your OS, you can print the default keymap reference card and keep it on your desk to consult it if necessary. This cheat sheet is also available under Help | Keymap Reference.

Use advanced features

You can further improve your productivity with the following useful features:

  • Quick Lists

    If there is a group of actions that you often use, create a quick list to access them using a custom shortcut. For example, you can try using the following predefined quick lists:

    • Refactor this Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T

    • VCS Operations Alt+`

  • Smart Keys

    IntelliJ IDEA provides various aids, such as automatically adding paired tags and quotes, and detecting CamelHump words.

  • Speed search

    When the focus is on a tool window with a tree, list, or table, start typing to see matching items.

  • Press twice

    Many actions in IntelliJ IDEA provide more results when you execute them multiple times. For example, when you invoke basic code completion with Ctrl+Space on a part of a field, parameter, or variable declaration, it suggests names depending on the item type within the current scope. If you invoke it again, it will include classes available through module dependencies. When invoked for the third time in a row, the list of suggestions will include the whole project.

  • Resize tool windows

    You can adjust the size of tool windows without a mouse:

    • To resize a vertical tool window, use Ctrl+Shift+Left and Ctrl+Shift+Right

    • To resize a horizontal tool window, use Ctrl+Shift+Up and Ctrl+Shift+Down

Last modified: 26 April 2020