# Run IntelliJ IDEA for the first time

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/2026.3/llms.txt).

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/v/MsEPqMmVrRg)

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 IntelliJ IDEA depends on the operating system:

Windows:

To run IntelliJ IDEA, 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 IntelliJ IDEA app from the `Applications` directory, Launchpad, or Spotlight.

Linux:

Run the `idea.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 IntelliJ IDEA from the command line, refer to [Command-line interface](working-with-the-ide-features-from-command-line.html).

## Import settings

> **Tip:**
> If you skip import on the first launch, you can [manually import your settings from a ZIP archive](sharing-your-ide-settings.html#import-export-settings) later or [configure them from scratch](#configure-default-settings).

When you launch your IntelliJ IDEA for the first time, you will see the Import Settings dialog with the list of other IDE's settings found on your machine.

Procedure:

1. Select from which IDE you want to import settings.

JetBrains IDEs:

If you use several JetBrains IDEs, select the one with the preferred settings from the drop-down list or click Other Options to select IDEs used more than 6 months ago.

![The Import Settings dialog with the opened drop-down list](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_import_product_selection.png)

Other IDEs:

![The Import Settings dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_import_other_ide_selection.png)

2. Select which settings you want to import and click Import Settings.

JetBrains IDEs:

![JetBrains IDE settings selection](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_import_jb_settings_selection.png)

Other IDEs:

![Visual Studio Code settings selection](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_import_other_ide_settings_selection.png)

You will see a confirmation that the settings have been successfully imported.

You will see the  IntelliJ IDEA Home screen , the starting point to your work with the IDE. This screen also appears when you close all opened projects.

![IntelliJ IDEA Home screen](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_welcome_window.png)

## Customize the IDE appearance

On the IntelliJ IDEA Home screen, you can select another [color theme](user-interface-themes.html) or a [keymap](configuring-keyboard-and-mouse-shortcuts.html).

![Select the UI theme](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_set_UI_theme.png)

## Configure the default settings

Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) 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/2026.3/welcome-screen-settings.png)

## Install additional plugins

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

![Install additional plugins](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_set_featured_plugins.png)

## Develop your applications remotely

Click   Connect to Remote  in the left pane  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 [Connect to a remote server from IntelliJ IDEA](remote-development-starting-page.html).

![Configuring remote development settings on Home screen](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/develop-remotely-welcome-screen.png)

## Start a project in IntelliJ IDEA

From the  IntelliJ IDEA Home screen, you can do the following:

* [Create a new project](new-project-wizard.html)

* [Open a project](import-project-or-module-wizard.html#open-project)

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

![IntelliJ IDEA Home screen](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.3/ij_welcome_window.png)