System Settings
for Windows and Linux
for macOS Ctrl+Alt+S 
Use this page to configure general behavior of PyCharm.
Startup/Shutdown
Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Reopen last project on startup | Select this checkbox to have PyCharm re-open the last opened project on startup. |
| Confirm application exit | Select this checkbox to have a warning message displayed when you attempt to close PyCharm. |
Project opening
Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Open project in a new window | Select this option to always open a new project in a new window. If this option is selected, the command appears in the menu, which allows you to select the folder of the project to be attached. |
| Open project in the same window | Select this option to always close the current project, and reuse the same window. |
| Confirm window to open project in | Select this option to have PyCharm ask you whether you want to open a new project in the same window, or in a new one. |
Synchronization
Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Synchronize files on frame or editor tab activation | If this checkbox is selected, all the files that were changed externally are reloaded from disk when you switch to PyCharm from a different application, or when you switch to their editor tab. |
| Save files on frame deactivation | If this checkbox is selected, all modified files are auto saved when you switch from PyCharm to a different application. Note that you cannot disable auto-save completely by turning off this and the following option. See also, the Saving and Reverting Changes section. |
| Save files automatically if application is idle for N seconds | If this checkbox is selected, all modified files are auto saved at regular time internals. See also, the Saving and Reverting Changes section. |
| Use "safe write" (save changes to a temporary file first) | If this checkbox is selected, a changed file is first saved in a temporary file. If the save operation succeeds, the file being saved is replaced with the saved file. (Technically, the original file is deleted and the temporary file is renamed.) Also, the ownership of such file changes. If this checkbox is not selected, the ownership of a file does not change, but all the advantages of safe write will be lost. |
On Closing Tool Windows with Running Process
Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Terminate | If this option is selected, the running process disconnects and terminates silently. |
| Disconnect (if available) | If this option is selected, the running process is disconnected. |
| Ask | If this option is selected, the dialog shows up, prompting to confirm the termination:  |