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IntelliJ IDEA Keyboard Shortcuts

90+ IntelliJ IDEA shortcuts for code navigation, refactoring, debugging, and version control. Mac and Windows reference.

70 shortcuts 8 categories

Navigation

Action Shortcut
Go to class
Go to file
Go to symbol
Recent files
Recent locations
Go to declaration
Go to implementation
Find usages
File structure popup
Type hierarchy
Go to line
Go to super method
Go to previous/next method
Last edit location
Navigate back/forward

Editing

Action Shortcut
Basic code completion
Smart code completion
Complete statement
Parameter info
Quick documentation
Generate code
Override methods
Implement methods
Duplicate line
Delete line
Join lines
Line comment
Block comment
Extend selection
Shrink selection
Move line up/down
Move statement up/down

Refactoring

Action Shortcut
Rename
Change signature
Extract method
Extract variable
Extract field
Extract constant
Inline
Copy class
Move class

Search

Action Shortcut
Search Everywhere
Find in file
Replace in file
Find in path
Replace in path
Next/previous occurrence

Debug

Action Shortcut
Step over
Step into
Smart step into
Step out
Resume program
Toggle breakpoint
View breakpoints
Evaluate expression

Run

Action Shortcut
Run
Debug
Run context configuration
Stop

VCS

Action Shortcut
Commit
Push
Update project (pull)
VCS operations popup

Windows

Action Shortcut
Project window
Run window
Debug window
Git window
Terminal
Toggle maximizing editor
Find action

Pro tips

Double Shift Everything

Search Everywhere (Shift+Shift) is IntelliJ's most powerful feature. Search files, classes, symbols, actions, and settings all from one place.

Live Templates

Type abbreviations like 'sout', 'psvm', 'fori' and press Tab to expand common code patterns. Create your own in Settings → Live Templates.

Alt+Enter for Everything

Place your cursor on any warning, error, or suggestion and press Alt+Enter. IntelliJ will show context actions - quick fixes, refactorings, and intentions.

Multi-cursor Editing

Alt+Click to place multiple cursors. Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J to select all occurrences. Edit multiple locations simultaneously for faster refactoring.

Postfix Completion

Type an expression, then a dot and a keyword like .var, .if, .for, .null to wrap the expression. E.g., 'myList.for' expands to a for-each loop.

Structural Search

Use Edit → Find → Search Structurally to find code patterns based on structure, not just text. Perfect for complex refactoring across large codebases.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between IntelliJ IDEA Community and Ultimate?

Community Edition is free and supports Java, Kotlin, Groovy, and Scala. Ultimate ($499/year) adds support for web development (JavaScript, TypeScript, React), databases, Spring, Jakarta EE, and many more frameworks and tools.

Can IntelliJ replace VS Code?

For JVM languages (Java, Kotlin, Scala), IntelliJ offers superior refactoring, debugging, and code analysis. For web development, both are excellent. IntelliJ Ultimate includes all JetBrains web IDE features. The choice depends on your primary language and workflow preferences.

How do I change the keymap?

Go to Settings → Keymap. IntelliJ offers presets for Eclipse, VS Code, Sublime Text, and other editors. You can also customize individual shortcuts or import/export keymaps.

Does IntelliJ support AI code completion?

Yes. JetBrains AI Assistant is available as a plugin offering code completion, chat, commit message generation, and code explanations. Third-party plugins like GitHub Copilot also work seamlessly.

How do I improve IntelliJ performance?

Increase heap memory in Help → Change Memory Settings. Exclude large folders from indexing. Disable unused plugins. Use Power Save Mode for battery life. SSDs dramatically improve indexing speed.

Can I use IntelliJ for Python or JavaScript?

Community Edition doesn't support Python or JavaScript directly. Ultimate Edition includes full support. Alternatively, use PyCharm for Python or WebStorm for JavaScript - they share IntelliJ's core platform.

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