How to Customize the IntelliJ IDEA Interface and Theme

Edited 6 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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IntelliJ IDEA is a popular integrated development environment (IDE) used by many developers due to its rich features and flexibility. One of the appealing aspects of IntelliJ IDEA is its ability to be customized to suit individual preferences and workflow. Customizing your IDE can increase your productivity and make your coding environment more comfortable to work in. In this guide, we will explore how you can customize the IntelliJ IDEA interface and themes, explaining step by step how to personalize it according to your preferences.

Understanding the basics of optimization

Customization in IntelliJ IDEA can be broadly categorized into two main areas: customizing the interface layout and changing themes. With theme customization, you can change colors, fonts, and other visual elements, while interface customization allows you to modify tool placement, editor tabs, and other components to suit your workflow.

Changes in look and feel

Start with the overall theme, which changes the look and feel of the entire IDE. IntelliJ IDEA allows you to choose between a light and dark theme by default. To get started with changing the theme:

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Select Settings (or Preferences on macOS).
3. Go to Appearance & Behavior > Appearance.
4. In the Theme dropdown, select IntelliJ Light or Darcula.
5. Apply the changes and click OK to confirm.

For a more personalized look, you can also download additional themes from the JetBrains plugin repository:

1. Go to Settings > Plugins.
2. Find themes in the Marketplace tab.
3. Explore different themes and choose your favorite theme.
4. Click Install and restart IntelliJ IDEA.

Customizing fonts

Fonts can greatly impact readability and coding efficiency. To customize fonts in IntelliJ IDEA:

1. Open Settings (or Preferences).
2. Go to Editor > Fonts.
3. Choose your favorite font from the list. You can also set the font size.
4. Check "Line Spacing" if you want to adjust the space between lines as well.
5. Click OK to apply the changes.

Modifying color schemes

IntelliJ IDEA allows you to modify syntax highlighting to enhance code readability. To change the color scheme:

1. Go to Settings > Editor > Color Scheme.
2. Select your preferred plan from the plan dropdown.
3. For further customization, modify specific language elements and their corresponding colors.
4. Once done, click OK to save your changes.

If you don't find a plan that suits you, you can always create a new one:

1. Select a base plan that is close to what you desire.
2. Click the duplicate icon beside the Scheme dropdown to make a copy.
3. Rename the duplicate plan.
4. Modify the colors of your scheme as needed.

Customizing toolbars and menus

Toolbars and menus can be modified to keep your most used functions readily available. Here's how you can customize them:

1. Go to Settings > Appearance & Behavior > Menus & Toolbars.
2. Select the toolbar or menu you want to customize from the list.
3. Add, remove, or reorder actions using the buttons on the right.
4. To restore the defaults, click the Restore Defaults button.
5. Click Apply and OK to confirm your choices.

Manage device windows

Tool windows are panels you can find on different sides of the IntelliJ IDEA window, such as the Project window, Structure window, and others. To customize tool windows:

1. Click the gear icon in the tool window bar for personalization options.
2. Select which tool windows should always be visible or minimized.
3. Drag and drop the tool windows to different locations as you like.

Adjusting the editor tabs

Editor tabs indicate open files. To customize them:

1. Go to Settings > Editor > General > Editor tab.
2. Customize the placement, border, and closing policy of these tabs.
3. Adjust the tab font and color if necessary.
4. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Customizing keymaps

Keymaps determine keyboard shortcuts. For efficiency, you may want to set your own:

1. Go to Settings > Keymap.
2. Select an existing keymap or create a new keymap by cloning another.
3. Assign shortcuts to functions or modify existing functions according to your preference.
4. For conflicts, IntelliJ IDEA provides warnings or interfaces to resolve them.

Custom shortcuts

In addition to custom keymaps, you may also want to define custom shortcuts for macros or frequently used actions:

1. Create a macro by recording a sequence of actions under Edit > Macros.
2. Name the macro and save it for later use.
3. Create a custom shortcut in Settings > Keymap and assign a keybinding to your macro.

Installing plugins

Plugins can significantly enhance the IntelliJ IDEA experience, providing additional theme options, functionality, and support for different languages:

1. Go to Settings > Plugins.
2. Search for plugins in the Marketplace or browse installed ones to manage existing plugins.
3. Install the plugins you want and restart the IDE if necessary.

Advanced layout customization

For advanced users, IntelliJ IDEA allows modifying the layout itself. When doing so:

• Make sure productivity isn't hampered.
• Observe ease of navigation and code visibility.

Export and sharing settings

After you've configured your IDE the way you want, you may want to export your settings to share them with your team or set them up on another installation:

1. Click File > Export Settings.
2. Select the specific settings or all settings you want to export.
3. Save the generated settings file.

To import settings later:

1. Click File > Import Settings.
2. Select the settings file to import your configurations.

Conclusion

We've covered a wide range of options for customizing your IntelliJ IDEA interface and themes, tailoring the environment perfectly to your needs. From themes, fonts, and color schemes to shortcuts, plugins, and layout customization, IntelliJ IDEA offers rich personalization capabilities, as well as a focus on usability and functionality.

Customize wisely so as not to make too many changes to your environment. Focus on the ones that improve your coding experience and help you maintain a better workflow. Cross-examine and back them up with exported settings to ensure your workstation remains consistent across different setups. Good luck in your journey to customize IntelliJ IDEA!

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