Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Download IntelliJ IDEA from JetBrains, install it with the Toolbox App (the easiest option for most users), and configure a standalone Java Development Kit (JDK). Then create a small Java project and run it to verify that the IDE, compiler and runtime are working together.
What IntelliJ IDEA is—and what you need
IntelliJ IDEA is a cross-platform IDE for Java and Kotlin, with tools for frameworks, testing, version control, databases and web development. This guide follows the current unified IntelliJ IDEA product and the IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 documentation; labels can vary slightly between versions and operating systems.
Current desktop requirements
JetBrains currently documents an x86_64 or arm64 processor with four cores, 8 GB of system RAM (3 GB available to IDE processes), 10 GB of disk space and a 1280 × 720 display. Supported systems listed for the current release include Windows 10 or 11; macOS 15 or 26; Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04 LTS, Fedora 43 or 44, Debian 13, or Amazon Linux 2023 on Linux with GNOME or KDE Plasma and glibc 2.28 or later. BSD-based systems are not supported. Check the current requirements if you use an older or unusual system.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Do you need Java installed first?
You do not need a separate Java runtime merely to launch IntelliJ IDEA: the IDE includes JetBrains Runtime (JBR 21). Java development is different. To compile, test and run applications, you need a standalone JDK, which includes the javac compiler. A consumer JRE alone is not sufficient.
Is IntelliJ IDEA free in 2026?
Since IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3, JetBrains distributes one unified product rather than separate Community and Ultimate installers. Core Java and Kotlin development remains free. A new installation includes a 30-day Ultimate trial; after it ends, you can continue using the free core features or subscribe to Ultimate for advanced tooling. See JetBrains’ explanation of the single distribution.
Ultimate is most useful for professional Spring and enterprise work, advanced web and framework support, database tools and additional productivity features. Older tutorials that tell you to choose “Community Edition” are describing the previous model. Existing Community Edition 2025.2 and earlier installations can continue to run, but 2025.3 and later are the actively updated unified product. Current subscription prices vary by country, billing term and user type; consult JetBrains’ live purchase page.
Choose a JDK before creating a project
Use the Java version required by your course, employer, build file or deployment runtime. For a new project with no compatibility constraint, Java 25 is a sensible LTS choice as of August 2026. Java 21 remains a widely used previous LTS. Do not select Java 26 solely because it is newer: a non-LTS release can be the wrong target for a long-lived project. Oracle lists JDK 26 as the latest Java SE release, JDK 25 as the latest LTS and JDK 21 as the previous LTS on its download page.
IntelliJ’s supported-version documentation lists LTS releases including Java 8, 11, 17, 21 and 25, although language-feature support depends on the IDE version. Your project’s language level, libraries, build tool and deployment runtime must agree.
Temurin or Oracle JDK?
- Eclipse Temurin: free, cross-platform OpenJDK binaries; Adoptium describes them as Java SE TCK certified and AQAvit verified. Download from Adoptium. Enterprise support and procurement requirements may still favor another vendor.
- Oracle JDK: appropriate when your organization standardizes on Oracle or needs Oracle’s distribution and support. Oracle states that JDK 25 binaries are free for production use and redistribution under its No-Fee Terms and Conditions through September 2028; later updates and versions have their own terms.
Install IntelliJ IDEA with JetBrains Toolbox
Toolbox is JetBrains’ recommended way to install and maintain its IDEs. It handles updates, rollbacks, multiple versions, EAP builds and project associations. Download it from the official Toolbox App page.
Rank #2
Windows
- Download the Windows
.exeinstaller. - Run it and complete the setup wizard.
- Open Toolbox from the Start menu or notification area.
macOS
- Download the
.dmgmatching your Mac: Apple Silicon or Intel. - Mount the disk image and drag JetBrains Toolbox to Applications.
- Launch it from Applications, Launchpad or Spotlight.
Linux
Download the Toolbox tarball and ensure the documented dependencies are installed, including libxi6, libxrender1, libxtst6, mesa-utils, libfontconfig, libgtk-3-bin, tar, dbus-user-session and libxcb-keysyms1. Extract and launch it:
tar -xvf jetbrains-toolbox-<version>.tar.gz -C <installation-directory>
cd <installation-directory>
./bin/jetbrains-toolboxToolbox initializes files under ~/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox. In Toolbox, find IntelliJ IDEA and click Install. Use the product’s version menu and Available versions when you need a particular release. Sign in to a JetBrains Account if you have an Ultimate license or want the trial activated.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Install without Toolbox
Use a standalone installer when you need a fixed directory, scripted or centrally managed deployment, a portable archive, or no additional management application. Choose the correct operating-system image, CPU architecture and stable channel on the official download page; avoid EAP or Nightly builds unless you specifically need pre-release software.
Windows installer
- Download the x86_64 or ARM64 installer.
- Run it and choose optional settings: desktop shortcut, launchers on
PATH, Open Folder as Project, and file associations. - Start IntelliJ IDEA from the Start menu or shortcut.
For managed deployments, JetBrains documents silent switches. For example:
ideaIU.exe /S /CONFIG=d:tempsilent.config /D=d:IDEIntelliJ IDEA/D must be last and must not contain quotation marks, even when the path contains spaces.
macOS disk image
- Download the Intel or Apple Silicon
.dmg. - Mount it and drag IntelliJ IDEA to Applications.
- Launch it from Applications, Launchpad or Spotlight.
Linux tarball
- Download the x86_64 or ARM64
.tar.gz. - Extract it to a clean, executable directory; do not extract over an existing installation.
- Launch
idea.sh.
sudo tar -xzf idea-*.tar.gz -C /opt
/opt/idea-*/bin/idea.shAfter first launch, use Tools | Create Desktop Entry to add a menu entry.
Linux Snap
sudo snap install intellij-idea --classicFor the EAP channel:
sudo snap install intellij-idea --classic --edgeSnap updates automatically, but JetBrains documents possible performance, Chromium-based JavaScript debugging, SBT import and file-operation problems. If you encounter them, try Toolbox or the tarball instead.
Create and run your first Java project
- Open IntelliJ IDEA and choose New Project (or File | New Project).
- Select Java, enter a name such as
HelloWorld, and choose its location. - Choose IntelliJ for a minimal project, or Maven or Gradle when the project uses that build system.
- Select a JDK. Choose Add JDK from Disk for an installed JDK, or Download JDK to obtain one from the wizard.
- Click Create.
Select an existing JDK
Choose the JDK home directory, not its bin subdirectory. Typical locations are:
Windows: C:Program FilesJavajdk-25
macOS: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-25.jdk/Contents/Home
Linux: /usr/lib/jvm/java-25-openjdkVendor and package-manager paths differ; the selected folder should contain the JDK’s bin directory.
Download a JDK in the wizard
Open the JDK selector, choose Download JDK, select the required version and a vendor offered by the dialog, choose a location if prompted, and click Select. The current Java tutorial demonstrates Java 25, but change that choice when your project requires another version.
Rank #4
Verify the command-line JDK
java -version
javac -versionBoth commands should report the intended version. If java works but javac is missing, you probably have only a runtime or your PATH points to the wrong installation.
Run a test class
Create Main.java:
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, IntelliJ IDEA!");
}
}Click the green run icon beside main and choose Run ‘Main.main()’. The Run window should print Hello, IntelliJ IDEA! and finish with exit code 0.
Fix common setup problems
“No SDK” or Java projects cannot be created
- In the New Project wizard choose Download JDK, or use Add JDK from Disk.
- Select the JDK home, not
bin, and confirm it containsjavac. - Check that the version meets the project’s requirements.
Java is installed, but IntelliJ does not see it
A system JDK and an IntelliJ project SDK are separate configuration layers. Open File | Project Structure, add the JDK, then check the project SDK, module SDK and language level. Reload the project if necessary.
java works but javac does not
Run both version commands again. Select a full JDK in IntelliJ. For command-line builds, correct JAVA_HOME and PATH separately; changing the IDE setting does not change your shell environment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe project uses the wrong Java version
Inspect pom.xml, the Gradle build file and any Maven or Gradle toolchain declaration. Align the project SDK, module language level and build-tool JVM, then reimport Maven or Gradle. A newer IDE JDK does not automatically make an older project compatible.
Best Value
Windows, macOS or Linux architecture mismatch
Use ARM64 on ARM Windows or Linux systems and Apple Silicon on M-series Macs; use x86_64 for Intel hardware. Re-download the native build if the wrong architecture was installed.
Snap behaves poorly on Linux
Performance or integration problems are documented for some Snap installations. Move to Toolbox or a clean standalone tarball and avoid extracting a new tarball over the old directory.
WSL users
Do not assume that installing the Linux GUI IDE inside WSL is the supported path. Distinguish between running the Windows IDE on Windows files, remote development into Linux, and a full Linux desktop installation. Review JetBrains’ WSL and remote-development requirements, including the WSLg limitation described there.
Recommended Free Tools
Useful post-install additions
First confirm that the IDE and JDK work; Java-only projects do not require a large plugin bundle. Install only what your project needs: Git, Maven or Gradle support, JUnit, Kotlin, Spring or Jakarta EE tooling, database tools, Docker, Kubernetes, Checkstyle or SpotBugs.
- Press
Ctrl+Alt+S. - Select Plugins, then the Marketplace tab.
- Search for the plugin and click Install.
- Restart when prompted.
Some plugins are commercial, restricted or separately licensed. Bundled plugins can be enabled or disabled but cannot be removed; see JetBrains’ plugin management documentation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
