For the benefit of anyone interested and as a reference for myself, here are some of the IntelliJ and related macOS settings I normally use. This page will be occasionally updated as IntelliJ and my preferences evolve.

Last updated on 20th May 2025 for IntelliJ IDEA 2025.2 EAP.

Settings

  • In Main Menu > View > Appearance
    • Enable Navigation Bar > Don't Show
    • Enable Compact Mode
    • Disable Toolbar
  • In Editor > General
    • Disable Appearance > Show intention bulb
    • Disable Breadcrumbs > Show breadcrumbs
    • Enable Smart Keys > Use "CamelHumps" words
    • Disable Smart Keys > Honor "CamelHumps" words on double click
    • Disable Smart Keys > Surround selection on typing quote or brace
    • Disable Rich-Text Copy > Copy as rich text
    • Disable Sticky Lines > Show sticky lines when scrolling
    • Set Editor Tab > Tab placement to None
  • In Editor > Code Editing
    • Disable Usages of element at caret
    • Disable Show quick documentation on hover
    • Set The 'Next Error' action goes through to All problems
  • In Editor > Inlay Hints
    • Enable all, and then disable with Toggle Inlay Hints Globally action
      (optionally assign a shortcut to the action for a better to way show hints on-demand)
  • In Editor > Font set Size to 15.0
  • In Appearance & Behavior > Appearance
    • Disable Smooth scrolling (so that the scrolling position is on the border between lines)
    • Disable System Settings > Updates > Show What's New in the editor after an IDE update
  • In Version Control > Git
    • Set Update method to Rebase
    • Enable Use credential helper — don’t save passwords in IDE (see IDEA-211251)
  • In Advanaced Settings
    • Enable User Interface > Position mouse cursor on default button in dialogs
    • Disable User Interface > Use native faile chooser dialog on Windows/macOS — because IntelliJ file chooser dialog is just better
    • Enable Version Control > Toggle commit controls
    • Disable Version Control > Enable Commit tool window

Registry

Invoke Find Action and search for “Registry…”:

  • Disable ide.allow.merge.buttons —
    don’t merge buttons in VCS dialogs (see IJPL-87262, IJPL-80718, etc.)
  • Disable light.edit.file.open.enabled —
    because light editor it’s not ready yet (see IDEA-236868)
  • Enable analyze.exceptions.on.the.fly —
    automatically analyze clipboard content for stacktrace on IDE frame activation
  • Enable ide.completion.delay.autopopup.until.completed —
    deterministic auto-completion results (see KT-29042)
  • Disable debugger.valueTooltipAutoShow — no debugger tooltip on mouse over
  • Disable show.live.templates.in.completion (see IDEA-216928)
  • Increase undo.globalUndoLimit and undo.documentUndoLimit
  • Enable toolwindow.disable.overlay.by.double.key —
    because when using alt+... shortcuts (e.g. with IJKL shortcuts plugin) it can be annoying in presentation mode to accidentally open tool window overlay (see IDEA-112097)
  • Disable ide.switcher.tool.window.list and ide.recent.files.tool.window.list — don’t show tool windows in switcher and recent file popups (see IDEA-131137)
  • Disable project.tree.structure.show.url to hide the path next to the project name in the Project tool window

Keymap (based on “IntelliJ IDEA Classic”)

  • Use IJKL shortcuts plugin for navigation
  • Assign F1 to Quick Fix (see QuickFix plugin), remove it from Context Help
  • Assign alt+\ to Show Context Menu (i.e. the popup window displayed on the right click)
  • Assign alt+1 to Project tool window
  • Assign cmd+2 and alt+2 to Version Control tool window
  • Assign cmd+9 to Live Plugins tool window (see LivePlugin plugin)
  • Assign cmd+§ and alt+§ (i.e. to the key left of 1) to Main Menu > View > Tool Windows
  • Assign cmd+M to Scroll to Center
  • Assign cmd+F4 to Close Project
  • Assign cmd+shift+G to Execute Gradle Task
  • Assign cmd+ctrl+shift+P to Enter Presentation Mode
  • Assign alt+shift+9 to Put arguments/parameters on separate lines intentions
  • Assign alt+shift+8 to Put arguments/parameters on one line intentions
  • Assign alt+shift+7 to Add names to call arguments and Remove all argument names intentions
  • Assign cmd+alt+H to Window > Notifications > Close First / Close All (see IDEA-218434)
  • Assign ctrl+d to Show Diff for Lines
  • Assign ctrl+b to Version Control Systems > Git > Branches popup window
  • Remove Markdown > Create Link shortcut because it clashes with Toggle Case
  • Remove Increase/Decrease Font Size in All Editors shortcuts

macOS

  • Disable accents defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false
  • Max values for Preferences > Keyboard > Key Repeat / Delay Until Repeat
  • Map CapsLock to Control in Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys...
  • Disable shortcuts in Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts which clash with IntelliJ, e.g. cmd+shift+/
  • Disable option-space, see https://superuser.com/questions/78245