# BSP support

> **TL;DR**
> Required plugin: Scala: [how to install](get-started-with-scala.html#scala_plugin)

The Build Server Protocol (BSP) defines a standard way for the build tool such as [sbt](sbt-support.html) or [Mill](http://www.lihaoyi.com/mill/) to interact with IDEs, letting you import your project, run compilation and other tasks, get error messages and progress updates directly in the IDE.

The Scala plugin for IntelliJ IDEA supports BSP as a client.

## Open an sbt project from the BSP model

On the welcome screen, press `Ctrl+Shift+A` (Windows), `⌘ ⇧ A` (macOS), `⌘ ⇧ A` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ ⇧ P` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Shift+A` (XWin), `Ctrl+Shift+A` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Shift+A` (KDE), `Escape, X` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Shift+P` (Sublime Text), `⌘ ⇧ P` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+I` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Shift+A` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ⇧ A` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Shift+A` (Eclipse), `⌘ 3` (Eclipse (macOS)) and search for the Project from Existing Sources action. Alternatively, go to `File | New | Project from Existing Sources` in the main menu.

> **Note:**
> If you already have an existing sbt project, you can follow the same [procedure](#import_bsp) to convert your project to a BSP one.

In the dialog that opens, select a directory that contains your sbt project. On the page that opens, select the BSP option and click Next.

![The BSP import model](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/bsp_model.png)

Click Finish. IntelliJ IDEA opens the project, configures the BSP server, and loads all the necessary dependencies. The BSP tool window displays the imported project and its dependencies.

![BSP downloaded project](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/bsp_download_project.png)

On the status bar there is the BSP Connection icon that you can click and disable the connection either just one project or for all BSP connections.

> **Note:**
> If you come across problems with importing a BSP project, check whether you have the latest version of the sbt, Bloop, or Mill server downloaded.

## BSP connection file generation

For Scala CLI and Mill, the BSP connection file is regenerated before each BSP server startup. You can disable this in the settings.

When the project is imported, you will see a popup informing you about that the connection file is regenerated. It contains a link to the BSP Settings page. You can also access that page manually at `Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Build Tools | BSP`.

![BSP Regeneration File Settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/bsp_regeneration_file.png)

> **Note:**
> To quickly stop a BSP connection, or all BSP connections at once, you can click on a BSP icon in the bottom-right corner of the editor.
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> ![Stop BSP connections](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/bsp_stop_connections.png)