# Configuring the IDE

IntelliJ IDEA allows you to configure the settings on several levels: the [module](configure-modules.html) level, the [project](configure-project-settings.html) level, and globally.

![Types of settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/settings-types.png)

Global settings apply to all projects that you open with a specific installation or version of IntelliJ IDEA. Such settings include IDE appearance (themes, color schemes, menus, and toolbars), notification settings, the set of installed and enabled plugins, debugger settings, code completion, and so on. Global settings are stored in the [configuration directory](directories-used-by-the-ide-to-store-settings-caches-plugins-and-logs.html#config-directory).

[Project settings](configure-project-settings.html) apply to the current project only unless you configure them as [default settings for new projects](configure-project-settings.html#new-default-settings). Such settings include VCS configuration, code style options, the list of language inspections, and so on.

To configure your IDE, select `IntelliJ IDEA | Settings` for macOS or `File | Settings` for Windows and Linux. Alternatively, press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) or click ![the Settings button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.settings.svg) on the toolbar.

Settings that are NOT marked with the ![For current project](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.general.projectConfigurable.svg) icon in the Settings dialog are global and apply to all existing projects of the current IntelliJ IDEA version.

![Global settings marked in the Settings dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ide-settings-preferences.png)

## Restore IDE settings

In IntelliJ IDEA 2020.1, the configuration paths [have been changed](https://blog.jetbrains.com/idea/2020/03/intellij-idea-2020-1-eap7/#auto_import_of_settings). That is why the information in this section is valid for IntelliJ IDEA of version 2020.1 and later. If you use a previous version of IntelliJ IDEA, add the version number to the page URL in order to access the corresponding documentation. For example, if you use IntelliJ IDEA 2019.3, type `www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/2019.3/configuring-project-and-ide-settings.html`.

When you restore the default IDE settings, IntelliJ IDEA backs up your configuration to another directory. You can always restore your settings from that backup.

Procedure: Back up your settings and restore the defaults

1. Go to `File | Manage IDE Settings | Restore Default Settings`.

Alternatively, press  `Shift` (Windows), `Shift` (macOS), `Shift` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `Shift` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Shift` (XWin), `Shift` (GNOME), `Shift` (KDE), `Shift` (Emacs), `Shift` (Sublime Text), `Shift` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Shift` (NetBeans), `Shift` (Visual Studio), `Shift` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Shift` (Eclipse), `Shift` (Eclipse (macOS)) twice and type `Restore default settings`.

IntelliJ IDEA shows a confirmation popup:

![A popup prompting to confirm that you want to restore the default settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/restore-ide-defaults.png)

2. Click Restore and Restart. The IDE will be restarted with the default configuration.

When IntelliJ IDEA restores the default IDE settings, it creates a backup directory with your configuration in:

Windows:

Syntax
: `%APPDATA%\JetBrains\<product><version>-backup`

Example
: `C:\Users\JohnS\AppData\Roaming\JetBrains\IntelliJIdea2026.2-backup`

macOS:

Syntax
: `~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/<product><version>-backup`

Example
: `~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/IntelliJIdea2026.2-backup`

Linux:

Syntax
: `~/.config/JetBrains/<product><version>-backup`

Example
: `~/.config/JetBrains/IntelliJIdea2026.2-backup`

Procedure: Apply the IDE settings from a backup

1. In the main menu, go to `File | Manage IDE Settings | Import Settings`.

2. In the dialog that opens, specify the [path](#backup-dir) to the backup directory and click Open.

IntelliJ IDEA shows a confirmation popup. Note that after you apply the settings from the backup, these settings will be overwritten with your current IDE configuration.

Apart from the backup configuration directory, you can select the configuration directory from another IntelliJ IDEA version or a `.zip` file with the previously [exported settings](sharing-your-ide-settings.html#import-export-settings).

3. Click Restart to apply the settings from the backup and restart the IDE.

## See also

### Procedures

[IDE settings backup and sync](sharing-your-ide-settings.html)

### Reference

[Advanced configuration](tuning-the-ide.html)