# Tutorial: Deployment in IntelliJ IDEA

This tutorial aims to take you step-by-step through configuring and managing deployment of your code to remote hosts using IntelliJ IDEA.

Procedure: Enable the FTP/SFTP/WebDAV Connectivity plugin

This functionality relies on the [FTP/SFTP/WebDAV Connectivity](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/13125-ftp-sftp-webdav-connectivity)  plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

> **Note:**
> The FTP/SFTP/WebDAV Connectivity plugin is not available in IntelliJ IDEA without the Ultimate subscription.

1. 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)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Open the Installed tab, find the FTP/SFTP/WebDAV Connectivity plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

## Configure the deployment server

Procedure: Add a new server

1. 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)) to open settings and then select `Build, Execution, Deployment | Deployment`.

Alternatively, go to `Tools | Deployment | Configuration` in the main menu.

2. Click ![Add item](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg) and select the type of the server you want to create. In our case, it is Local or mounted folder .

![Add server dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/deployment_add_server.png)

3. In the Create New Server dialog that opens, type the server name and click OK .

The new server is added, but it only shows the Web server URL `http://localhost` where you will actually browse your uploaded files.

Procedure: Specify the server root folder

1. In the Folder field, specify the directory to which the project files will be uploaded.

In our case, this is the  `Users/jetbrains/deployment` local folder. You can either type the path manually or press `Shift+Enter` (Windows), `⇧ ⏎` (macOS), `⇧ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⇧ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Shift+Enter` (XWin), `Shift+Enter` (GNOME), `Shift+Enter` (KDE), `Shift+Enter` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌘ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (NetBeans), `Shift+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⇧ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (Eclipse), `⇧ ⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)) .

2. Disable the Visible only for this project option to be able to export this configuration later.

![Deployment Connection Tab](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_connection_tab.png)

Procedure: Specify the deployment path

1. Next, switch to the [Mappings tab](deployment-mappings-tab.html).

By default, the Local path field contains the path to the project root. However, you can select any other directory within your project tree. Let's use the default path.

2. In the Deployment path field (which is by default empty), specify the folder on your server where IntelliJ IDEA will upload data from the folder specified in the Local path field.

In this example, it's `Application` . This path is specified relative to the web server root folder, which is `Users/jetbrains/deployment` .

3. Leave the default `/` value for Web path .

![Deployment Mapping Tab](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_mapping_tab.png)

After you apply the changes, the server is ready to use.

## Browse remote hosts

To make sure your server is up and running, select `Tools | Deployment | Browse Remote Host` in the main menu, and the [Remote Host tool window](remote-host-tool-window.html) appears on the right of the IntelliJ IDEA window:

![Remote Hosts tool window](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_remote_host.png)

## Deploy files

Procedure: Upload a file to the server

First, let's upload one of the files to the remote server.

1. In the Project tool window ( `Alt+1` (Windows), `⌘ 1` (macOS), `⌘ 1` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ 1` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+1` (XWin), `Alt+1` (GNOME), `Alt+1` (KDE), `Alt+1` (Emacs), `Alt+1` (Sublime Text), `⌘ 1` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+1` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+L` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ⌥ L` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Alt+1` (Eclipse), `Alt+1` (Eclipse (macOS)) ), right-click the file you want to upload. In our case, this is the `README.md` file.

2. From the context menu, select `Deployment | Upload to MyRemoteServer` , confirm the upload, and see the upload results.

![Deployment upload](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_upload.png)

You can also upload the contents of each directory within your project.  Right-click the directory you want to upload in the Project tool window and select `Deployment | Upload to MyRemoteServer` .

Procedure: Compare remote and local versions

There is a local and a remote copy of the `README.md` file, and they are identical. Modify the local version.

* In the [Remote Host tool window](remote-host-tool-window.html) tool window, right-click `README.md` and select Compare with Local Version . IntelliJ IDEA opens the Diff Viewer.

![Diff viewer](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_diff_viewer.png)

Procedure: Download the file from the server

1. In the [Remote Host tool window](remote-host-tool-window.html) tool window, right-click the `README.md` file and select Download from here . IntelliJ IDEA shows a warning.

![Deployment download warning](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_download_warning.png)

2. Click Yes .

You can also download an entire directory if it has been previously uploaded to the server.

## Synchronize the changes

Procedure:

1. Undo the changes in the `README.md` file by pressing `Ctrl+Z` (Windows), `⌘ Z` (macOS), `⌘ Z` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Z` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Z` (XWin), `Ctrl+Z` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Z` (KDE), `Ctrl+Shift+Minus` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Z` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Z` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Z` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Z` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Z` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Z` (Eclipse), `⌘ Z` (Eclipse (macOS)) .

2. Click the `README.md` file and from the main menu, select `Tools | Deployment | Sync with Deployed to MyRemoteServer` .

IntelliJ IDEA shows the Diff Viewer where you can accept individual changes or reject them.

![Deployment sync](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_deployment_sync.png)

## Automatically upload files to the default server

When you need to have the exact same files on the server as in an IntelliJ IDEA project, automatic upload can be helpful. Automatic upload means that whenever a change occurs in the IDE, it will be deployed to the default deployment server.

A deployment server is considered default if its settings apply by default during automatic upload of changed files.

Procedure: Define the default server

1. 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)) to open settings and then select `Build, Execution, Deployment | Deployment`.

Alternatively, go to `Tools | Deployment | Configuration` in the main menu.

2. From the list of servers, select the one you want to make default and click ![the Use as default button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.actions.setDefault.svg) on the toolbar above the list of servers.

> **Tip:**
> You can also click the Default Deployment Server widget in the IntelliJ IDEA status bar and select the desired server or server group from the popup menu.

Procedure: Enable automatic upload

As soon as the default server is set, you can make upload to this server automatic.

1. 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)) to open settings and then select `Deployment | Options`.

Alternatively, go to `Tools | Deployment | Options` in the main menu.

2. From the Upload changed files automatically to the default server  drop-down list, select one of the following options:

* Always: upload a file upon every automatic and explicit save. > **Tip:** > You can also enable this option in `Tools | Deployment | Automatic Upload` in the main menu.

* On explicit save action: upload a file after save only if this save was invoked manually by choosing `File | Save All` or pressing `Ctrl+S` (Windows), `⌘ S` (macOS), `⌘ S` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ S` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+X, Ctrl+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ S` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Shift+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ⇧ S` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ S` (Eclipse (macOS)).

The Always mode is not recommended for deploying to production: incomplete code can be uploaded while developing, potentially breaking the production application.

## Upload external changes

By default, IntelliJ IDEA also uploads the files if they are changed by some external process, such as a [VCS branch change](manage-branches.html), [compilation of SASS or LESS](transpiling-sass-less-and-scss-to-css.html), or a [File Watcher](using-file-watchers.html). To change this behavior and skip external changes, set Upload changed files to the default server  to Always and select the Skip external changes checkbox:

![Skip external changes](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/deployment_options_external_changes.png)

## Export/import deployment settings

Now that you have a deployment server all set up, you can export the server configuration settings and then import them on another computer.

> **Tip:**
> You can export the settings only if the deployment configuration is global. You can make it global in settings: 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)) ), go to `Build, Execution, Deployment | Deployment` , and disable the Visible only for this project option in the configuration you want to export.

Procedure: Export settings to a ZIP archive

1. Select `File | Manage IDE Settings | Export Settings` from the main menu.

2. In the Export Settings dialog that opens, make sure that the WebServers checkbox is selected and specify the path to the target archive.

![Export the server deployment settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/export_deployment_settings.png)

Procedure: Import settings from a ZIP archive

1. Select `File | Manage IDE Settings | Import Settings…` from the main menu.

2. Select the ZIP archive that contains your settings in the dialog that opens.

3. Select the settings you want to apply in the Select Components to Import dialog that opens and click OK.

## Summary

You've passed this very basic tutorial and performed the following tasks:

* Created and configured a server of your own.

* Uploaded and downloaded files and folders.

* Compared local and remote versions.

* Configured the server as default.

* Enabled automatic upload of external changes.

## See also

### Procedures

[Deployment](deploying-applications.html)

### Reference

[Deployment](settings-deployment.html)