IntelliJ IDEA Download for Windows 11 & 10

IntelliJ IDEA Download for Windows 11 & 10

Download IntelliJ IDEA for Windows 11 and Windows 10 to develop Java and Kotlin projects with intelligent code completion, refactoring, debugging, Maven, Gradle, Git, terminal tools, and plugins.

IntelliJ IDEA Download for Windows gives developers a powerful integrated development environment from JetBrains for Java, Kotlin, and JVM-based software development.

Unlike a basic source-code editor, IntelliJ IDEA understands project structure and relationships between classes, methods, dependencies, files, and frameworks. This enables intelligent completion, code inspections, project-aware refactoring, debugging, navigation, testing, build-tool integration, and version-control workflows.

The current IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 generation supports modern Java and Kotlin development, including Java 27 and Kotlin 2.4 language features.

IntelliJ IDEA Download for Windows – Quick Overview

What Is IntelliJ IDEA?

IntelliJ IDEA is a cross-platform IDE developed by JetBrains, with a strong focus on professional Java and Kotlin development.

Its major advantage over a simple text editor is project awareness. IntelliJ IDEA analyzes the structure of your code and can understand relationships between symbols, dependencies, classes, methods, and project modules.

IntelliJ IDEA Free vs Ultimate – Important Change

Older guides often describe separate Community Edition and Ultimate Edition downloads. That model has changed.

Starting with IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3, JetBrains moved to a single unified IntelliJ IDEA product.

IntelliJ IDEA System Requirements

Large Maven, Gradle, Spring, Kotlin, or multi-module projects can benefit significantly from additional RAM and fast SSD storage.

Intel / AMD vs ARM64

Most Windows desktops and laptops use an Intel or AMD x86-64 processor. Use the normal Windows installer for those systems.

JetBrains also provides a separate ARM64 Windows installer for compatible ARM-based PCs.

Do You Need Java Before Installing IntelliJ IDEA?

This is an important distinction.

To Run IntelliJ IDEA

You do not normally need to install Java separately just to launch IntelliJ IDEA because JetBrains bundles its own runtime with the IDE.

To Develop Java Applications

You do need an appropriate standalone JDK for Java development.

How to Install IntelliJ IDEA on Windows & Set Up the JDK

Step 1: Download IntelliJ IDEA

Open JetBrains’ official IntelliJ IDEA download page and choose the Windows installer appropriate for your processor architecture.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Open the downloaded EXE. If Windows displays User Account Control, verify that the installer came from JetBrains before continuing.

Step 3: Choose Installation Options

The Windows installer can provide options such as:

• Create a desktop shortcut.
• Add IntelliJ IDEA launchers to Windows PATH.
• Add Open Folder as Project to the context menu.
• Associate supported file types with IntelliJ IDEA.

Step 4: Complete Installation

Continue through the setup wizard and launch IntelliJ IDEA from the Windows Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Step 5: Configure a JDK

When creating a Java project, select an existing JDK or configure/download an appropriate development JDK.

Create Your First Java Project

1. Open IntelliJ IDEA.
2. Select New Project.
3. Choose Java.
4. Select or configure a JDK.
5. Choose the build system where appropriate.
6. Enter the project name.
7. Create the project.

A simple Java program could look like:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, ABDNOVA!");
    }
}

Run the application using the Run button beside the main method or an appropriate Run Configuration.

IntelliJ IDEA Main Interface & Development Workspace

After opening a project, IntelliJ IDEA provides a complete development workspace rather than only a text-editing window.

Project Tool Window

Use the Project view to navigate source files, packages, directories, modules, and project structure.

Editor

The editor is where you write and modify source code. It works together with inspections, completion, quick fixes, navigation, and refactoring tools.

Tool Windows

Tool windows provide access to development tools such as:

• Git.
• Maven.
• Gradle.
• Terminal.
• Debugger.
• Problems.
• Services.
• Build output.

Run and Debug Controls

Run configurations let you launch applications, tests, build tasks, and other project targets. Debug controls allow you to pause execution and inspect what a program is doing.

IntelliJ IDEA Code Completion, Refactoring & Inspections

Intelligent Code Completion

IntelliJ IDEA uses language and project information to provide context-aware code suggestions rather than simply suggesting words that happen to appear in a file.

This is useful when working with classes, methods, variables, APIs, libraries, frameworks, and project dependencies.

Code Inspections

IntelliJ IDEA continuously analyzes code and can identify:

• Errors.
• Warnings.
• Redundant code.
• Suspicious constructs.
• Style issues.
• Potential improvements.

Many inspections also provide quick fixes.

Refactoring

Project-aware refactoring is one of the biggest advantages of a full IDE.

Common refactoring operations include:

• Rename.
• Extract Method.
• Extract Variable.
• Move Class.
• Change Signature.
• Inline Code.
• Restructure Code.

Because IntelliJ IDEA understands code references, refactoring is much safer than performing a simple project-wide text replacement.

Navigation and Find Usages

Large projects can contain thousands of classes, files, and symbols. IntelliJ IDEA provides tools for quickly navigating to classes, declarations, implementations, usages, files, symbols, and related code.

IntelliJ IDEA Debugger

The built-in debugger lets you inspect an application while it is running.

Instead of adding many temporary print statements, you can pause execution and inspect the program state directly.

IntelliJ IDEA Maven, Gradle, Git, Terminal & Plugins

Maven and Gradle

Java projects frequently use Maven or Gradle for dependency management and build automation.

IntelliJ IDEA can import project definitions, synchronize dependencies, run build tasks, and help manage project structure.

Git and Version Control

IntelliJ IDEA includes integrated version-control tools for common workflows involving:

• Changes.
• Commits.
• Branches.
• Diffs.
• History.
• Merge and conflict resolution.

Integrated Terminal

The integrated terminal lets you run commands without constantly switching away from the IDE.

For example:

git status
mvn test
gradle build
java -version
docker --version

If your Java development workflow also uses containers, see our Docker Desktop Download for Windows guide for Docker Engine, containers, Compose, WSL 2, and local development.

Plugins

JetBrains’ plugin ecosystem can extend IntelliJ IDEA with additional languages, themes, frameworks, development integrations, and productivity tools.

IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 & Java 27 Support

The IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 generation includes support for newer JVM technologies such as Java 27 and Kotlin 2.4 language features.

JetBrains also reports significant stability and performance work across the 2026.2 release, followed by the 2026.2.1 maintenance update.

IntelliJ IDEA vs Eclipse vs VS Code vs Android Studio

Related Guide: Prefer Eclipse or want to compare the setup yourself? See our Eclipse IDE Download for Windows guide for installation, Java development features, plugins, debugging, and Windows setup.

IntelliJ IDEA vs Android Studio

Android Studio is based on the IntelliJ Platform but is specifically tailored for Android application development.

For development workflows that also involve deployment to remote systems or servers, our FileZilla Download for Windows guide covers FTP, FTPS, and SFTP file transfers.

Is IntelliJ IDEA Free?

Yes, the core Java and Kotlin development functionality is free.

Advanced professional capabilities are unlocked through an Ultimate subscription, and new installations include a 30-day Ultimate trial.

After the trial ends, users who do not need Ultimate features can continue using the free core functionality without reinstalling the IDE.

Is IntelliJ IDEA Safe?

Yes. The genuine IntelliJ IDEA downloaded directly from JetBrains is legitimate development software.

The free core functionality also means there is no reason to search for modified or cracked versions just to write Java or Kotlin code.

IntelliJ IDEA Troubleshooting

IntelliJ IDEA Won’t Start

Restart Windows, install the latest stable IntelliJ IDEA update, check recently added plugins, confirm that the PC has enough RAM and disk space, and reinstall from JetBrains if the installation appears damaged.

IntelliJ IDEA Is Slow

Large projects can consume substantial resources.

Try:

• Allowing initial project indexing to finish.
• Closing unnecessary applications.
• Removing unnecessary plugins.
• Using SSD storage.
• Checking Maven or Gradle background activity.
• Updating IntelliJ IDEA.
• Providing additional RAM for large projects when appropriate.

Java SDK / JDK Is Missing

Remember that the bundled JetBrains Runtime is primarily for running IntelliJ IDEA itself.

For Java application development, configure an appropriate standalone JDK for the project.

The idea Command Does Not Work

The IntelliJ IDEA bin directory needs to be available through Windows PATH for command-line launcher usage.

The Windows installer provides an option to add IntelliJ IDEA launchers to PATH.

Maven or Gradle Dependencies Are Missing

Check internet access, reload or synchronize the project, verify the build files and repositories, confirm the correct JDK, and review the Maven or Gradle error output.

A Plugin Causes Problems

If IntelliJ IDEA became unstable after installing a plugin, disable or remove the recently installed plugin and restart the IDE.

How to Update IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA checks for available updates and many updates can be installed as patches followed by an IDE restart.

JetBrains Toolbox can also manage IntelliJ IDEA installations, available versions, updates, and rollbacks.

How to Uninstall IntelliJ IDEA

On Windows, IntelliJ IDEA can normally be removed through Windows installed-app controls or through the JetBrains uninstaller included with a standalone installation.

If you also want to completely remove configuration, cache, and application-data directories, review JetBrains’ official uninstall documentation before deleting those folders manually.

Safe IntelliJ IDEA Download – Important

Always download IntelliJ IDEA directly from JetBrains.

Official source: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA for Windows.

Because the unified IntelliJ IDEA product provides free core Java and Kotlin functionality, users who do not need Ultimate can simply continue using the legitimate free mode after the trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

IntelliJ IDEA is one of the strongest Windows development environments for Java and Kotlin. Its intelligent completion, project-wide inspections, refactoring, debugger, Maven and Gradle integration, Git support, integrated terminal, plugins, and project-aware navigation provide a much more complete workflow than a basic source-code editor.

The unified product model also makes the current installation process simpler. Users no longer need to choose between separate Community and Ultimate downloads—install IntelliJ IDEA once, use the core functionality for free, and activate Ultimate only when its advanced features are needed.

For Java development, remember to configure an appropriate standalone JDK even though IntelliJ IDEA includes its own runtime for running the IDE.

For the safest current Windows build, download IntelliJ IDEA directly from JetBrains.