IntelliJ IDEA is the flagship JetBrains IDE, and its shortcut system is the foundation every other JetBrains tool shares. This complete list of IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcut keys (Windows/Linux keymap) explains search-everywhere navigation, refactorings, editing, debugging and version control in plain words.
Search and Navigation Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Shift, Shift (double Shift) | Search Everywhere (files, classes, actions, settings) |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Find Action (run any IDE command by name) |
| Ctrl + N | Go to Class |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Go to File |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N | Go to Symbol |
| Ctrl + E | Recent Files popup |
| Ctrl + Alt + Left / Right Arrow | Navigate back / forward through edit locations |
| Ctrl + Shift + Backspace | Go to the last edit location |
| Ctrl + G | Go to a line/column |
| Ctrl + F12 | File Structure popup (methods of the current file) |
| Ctrl + H | Type Hierarchy |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Method Hierarchy |
| Ctrl + Alt + H | Call Hierarchy |
| Ctrl + B or Ctrl + click | Go to Declaration |
| Ctrl + Alt + B | Go to Implementation |
| Ctrl + U | Go to the super method / super class |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Go to Type Declaration |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Open the Quick Definition lookup |
| Alt + F7 | Find Usages |
| Ctrl + F7 | Find usages in the current file (highlight) |
| Ctrl + Alt + F7 | Show Usages popup |
| Alt + Up / Down Arrow | Go to the previous / next method |
| Ctrl + [ / ] | Move to the code block start / end |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switcher (jump between files and tool windows) |
| F4 | Edit Source (jump from a tool window into the editor) |
Editing Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Space | Basic code completion |
| Ctrl + Shift + Space | Smart code completion (type-aware) |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Complete the current statement (adds braces/semicolons) |
| Alt + Enter | Show intention actions and quick fixes |
| Ctrl + P | Parameter info |
| Ctrl + Q | Quick documentation lookup |
| Ctrl + F1 | Show the error/warning description at the caret |
| Ctrl + / | Comment / uncomment with a line comment |
| Ctrl + Shift + / | Comment / uncomment with a block comment |
| Ctrl + W | Extend the selection (word → expression → block) |
| Ctrl + Shift + W | Shrink the selection |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate the current line or selection |
| Ctrl + Y | Delete the line at the caret |
| Ctrl + Shift + J | Join lines |
| Shift + Enter | Start a new line below |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Toggle case of the selection |
| Alt + Shift + click / drag | Column (rectangular) selection mode editing |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste from the clipboard history |
| Ctrl + Alt + L | Reformat code |
| Ctrl + Alt + O | Optimize imports |
| Ctrl + Alt + I | Auto-indent the current lines |
| Tab / Shift + Tab | Indent / unindent the selection |
Refactoring Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Shift + F6 | Rename (class, method, variable — everywhere) |
| F6 | Move (class/member to another package/file) |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T | Open the Refactor This menu |
| Ctrl + Alt + M | Extract Method |
| Ctrl + Alt + V | Extract Variable |
| Ctrl + Alt + F | Extract Field |
| Ctrl + Alt + C | Extract Constant |
| Ctrl + Alt + P | Extract Parameter |
| Ctrl + Alt + N | Inline (variable/method) |
| F5 | Copy (class/file) |
| Alt + Delete | Safe Delete (checks usages first) |
| Ctrl + F6 | Change Signature |
Run, Debug and VCS Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + F9 | Make (build) the project |
| Shift + F10 | Run |
| Shift + F9 | Debug |
| Ctrl + Shift + F10 | Run the current context (file/test under the caret) |
| Alt + Shift + F10 | Select a run configuration to run |
| Alt + Shift + F9 | Select a configuration to debug |
| F8 | Step over |
| F7 | Step into |
| Shift + F7 | Smart step into (choose which call to enter) |
| Shift + F8 | Step out |
| Alt + F9 | Run to the cursor |
| Alt + F8 | Evaluate an expression (while debugging) |
| F9 | Resume the program |
| Ctrl + F8 | Toggle a breakpoint |
| Ctrl + Shift + F8 | View all breakpoints |
| Ctrl + F2 | Stop the running process |
| Ctrl + K | Commit changes (VCS) |
| Ctrl + T | Update the project from VCS |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Push commits |
| Alt + ` (accent) | Open the VCS operations popup |
| Ctrl + Alt + Z | Roll back changes in the selected files |
| Alt + F12 | Open the Terminal tool window (newer versions) |
| Ctrl + Alt + S | Open Settings |
| Ctrl + Shift + F12 | Toggle the maximized editor |
| Esc | Return focus to the editor |
| Shift + Esc | Hide the active tool window |
Tips for IntelliJ IDEA Users
Double Shift (Search Everywhere) plus Ctrl + Shift + A (Find Action) mean you never need to remember where a command lives — only what it is called. Alt + Enter is the IDE's brain: it fixes errors, adds imports, converts loops and suggests refactorings in context. And Shift + F6 (Rename) is refactoring-grade: it updates references, strings and comments safely, which plain find-and-replace can never do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Search Everywhere in IntelliJ IDEA?
Tap Shift twice. One box searches classes, files, symbols, actions and settings together; keep typing to filter, and Enter jumps straight there.
How do I rename a class or variable safely in IntelliJ?
Place the caret on it and press Shift + F6. IDEA renames every real reference and offers to update comments and strings too.
How do I run the current test or file?
Press Ctrl + Shift + F10 — IDEA builds a run configuration for whatever is under the caret (a test method, a main class, a file) and runs it.
How do I reformat code in IntelliJ IDEA?
Press Ctrl + Alt + L for the file (or selection), and Ctrl + Alt + O to clean up imports at the same time.
By Umar Farooq, Tech Know.
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