Top IntelliJ IDEA Keyboard Shortcuts Every Java Developer Must Know

Auto Code Generation

Common shortcuts such as fori, sout, psvm + Tab generate loops, System.out statements, and main methods automatically. For example, typing user.for +Tab expands to for (User user : users), and user.getBirthday().var +Tab creates Date birthday = user.getBirthday();. Press Tab after a code template to insert the code.

Navigation Shortcuts

Ctrl+Alt+O – Optimize imports.

Alt+Insert – Generate code (getters/setters, constructors, etc.) or use the right‑click Generate menu.

fori/sout/psvm + Tab – Boilerplate generation.

Ctrl+Alt+T – Generate try/catch blocks or use Alt+Enter.

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+U – Toggle case.

Alt+Enter – Quick‑fix suggestions.

Ctrl+Space – Basic code completion; Ctrl+Shift+Space – Smart completion.

Ctrl+Shift+Enter – Complete statement (add parentheses, semicolon, braces).

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T – Open the Refactor menu.

Shift+F6 – Rename.

F6 – Move.

F5 – Copy.

Alt+Delete – Safe delete.

Ctrl+Alt+N – Inline.

Search Shortcuts

Ctrl+Shift+Backspace – Jump to the last edit location.

Ctrl+Alt+←/→ – Navigate back/forward through edited places.

Alt+7 – Show file structure on the left.

Ctrl+F12 – Pop‑up file structure.

Alt+F7 – Find usages of a method, variable, or class.

Ctrl+N – Find a class.

Ctrl+Shift+N – Find a file.

Ctrl+G – Go to line.

Ctrl+F / Ctrl+Shift+F – Find text in current file or whole project.

Ctrl+R / Ctrl+Shift+R – Replace text in current file or whole project.

Alt+Shift+C – Find modified files.

Ctrl+E – Recent files.

F3 / Shift+F3 – Navigate to next/previous occurrence.

Alt+F3 – Highlight all occurrences of selected text.

Other Useful Shortcuts

Shift+Enter – Start a new line.

Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z – Undo / Redo.

Ctrl+Alt+F12 – Open file explorer.

Alt+F1 – Locate file in project view.

Ctrl+W – Expand selection; Ctrl+Shift+W – Shrink selection.

Ctrl+←/→ – Move cursor by word.

Ctrl+[/] – Jump to previous/next code block.

Ctrl+Y – Delete line; Ctrl+D – Duplicate line.

Ctrl+/ – Toggle line comment; Ctrl+Shift+/ – Toggle block comment.

Ctrl+H – Show class hierarchy.

Ctrl+B – Go to declaration; Ctrl+Alt+B – Go to implementation.

Ctrl+Shift+A – Find any IDE action or command.

Alt+Insert – Create new class, method, etc.

Ctrl+Alt+L – Reformat code; Ctrl+Alt+O – Optimize imports.

Alt+Num – Switch IDE panels (1‑project, 3‑search results, etc.).

Ctrl+Tab – Switch editor tabs; Ctrl+E / Ctrl+Shift+E – Recent files.

Ctrl+Alt+T – Create unit test.

Alt+Shift+F10 – Run; Shift+F9 – Debug; Ctrl+F2 – Stop.

SVN Shortcuts

Ctrl+K – Commit to SVN.

Ctrl+T – Update from SVN.

Debugging Shortcuts

Alt+F8 – Evaluate expression.

Alt+Shift+F9 – Start Debug.

Alt+Shift+F10 – Start Run.

Ctrl+Shift+F9 – Compile.

Ctrl+Shift+F8 – View breakpoints.

F7 – Step into.

Shift+F7 – Smart step into.

Alt+Shift+F7 – Force step into.

F8 – Step over.

Shift+F8 – Step out.

Alt+Shift+F8 – Force step over.

Alt+F9 – Run to cursor.

Ctrl+Alt+F9 – Force run to cursor.

F9 – Resume program.

Alt+F10 – Jump to breakpoint.

Refactoring Shortcuts

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T – Open Refactor menu.

Shift+F6 – Rename.

F6 – Move.

F5 – Copy.

Alt+Delete – Safe delete.

Ctrl+Alt+N – Inline.

Top 10 IntelliJ IDEA Shortcuts (by Frequency)

Intelligent completion – Ctrl+Shift+Space Self‑fix – Alt+Enter Refactor everything – Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T Search Everywhere – Shift+Shift Smart code completion – Ctrl+Shift+Enter Generate code – Alt+Insert Find actions – Ctrl+Shift+A Navigate edit history – Ctrl+Alt+←/→ Jump to last edit – Ctrl+Shift+Backspace Find TODO –

Alt+6