Import and export projects

Last modified: 02 August 2022

Open a project (simple import)

This option imports the selected project to IntelliJ IDEA as is (opens it). If you want to set custom settings while importing the project (for example, select another SDK or choose the libraries that you want to import), refer to Create a project from existing sources.

Launch IntelliJ IDEA.
If the Welcome screen opens, click Open.
Otherwise, from the main menu, select File | Open.
In the dialog that opens, select the directory in which your sources, libraries, and other assets are located and click Open.
When you import or clone a project for the first time, IntelliJ IDEA analyzes it. If the IDE detects more than one configuration (for example, Eclipse and Gradle), it prompts you to select which configuration you want to use.
note
If the project that you are importing uses a build tool, such as Maven or Gradle, we recommend that you select the build tool configuration.
Select the necessary configuration and click OK.
The IDE pre-configures the project according to your choice. For example, if you select , IntelliJ IDEA executes its build scripts, loads dependencies, and so on.
If you have been working with another project, select whether you want to open the new project in a new dialog or in the current one.

tip
For instructions on how to get a project from version control, refer to Check out a project from a remote host (clone).

Import a project with settings

note
This section describes the functionality that is available out of the box. If you are using a framework plugin, refer to the corresponding documentation section.

Import a project from an external model

Use this type of import if your project comes from an external model and you want to import it as a whole. In this case, IntelliJ IDEA interprets the project files (for example, your Eclipse project will be migrated to IntelliJ IDEA).

Launch IntelliJ IDEA.
If the Welcome screen opens, press Ctrl+Shift+A, type project from existing sources, and click the Import project from existing sources action in the popup.
Otherwise, from the main menu, select File | New | Project from Existing Sources….
In the dialog that opens, select the directory in which your sources, libraries, and other assets are located and click Open.
Select the external model that your project uses:
- Eclipse
- Maven
- Gradle or Android Gradle: select the necessary build tool and click Finish.
  For Maven and Gradle projects, the IDE configures the settings automatically. You will be able to adjust them after the project is imported.

Create a project from existing sources

Use this type of import to create an IntelliJ IDEA project over the existing source code that is not necessarily an exported project.

Launch IntelliJ IDEA.
If the Welcome screen opens, press Ctrl+Shift+A, type project from existing sources, and click the Import project from existing sources action in the popup.
Otherwise, from the main menu, select File | New | Project from Existing Sources….
In the dialog that opens, select the directory in which your sources, libraries, and other assets are located and click Open.
Select the Create project from existing sources option and click Next.
Specify the name and location and select a format for the new project. It's recommended that you use the directory-based format.
Click Next.
If you are importing the project to the same directory, the IDE asks you whether you want to overwrite it. If you click Yes, IntelliJ IDEA will overwrite the files in .idea directory and the .iml files, your source files will remain intact.
Select the directories that you want to use as source root directories (folders with your source code) and click Next.
Select the libraries that you want to add to the new project.
You can join several selected libraries or archives into a new library by clicking or split the selected library into two by clicking .
Click Next
Review module structure: select the modules that you want to include in your project.
You can merge several modules into one by clicking or split the selected module into two by clicking .
Click Next
Specify the SDK that you want to use.
If the necessary SDK is already defined in IntelliJ IDEA, select it from the list on the left. Otherwise, click and add a new SDK.
Click Next.
Enable support for the detected frameworks and technologies: select checkboxes next to the necessary items.
You can also specify how the files-indicators should be grouped: by type (by framework) or by directory (by location).
Click Finish.

Export a project

You can save a project as a .zip archive or export it to Eclipse.

Save a project as a .zip file

From the main menu, select File | Export | Project to Zip File.
In the dialog that opens, specify the path to which you want to save the .zip file with the project and click Save.

Your project will be saved to the specified location as a .zip archive.

Import and export projects

See also

Procedures

Import and export projects﻿

Open a project (simple import)﻿

note

tip

Import a project with settings﻿

note

Import a project from an external model﻿

Create a project from existing sources﻿

Export a project﻿

Save a project as a .zip file﻿

See also

Procedures

Import and export projects

Open a project (simple import)

Import a project with settings

Import a project from an external model

Create a project from existing sources

Export a project

Save a project as a .zip file