IntelliJ IDEA Documentation
Basic procedures to create and optimize imports in IntelliJ IDEA. Learn more how to import the missing import or XML namespace.
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Auto import

If you're using a class, a static method, or a static field that you haven't imported yet, the IDE shows you a tooltip prompting to add a missing import statement so that you don't have to add it manually. Press Alt+Enter to accept the suggestion.

If there's more than one possible source of import, pressing Alt+Enter will open the list of suggestions.

To change the background color for import tooltip, press Ctrl+Alt+S and go to Editor | Color Scheme | General | Popups and Hints | Question hint.

Automatically add import statements

You can configure the IDE to automatically add import statements if there are no options to choose from.

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open settings and then select Editor | General | Auto Import.

Select the Add unambiguous imports on the fly checkbox, and apply the changes.

When you are pasting blocks of code that contain references to classes or static methods and fields that are not yet imported, the IDE automatically inserts the missing import statements. If you want to change that, from the Insert imports on paste list, select Ask to confirm every insertion or Never to insert import statements manually.

Import packages instead of single classes

IntelliJ IDEA suggests importing single classes by default. You can change the settings to import entire packages instead.

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open settings and then select Editor | Code Style | Java | Imports.

Clear the Use single class import checkbox, and apply the changes.

Disable auto import

If you want to completely disable auto-import, make sure that:

All import tooltips are disabled.

The automatic insertion of import statements is disabled.

Exclude classes and packages from auto import

The list of import suggestions may include classes and packages that you don't need. You can exclude redundant entries from automatic import so that the list of suggestions contains only relevant items.

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open settings and then select Editor | General | Auto Import.

In the Exclude from auto-import and completion section, click Alt+Insert, and specify a class or a package that you want to exclude.

You can also select whether you want to exclude items from the current project or from all projects (globally).

Exclude a class or a package on the fly

Press Alt+Enter on a missing class to open the list of import suggestions.

Click the right arrow next to a package and select an item (a class or an entire package) that you want to exclude.

In the Exclude from auto-import and completion section of the Auto Import dialog, select whether you want to exclude items from the current project or from all projects, and apply the changes.

Optimize imports

The Optimize Imports feature helps you remove unused imports and organize import statements in the current file or in all files in a directory at once according to the rules specified in Settings | Editor | Code Style | <language> | Imports.

Optimize all imports

Select a file or a directory in the Project tool window (View | Tool Windows | Project).

Do any of the following:

In the main menu, go to Code | Optimize Imports (or press Ctrl+Alt+O).

From the context menu, select Optimize Imports.

(If you've selected a directory) Choose whether you want to optimize imports in all files in the directory, or only in locally modified files (if your project is under version control), and click Run.

Remove unused imports

Place the caret at the unused import statement and press Alt+Enter or use the icon.

Unused statements are greyed out by default.

From the list of suggestions, select Remove unused imports.

Optimize imports when committing changes to Git

If your project is under version control, you can instruct IntelliJ IDEA to optimize imports in modified files before committing them to VCS.

Press Ctrl+K or select Git | Commit from the main menu.

Click and in the commit message area, select the Optimize imports checkbox.

Automatically optimize imports on save

You can configure the IDE to optimize imports in modified files automatically when your changes are saved.

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open settings and then select Tools | Actions on Save.

Enable the Optimize imports option.

Additionally, from the All file types list, select the types of files in which you want to optimize imports.

Apply the changes and close the dialog.

Optimize imports when reformatting a file

You can tell IntelliJ IDEA to optimize imports in a file every time it is reformatted.

Open the file in the editor, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L, and make sure the Optimize imports checkbox is selected in the Reformat File dialog that opens.

After that every time you press Ctrl+Alt+L in this project, IntelliJ IDEA will optimize its imports automatically.

Optimize imports on the fly

You can also configure the IDE to automatically optimize imports. IntelliJ IDEA will remove or modify import statements according to the rules specified in Settings | Editor | Code Style | <language> | Imports as you work in the editor.

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open settings and then select Editor | General | Auto Import.

Enable the Optimize imports on the fly option and apply the changes.

Last modified: 28 June 2024