IntelliJ IDEA is a top-tier IDE for Java development, known for its smart features and developer-friendly tools. There are several ways to reduce its RAM footprint and improve performance, without sacrificing functionality. This article will explore how to minimize IntelliJ’s RAM usage through simple settings and performance tweaks.
1. Optimize IntelliJ’s Memory Allocation
IntelliJ IDEA runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which controls how much memory the IDE can use through parameters like -Xmx. By default, IntelliJ IDEA allocates 2048 MiB (2 GB) of maximum heap memory. While this is suitable for most use cases, increasing or decreasing it can significantly affect performance depending on your setup.
To change the memory allocation:
- Navigate to Help > Change Memory Settings from the main menu.
- Adjust the Maximum Heap Size to increase or decrease memory usage.
- Click Save and Restart for the changes to take effect.
This setting modifies the -Xmx JVM option. Reducing this value can limit IntelliJ’s memory consumption, useful on low-RAM machines or when running multiple heavy applications. However, allocating too little memory may result in slower performance, especially when indexing, building, or managing large projects.
2. Use Power Save Mode
Power Save Mode in IntelliJ IDEA helps reduce memory consumption by disabling background tasks like code inspections, real-time syntax analysis, and code completion suggestions. To enable Power Save Mode:
- Go to File > Power Save Mode.
When enabled, IntelliJ reduces its resource usage, making it less memory-intensive, especially during long-running or resource-heavy tasks. While Power Save Mode disables certain features, it’s useful when working on smaller tasks, ensuring that your system stays responsive.
3. Disable Unused Plugins
Plugins enhance IntelliJ’s capabilities, but they also increase memory usage. Disabling plugins we don’t need can free up valuable resources. To manage plugins:
- Go to File > Settings (Preferences on macOS) > Plugins.
- Review the list and disable any unnecessary or unused plugins.
- Restart IntelliJ for the changes to take effect.
Note: Be cautious when disabling core plugins, as some features may depend on them.
4. Tune JVM Options
For even finer control over IntelliJ’s memory usage, we can tune additional JVM options that influence garbage collection, heap size, and other memory-related parameters.
Modify IDE JVM Options
- Go to Help > Edit Custom VM Options
- A file like
idea.vmoptionswill open. Edit the following parameters:
1 2 3 4 5 | -Xms512m-Xmx1024m-XX:+UseG1GC-XX:+DisableExplicitGC-XX:SoftRefLRUPolicyMSPerMB=50 |
-Xms512m– Initial heap size set to 512 MB. This is the amount of memory the JVM will allocate initially when starting IntelliJ IDEA.-Xmx1024m– Maximum heap size set to 1024 MB (1 GB). This limits the maximum amount of memory that IntelliJ IDEA can use.-XX:+UseG1GC– Uses the G1 garbage collector to improve memory management and reduce pauses.-XX:+DisableExplicitGC– Disables explicit garbage collection calls, which prevents unnecessary memory cleanup that may cause performance spikes.-XX:SoftRefLRUPolicyMSPerMB=50– Configures the JVM to collect soft references when the heap size reaches 50 milliseconds per megabyte, helping to improve memory efficiency by releasing unused objects sooner.
5. Fine-Tune Code Inspection Settings
IntelliJ performs continuous code analysis in the background, offering real-time insights like syntax errors, code quality warnings, and performance suggestions. While incredibly helpful, these inspections consume significant CPU and memory, particularly in large codebases. We can reduce this overhead by disabling or limiting inspections:
- Navigate to File > Settings (Preferences on macOS) > Editor > Inspections.
- Disable inspections that are not relevant to your current project or development environment.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Fine-tuning inspections can drastically reduce CPU and memory usage without compromising development quality.
6. Conclusion
In this article, we explored practical ways to reduce memory usage in Java IntelliJ IDEA, focusing on performance tweaks, memory settings, and inspection configurations. Whether you are working on a resource-constrained machine or managing large projects, optimizing IntelliJ’s memory footprint can lead to faster indexing, smoother navigation, and an overall more responsive development experience. By applying these tips, you can keep IntelliJ IDEA lightweight and efficient, without sacrificing the features that make it a top choice for Java development.
This article covered how to reduce memory usage in Java IntelliJ.
