Getting started the most important source of information about intellij idea is this online help to access it from intellij idea do one of the following from the main menu select help help press f1 on the keyboard click in a dialog or a tool window. With intellij idea up and running click import project on the welcome screen or file open on the main menu in the pop up dialog make sure to select either maven s pomxml or gradle s buildgradle file under the complete folder intellij idea will create a project with all the code from the guide ready to run. Create a new java project in intellij idea a project helps you organize your source code tests libraries that you use build instructions and your personal settings in a single unit launch intellij idea if the welcome screen opens click new project otherwise from the main menu select file new project. Choose a folder to install intellij idea to in most cases leave this as the default choose a start menu folder to crete intellij idea shortcuts in most cases leave this as the default choose whether to create a desktop shortcut and choose whether to associate various java files with intellij idea press next and wait for it to install