How to view method information in Android Studio

Question

In Eclipse, when you hover your mouse over a method, a window would appear with a description of what the method does, what the parameters mean and what it returns. Is there a way to get Android Studio to do the same thing?

There is a faster, much more convenient approach. Just press ctrl + space (Mac OS X) when your cursor is over a method. It will open up a small dialog window with the documentations. — ChallengeAccepted, Jul 19 '16 at 23:01
On Catalina (at least) ⌘ + SPACE is reserved for the system's Spotlight Search. However, ⌥ + SPACE works fine — Maciej Beimcik, Mar 26 '21 at 09:22

score 960 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:16

960

The easiest and the most straightforward way:

To activate: menu File → Settings → Editor → General

For Mac OS X, Android Studio → Preferences → Editor → General and check Show quick documentation on mouse move:

Other ways:

You can go into your IntelliJ IDEA's bin folder and search for idea.properties. Add this line to the document:

auto.show.quick.doc=true

Now you'll have the same floating documentation window like in Eclipse.

You have to press Ctrl + Q to see the Javadoc.

You can pin the window and make the documentation appear every time you select a method with your mouse though.

Android Studio 1.0: You have to hold Ctrl if you want to get hold of the documentation window, for example, scrolling documentation. Otherwise, as you move your mouse away from the method, the documentation window will disappear.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:16

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 18 '13 at 00:56

Ahmad

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The CTRL+Q alternative for OS X users is F1. – DJH Jan 08 '14 at 17:50
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In Android Studio 0.8 "Preferences" is actually File->Settings – personne3000 Nov 25 '14 at 21:41
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+1 for mentioning to hold ctrl. It is really annoying to see the window is gone when mouse is moving. Previously I dock the window. Now I can use the quick floating window again. Great. – CallMeLaNN Mar 01 '16 at 16:21
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In Android Studio 4.1, it is now under `Code Editing`. OSX: Preferences > Code Editing > Quick Documentation – DroidClicketyClacker Oct 13 '20 at 14:50

score 125 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:15

125

Yes, you can. Go to menu File → Settings → Editor → Show quick documentation on mouse move

Or, in Mac OS X, go to Android Studio → Preferences → Editor → General → Show quick doc on mouse move.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:15

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 19 '13 at 06:12

Hải Phong

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score 32 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:19

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It comes very handy if you create a keymap for functionalities you use very frequently. By default (if you select an OS X v10.5 (Leopard) and later keymap):

Ctrl + P: To see what parameters are expected by the function
Command + J: To see the documentation
Ctrl + Space: To see the autocomplete suggestions

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:19

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 11 '15 at 11:30

Varun Verma

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Now in Android Studio Chipmunk, command + J is the key. Previous releases it was other combination :c – Hanako Jun 02 '22 at 17:44

score 20 · Answer 4 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:33

20

In addition to the answers here, you might want to make sure that the documentation is downloaded. To do that, go to SDK Manager:

And then the SDK Tools tab and make sure Documentation for Android SDK is installed.

If it isn't, check the box and click Apply.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:33

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 21 '18 at 01:34

strikerdude10

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score 16 · Answer 5 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:10

Android Studio 2.x.x
Moved under menu Editor → General

Older Versions

Using Windows 7 and Android Studio 1.0.x it took me a while to figure out the steps provided in the answer.

To help further visitors save some time, here is the way I did it:

Go to menu File → Settings or press Ctrl + Alt + S.

The following window will open and check Show quick doc on mouse move under IDE Settings → Editor.

Show quick doc

Or just press Ctrl and hover your move over your method, class, etc.

score 14 · Answer 6 · edited Mar 15 '18 at 20:08

14

If you just need a shortcut, then it is Ctrl + Q on Linux (and Windows). Just hover the mouse on the method and press Ctrl + Q to see the doc.

edited Mar 15 '18 at 20:08

K.Dᴀᴠɪs

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answered Apr 15 '15 at 13:15

Richa

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score 12 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 27 '17 at 05:35

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If you need only Parameter info then:

On Mac, it's assigned to Command+P

On Windows, it's assigned to Ctrl+P

If you need document info then:

On Mac, it's assigned to Command+Q

On Windows, it's assigned to Ctrl+Q

answered Feb 27 '17 at 05:35

Md Imran Choudhury

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What about on Linux? – Peter Mortensen Jul 08 '21 at 17:31
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Command+Q on Mac shuts down Android Studio lol. Ctrl+J is the shortcut for quick documentation. – M.Ed Jun 25 '22 at 12:48
Works for Windows – Max Aug 10 '22 at 14:38

score 7 · Answer 8 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:13

7

Go to Editor → Preference → Editor → General and choose Show quick doc on mouse hover!

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:13

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jul 07 '15 at 10:19

Mukul Aggarwal

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score 7 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 26 '16 at 11:57

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On Mac the default key combination for showing the quick documentation is: CTRL + F1

The cursor has to be on the method when using this.

answered Apr 26 '16 at 11:57

Vlad

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score 7 · Answer 10 · edited Mar 15 '18 at 20:09

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On my Mac, CtrlF1 stopped working, but F1 on its own works.

edited Mar 15 '18 at 20:09

K.Dᴀᴠɪs

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answered Jun 15 '16 at 11:37

sirFunkenstine

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score 6 · Answer 11 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:36

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For Android Studio 4.1 and 4.2, this checkbox has moved under Editor → General → Code Completion.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:36

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jan 04 '21 at 23:32

Visual Sharp

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score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:30

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Many of the other answers are all well, but if you want an informational tooltip instead of a full-blown window then do this: after enabling it using Ahmad's answer then click on the little pin on the upper right corner:

After this the method information will appear on a tooltip like almost every other mainstream IDE.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:30

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 22 '16 at 23:30

Aspiring Dev

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score 2 · Answer 13 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:31

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MacBook: ⌘ + J or Fn + F1 does the same.

Also, use the one from the editor definition as explained above.

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:31

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 06 '18 at 07:20

sivi

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score 0 · Answer 14 · edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:35

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I'm using Visual Studio too much and I want to see parameters when I click on Ctrl + Space. That's why I'm using Visual Studio keys.

To change the keymap to the Visual Studio keymap:

edited Jul 08 '21 at 17:35

Peter Mortensen

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answered Feb 25 '19 at 09:55

uzay95

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score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Jun 23 '22 at 23:29

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On Mac OS:

Preferences -> Editor -> Code Editing -> Quick Documentation -> Show quick documentation on hover

answered Jun 23 '22 at 23:29

A.G.

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How to view method information in Android Studio

15 Answers15

Older Versions

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