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I have a project within IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate 2016.1 that was using Java 1.7. I wanted to use a maven plugin that required Java 1.8, so I changed various Java settings in Intellij IDEA.

File -> Settings
    Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler
MyModule -> Open Module Settings
    Project Structure window, [Project Settings -> Modules] Dependencies tab 
    Project Structure window, [Project Settings -> Project] Project SDK and Project language level

IntelliJ IDEA has a really nice feature of keeping a "local history" when one changes source files in the editor. It would be nice if they kept a history for their settings files, or if they maintained backup settings files.

I can't find such a feature. When I look at the .idea directory containing the files that keep the setting information, e.g., misc.xml and compiler.xml, I don't see any backup files.

Does IntelliJ provide any way to backup to older settings? If not, I suppose I should get in the habit of making backup copies myself. But shouldn't modern development tools protect me from myself? ;)

kc2001
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  • Please see http://stackoverflow.com/a/12900859/104891. – CrazyCoder Oct 17 '17 at 20:54
  • @CrazyCoder - Thanks, that is helpful for knowing the places where the compiler version might be set. My question is really a more general one - after having made changes to settings, how can you revert back to prior settings? (Basically, almost like version control for settings, although a simple back up file would be a step in the right direction.) – kc2001 Oct 18 '17 at 00:05
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    You can actually manage your IDE settings via Git, see https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/sharing-your-ide-settings.html. However, the projects settings stored in .idea directory are not shared that way, since they are per project, you can commit them to your project version control, see https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/articles/206544839. – CrazyCoder Oct 18 '17 at 00:17

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