How to correct indentation in IntelliJ

Question

How can indentation be automatically (not manually) corrected in IntelliJ?

In Eclipse, it's possible to just highlight the code that needs indenting, right-click, and select Source > Correct indentation.

Is there any method for doing the same thing in IntelliJ?

score 217 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:18

217

Code → Reformat Code... (default Ctrl + Alt + L) for the whole file or Code → Auto-Indent Lines (default Ctrl + Alt + I) for the current line or selection.

You can customise the settings for how code is auto-formatted under File → Settings → Editor → Code Style.

To ensure comments are also indented to the same level as the code, you can simply do as follows:

_{(example for JavaScript)}

edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:18

Neuron

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answered Jan 28 '12 at 10:21

CrazyCoder

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it doesn't work for comments, is there any way for auto-indent for comments. I want to format code and comments of the same way that eclipse does. – dtrejogo Jul 29 '14 at 19:45
is there a way to do it for all classes in my project? – Ziad Halabi Aug 14 '15 at 09:21
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@ZiadHalabi reformat code from the project root context menu. – CrazyCoder Aug 15 '15 at 10:08
It is working, but only for lines beginning with `*`(line comments). If you have a paragraph block comments, with only first line beginning with `/*` and after last line ending with `*/`, with all intermediate line beginning with text, it does not work, when it also should. So... the logic is a little bit.. naive? – WesternGun Feb 21 '20 at 14:22

score 185 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 17 '20 at 08:09

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Just select the code and

on Windows do Ctrl + Alt + L
on Linux do Ctrl + Windows Key + Alt + L
on Mac do CMD + Option + L

edited Jun 17 '20 at 08:09

Community

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answered Jan 28 '12 at 10:50

junaidp

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consider accepting existing answer instead of answering yourself with exactly the same (Reformat Code... is Ctrl+Alt+L in the default Windows keymap). – CrazyCoder Jan 28 '12 at 10:53
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In Linux you will lock the screen. WTH this shortcurt is in the linux version? hahah – androidevil Apr 16 '13 at 17:36
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It is the same... Ctrl-Alt-L (I'm using Android Studio)... which is a small shame among other shames. Hopefully, the adoption of Android Studio will provide more traction to the Linux version. – davidcesarino Jul 02 '13 at 22:07
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In Linux, you can use it with the 'Super' (or Windows) key. So, Ctrl + Alt + Super + L, does the required indentation. – rajatkhanduja Nov 12 '13 at 14:28
For mac, use CMD+Alt+L – Dick Lucas Jul 25 '14 at 23:40
is there a way to do it for all classes in my project? – Ziad Halabi Aug 14 '15 at 09:21
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There is no ALt key in mac. What are you guys talking about? – Zhen Liu May 30 '17 at 16:54
actually i have the problem with reformat function of IntelliJ, indent should be tabs, adding spaces for var params on constructor for Typescript – Ninja Coding Aug 08 '17 at 02:07
Its' ALT + SHIFT + L on Linux now. Good. (Because CTRL + WIN + ALT + L is for the Ayyyy Lmaos, really) – David Tonhofer Aug 27 '17 at 15:52
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@ZhenLiu Of course there is. It's **⌥** (ALT Option) key. Here how it's look like on: [Mac keyboard](https://www.macworld.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3462401/Mac_keyboard_800home.jpg) – Nikita Kurtin Mar 26 '20 at 08:31

score 9 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:19

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Select Java editor settings for Intellij Select values for Tabsize, Indent & Continuation Intent (I choose 4,4 & 4)

Then Ctrl + Alt + L to format your file (or your selection).

edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:19

Neuron

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answered Sep 12 '17 at 12:25

Gapmeister66

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score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:20

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Ctrl + Alt + L works with Android Studio under xfce4 on Linux. I see that Gnome used to use this shortcut for lock screen, but in Gnome 3 it was changed to Super+L (AKA Windows+L): https://wiki.gnome.org/Design/OS/KeyboardShortcuts

edited Apr 20 '18 at 21:20

Neuron

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answered Nov 22 '15 at 14:47

Jim Van Zandt

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score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 10 '15 at 10:27

3

In Android Studio this works: Go to File->Settings->Editor->CodeStyle->Java. Under Wrapping and Braces uncheck "Comment at first Column" Then formatting shortcut will indent the comment lines as well.

answered Dec 10 '15 at 10:27

L. Spiekermann

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score 2 · Answer 6 · edited Jul 05 '21 at 04:43

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You can also try out Ctrl + Alt + I even though you can also use L as well.

edited Jul 05 '21 at 04:43

Pang

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answered Apr 11 '18 at 08:56

msingathi majola

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 21 '20 at 14:27

Solution of unchecking comment at first column is partially working, because it works for line comments, but not block comments.

So, with lines like:

/* first line
 * second line
 * ...
 */

or

// line 1
// line 2
// line 3
...

they are indented with "Auto reformat", but lines like:

/* first line
   second line
   ...
 */

the identation will not be fixed.

So you should:

add * or // before each line of comments
then uncheck Keep when reformatting -> comment at first column
and Auto reformat.

`Line selection mode` will help you(mouse middle key). To add line comments, search for `line comment` in key maps. — WesternGun, Feb 21 '20 at 14:31

How to correct indentation in IntelliJ

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