How to enable Intellij hot code swap

After below modifications and enabling hot swap, a change in a Java file took 1-2 seconds of restart time. (Initial start time is around 7 seconds for me).

I hope below method helps...


First, you need to check “Make project automatically” in preferences menu.

To open preferences menu;

you can go to top menu and click;

IntelliJ IDEA -> Preferences

or you can type below shortcut via keyboard;

cmd + option + s

Then, you can check Make project automatically as in below picture;

enter image description here

Secondly, you need to modify compiler.automake.allow.when.app.running registry setting as true.

To open registry, you need to click below keyboard shortcut:

cmd + shift + a

Type registry as in below picture, select Registry, and hit enter button of keyboard;

enter image description here

After Registry window opened, type compiler.automake to see compiler.automake.allow.when.app.running option, and check it as in below picture;

enter image description here

Then, you need to restart IntelliJ to make registry changes work.


After saving your class while waiting on your breakpoint just recompile your class with Build -> Compile 'MainTest.java' or press Ctrl+Shift+F9 with the standard key bindings.

IntelliJ IDEA will then show a small dialog in which it asks you if you want to reload that class.