Unable to save settings : IntelliJ IDEA

Question

I use IntelliJ IDEA 15 and have a problem with the auto-saving. For example I make a new configuration, e.g. Show the line number. When I close IntelliJ and reopen my IDE, it doesn't save my configuration and shows me this message:

Unable to save settings : Failed to save settings . Please restart IntelliJ IDEA

Answer 1

I get this too (IntelliJ 15.0.5), but only when the "Markdown support" plugin is used. Once a .md file is visualised the error starts appearing.

For future reference current version: 2016.1.20160405.143

Not a very solution-oriented post, but maybe this can help someone further pinpoint the source of the error.

Answer 2

This workaround allows you continue using "Markdown Support".

Uninstall the latest version of "Markdown Support" and install version "8.0.0.20160127.143.1" from https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/7793?pr=idea. Everything works fine.

Answer 3

I was receiving the error with:

• IntelliJ v15.0.6
• "Markdown support" plugin version 2016.1.20160405.143

I uninstalled the Markdown support plugin (IntelliJ IDEA > Preferences... > Plugins > Markdown support), restarted IntelliJ, and am now able to save without error.

Answer 4

I delete this file : .IntelliJIdea
When I launch ./idea I should reconfigure all IntelliJ system (config/ extention/ theme/ licence ...)
So It's okay now but I think is not a good solution ...

Answer 5

This can also happen when the disk drive where the currently opened project is stored is full (0 bytes left on device). The system tries to write to the .idea folder but cannot, so it gives the same error as if there were no access rights.

This happened to me as there was a process writing to disk in the background until it was full.

Answer 6

I have tried everything from this SO thread but it did not worked. I solved it while I deleted the .idea folder from my project's windows path and then I restarted intellij.

Answer 7

Workaround for Windows users. My installation is located in:

"C:\Program Files\JetBrains\phpstorm"

The location gives it problems with the saving of files. (probably to do with user rights and UAC, not totally figured out what rights the folder needs, but for easy resolving I removed and reinstalled Phpstorm to

"C:\development\phpstorm" and it resolved the issue.

Answer 8

On OSX, I've uninstalled PhpStorm, and then have installed it again, always by using the JetBrains TOOLBOX.

Hope it helps!

Answer 9

Windows Defender was the issue

Windows defender has a protection component called ransomware protection (details: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/protect-ransomware-windows-defender/)

This restricts folder access (for selected folders) to some programs only.

Add Webstorm to allowed applications

Excerpt is below. Full guide with pictures are here: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-allow-blocked-apps-ransomware-protection-windows-10-october-2018-update

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on Virus & threat protection.
3. Under "Ransomware protection," click the Manage ransomware protection option.
4. Click the Allow an app through Controlled folder access option.
5. Click the Add an allowed app button.
6. Click the Recently blocked apps option.
7. Click the + (plus) button for the app you trust and want to allow.
8. Click the Close button.

Answer 10

For those who have a simular issue on windows machines:

I have applied the "hidden" property for the .[IntelliJ-Produkt][Version] folder in Users/[Username] folder. This was causing the issue. Don't do that.

Answer 11

I faced the same issue today and it might help some people if above solutions cant help. I am using dual boot system. Win 8 and Kubuntu. I got this problem with my intellij installed in Kubuntu. I realized my project was in a NTFS partition which was marked as READ ONLY. This happens sometimes when you shutdown windows and start computer into your linux.

Solution is to go back to your windows OS and restart it and switch to linux. Also, you could hold shift and press shutdown button, then choose to turn of your pc in the blue menu.

Answer 12

I encountered this problem when I open up IDEA for the first time after copying the old config files backed up with my Live CD USB before reinstalling my Ubuntu. I think it is because I copied the files from the old OS and to the new OS as root, so the ownership of the folder is changed. Now when I want to write to it as another user, it blocks me from doing it.

Change the ownership to your user and change permission to add write solves it. You use chown and chmod.

Answer 13

I got same error message for InteliJ WebStrorm saying

Unable to save settings Failed to save settings. Please restart WebStorm

It happened due to permission issue. if you don't have permission to save this message could pop-up. Please make sure you have write permission to the folder you are saving.

Answer 14

On windows 10 I had the same problem, I ran PhpStorm as administrator which fixed permission issues it had. Then I restarted PhpStorm without administrator permissions and everything worked fine.

It was a fresh install so no plugins other then the build in ones.

Answer 15

I've encountered this issue multiple times; rebooting my (windows) computer has always worked for me (while restarting Intellij didn't do anything).

Answer 16

It's because you don't have permission to save settings. On my macOS, I set write permission of my project.

Answer 17

I might be late at answering this but I did not see any accepted answers here.

I got a solution to this on other forum.

They suggested to start IntelliJ IDEA as Administrator.

It worked for me.

Hope it helps people who come here searching for answers.

Answer 18

for my Ubuntu, i fixed it by issuing this command. sudo chmod 777 /path/to/dir