Everything You Need to Know About IntelliJ IDEA 2026.1.2

The latest maintenance release of IntelliJ IDEA, version 2026.1.2, is now available. This update focuses on squashing several bugs and improving overall stability, ensuring a smoother coding experience. In this Q&A, we'll walk you through the most important fixes, how to get the update, and what to do if you encounter any issues.

How can I install IntelliJ IDEA 2026.1.2?

Updating to the newest version is straightforward. Inside the IDE, go to Help > Check for Updates. Alternatively, you can use the Toolbox App—it will automatically notify you when a release is available. For Ubuntu users, the update can be installed via snaps. If you prefer a direct download, head over to the official JetBrains website and grab the installer for your platform.

What are the key fixes in this release?

This version addresses several long-standing annoyances and critical bugs:

• Project opening via .ipr files now works correctly again when generated by Gradle's idea task.
• Java ternary expression indentation no longer goes haywire when chained method calls are used.
• Windows users will no longer see the context menu pop up unexpectedly when pressing Alt+Enter.
• Live templates that rely on groovyScript are fully functional again.
• Drag-and-drop code within the editor no longer causes the selected code to vanish if you drop it at its original position.
• Opening a diff in an external tool by double-clicking a file in the Commit tool window works as expected once more.
• The MCP Server no longer throws illegal character errors for projects with spaces in their file paths.
• Workspaces behave reliably again.
• Several IDE freezes have been eliminated, making the whole environment more responsive.

What was wrong with Java ternary expression indentation?

In earlier versions, when you wrote a ternary expression that included chained method calls, the auto-indentation would sometimes place the condition and the branches at inconsistent levels, making the code harder to read. For example, a line like result = condition ? methodA().methodB() : methodC() could get misaligned. This release fixes the indentation rules so that ternary expressions with method chains are formatted cleanly, following Java conventions. Developers who rely on consistent formatting for code reviews will appreciate this correction.

Why was Alt+Enter opening the context menu on Windows?

This was a known bug introduced in a previous update where the Alt+Enter shortcut—normally used for quick-fixes and intentions—was inadvertently triggering the right-click context menu on Windows systems. This disrupted workflows for many developers who depend on this key combination to apply quick fixes or generate code. The issue has now been resolved, restoring the intended behavior. Alt+Enter will once again invoke the IntelliJ IDEA intention actions rather than the system context menu.

Are live templates with groovyScript working again?

Yes. Live templates that make use of the groovyScript macro had stopped functioning correctly, often causing errors or failing to expand. This was a regression that affected custom templates created by users and plugin developers. With version 2026.1.2, the groovyScript functionality is fully restored, so you can again leverage Groovy scripting inside your live templates to generate sophisticated code snippets, such as variable initializations, logger declarations, or any custom logic you've defined.

What happened with dragging and dropping code?

Some users reported that when they selected a block of code and dragged it a short distance, then released the mouse at the original position (intending to cancel the move), the selected text would simply disappear from the editor. This was a disorienting bug that could lead to lost work if you weren't careful. Fortunately, the fix prevents this anomalous behavior. Now, dragging and dropping code works as expected: if you drop it back where it came from, nothing changes; if you drop it elsewhere, the code moves accordingly.

Are there any other notable improvements?

Beyond the listed fixes, this release resolves several IDE freezes that could occur during heavy project loading, indexing, or while using certain plugins. These freezes were reported by users working with large codebases, and the underlying causes have been addressed to provide a smoother experience. Additionally, the MCP Server now gracefully handles file paths containing spaces—no more illegal character errors. For a complete list of all resolved issues, refer to the official release notes. If you encounter any new bugs, please report them to the JetBrains issue tracker.