Hard reset in PyCharm

When to use a hard reset

Use a hard reset when PyCharm misbehaves in a way that is not explained by logs or usual troubleshooting, for example:

• IDE fails to start or crashes immediately
• Persistent UI corruption or broken layout
• Settings are stuck or randomly reset
• Severe and unexplained performance problems
• Persistent “IDE internal error” / fatal error dialogs

A hard reset fully resets PyCharm’s configuration and local caches. This often resolves issues caused by corrupted settings, incompatible plugins, or incomplete updates, but it will also remove your custom configuration.

Warning: A hard reset removes your custom settings, keymaps, code styles, and other IDE configuration. Local history stored in caches may also be lost. If possible, export your settings first.

Cause

These symptoms are most commonly caused by:

• Corrupted configuration files
• Incompatible or broken plugins
• Incomplete or failed IDE updates
• File-system, antivirus, or disk issues that damage configuration or cache directories

Resolution

To perform a hard reset, you need to back up and remove (or rename) PyCharm’s configuration and caches directories so that PyCharm recreates them with default values on the next start.

1. Close PyCharm

1. Save your work.
2. Completely close PyCharm and ensure there are no lingering java / PyCharm processes in your system’s Task Manager / Activity Monitor.

2. Locate the configuration and caches directories

Find the PyCharm configuration and caches directories for your version and operating system (Directories used by the IDE). Typical paths are:

Windows

• Configuration: %APPDATA%\JetBrains\PyCharm<version>
• Caches: %LOCALAPPDATA%\JetBrains\PyCharm<version>\

macOS

• Configuration: ~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/PyCharm<version>
• Caches: ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains/PyCharm<version>

Linux

• Configuration: ~/.config/JetBrains/PyCharm<version>
• Caches: ~/.cache/JetBrains/PyCharm<version>

Replace <version> with your actual PyCharm version (for example, PyCharm2026.1.2).

If you have multiple versions installed, make sure you are working with the directory that corresponds to the affected version.

3. Back up the configuration and caches

1. In each location above, create a backup by renaming the directory, for example:
   • PyCharm2026.1.2 → PyCharm2026.1.2.old
2. Repeat this for both:
   • The configuration directory
   • The caches directory

This keeps your old data in case you need to restore or inspect it later.

4. Start PyCharm with a clean configuration

1. Launch PyCharm again.
2. PyCharm will create new configuration and caches directories as if it is started for the first time.
3. Configure only the minimum necessary settings (JDK, interpreter, project, etc.) and check whether the original problem is gone.