Project view suddenly missing files and folders

Problem

Sometimes the Git configuration of the project gets lost. Additionally, the source code seems to disappear from view within the Project tool window, although it remains present on the disk. This issue appears to occur after leaving the project idle for some time.

Resolution

1. Verify Directory Mappings:

   • Navigate to Settings → Version Control → Directory Mappings.
   • Ensure that the configured mappings align with the expected repository roots.

2. Check for Automatic Mapping Detection:

   • Confirm that the option Enable automatic mapping detection is enabled. If it is disabled, re-enable it and restart the IDE to ensure proper functionality.

3. Monitor the Settings:

   • If the issue occurs again, immediately review the Directory Mappings settings to see if any entries have been unexpectedly altered or removed.

4. Check the project structure configuration:

   • Open File > Project Structure > Modules > and check if the modules and sources directories are configured correctly.

5. Recreate the .idea folder:

   • Close the IDE, delete .idea folder and any *.iml files in your project root folder in file explorer, and re-import the project from existing sources