Commit message not cleared after commit or push: Enable "Clear initial commit message" option

Problem

After completing a commit or push in IntelliJ IDEA, the previously typed commit message remains in the Commit tool window text field instead of being cleared. The message persists between IDE sessions, which differs from the expected behavior of starting each new commit with an empty message field.

This behavior is observed on Linux and Windows.

Cause

The Clear initial commit message option in Settings | Version Control | Commit is disabled. When disabled, IntelliJ IDEA preserves the commit message text in the field after a successful commit and across IDE restarts.

The option name is non-intuitive — it suggests the message is only cleared at IDE startup, but it actually controls clearing the field after every successful commit. A request to rename the option for clarity is tracked in IJPL-80126.

Resolution

Enable the option:

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+Alt+S on Windows/Linux, ⌘+, on macOS).
2. Navigate to Version Control | Commit.
3. Enable the Clear initial commit message checkbox.
4. Click OK to apply.

The commit message field is now cleared automatically after each successful commit.