How to block downloading files from remote the remote IDE

Question

I want to block the Download File to Local Machine action for remote IDEs. How should I do that?

Answer

Set an environment variable on the remote machine:

export INTELLIJ_BLOCK_REMOTE_COPY="YES"

This way will be switched off:

• Downloading and uploading files from the IDE UI.
• Copying into the external system clipboard from the IDE UI.

Copy/Paste functionality within the IDE window will still work as well as pasting from the system clipboard.