Files and folders disappear from Project view, files are unexpectedly closed in Editor (Mac OS)

Symptoms of the problem

• Files and folders disappear from the Project view

• Files are unexpectedly closed in the Editor window

• All tabs are getting closed when switching to a different app and then returning to IntelliJ IDEA

• Project disappears when the focus is switched outside the IDE

  files disappear.mov

Cause

MacOS blocks/restricts access to the project directory when it is stored in one of the following system locations:

• Documents
• Desktop
• Downloads

IDE should notify users when this happens, but it doesn't at the moment. We are working on fixing this in IDEA should notify users on macOS if there is no access to the directory of the project and require access (IDE project files disappear and reappear, or fail to show any files due to permission issues).

Solution 1

1. Go to Apple menu -> System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Files and Folders
2. Grant permission to the IDE to access the abovementioned folders. See instructions.

Solution 2

Move your project outside of the Documents/Desktop/Downloads folder.

Solution 3

If there are non-ASCII characters in your project folder name (e.g., ぴ or ó), move the project into a directory with only ASCII characters in the path.

We have recently fixed this particular problem in macOS: IDE fails to show project folder if the path is not in Unicode NFC form. It might help to update to version 2024.2.3+ of the IDE.