Is your JetBrains IDE turning into a memory hog? Try this simple fix

Alan Tai
4 min readFeb 8, 2024

Recent versions of JetBrains IDEs have been accused of insatiable memory consumption, leading to user frustration and unanswered support tickets. While the official solution remains elusive, I discovered a workaround that might just offer sweet relief: replacing the default bundled JetBrains runtime JBR Java 17 JDK with GraalVM Java 21 JDK.

The problem: Memory woes run amok

Many developers rely on JetBrains IDEs for their powerful features and smooth workflows. However, recent iterations have been plagued by high memory usage, often exceeding 4 GB and occasionally reaching a staggering 10 GB or even 20 GB. This can cripple OS performance, reduce productivity, and leave users exasperated. Note that changing the memory settings (Help -> Change Memory Settings) won’t help because this is a problem with JetBrains native memory usage.

Unanswered pleas: Frustration mounts

Despite user complaints and support tickets, JetBrains hasn’t yet provided a definitive solution. This leaves developers searching for alternatives, impacting their productivity and satisfaction.

The workaround emerges: GraalVM to the rescue!

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Alan Tai
Alan Tai

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