How do I change the IntelliJ IDEA default JDK?

Question

This setting is changed in the "Structure for New Projects" dialog. Navigate to "File" -> "New Projects Settings" -> "Structure for New Projects..."

Next, modify the "Project SDK" and "Project Language Level" as appropriate.

---

Previous versions of IntelliJ IDEA had this setting in "File" -> "Other Settings" -> "Default Project Structure...".

IntelliJ IDEA 12 had this setting in "Template Project Structure..." instead of "Default Project Structure..."

Download and unpack a JDK archive file (.tar.gz) and add it as a SDK in the 'Project Structure' dialog box ( Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S )

click on the gif to enlarge

Make sure to set an appropriate 'Project language level' as well.

For Java 8 set it to 8, for Java 9 set it to 9, and so on.

• I am using IntelliJ IDEA 14.0.3, and I also have same question. Choose menu File \ Other Settings \ Default Project Structure...

• Choose Project tab, section Project language level, choose level from dropdown list, this setting is default for all new project.
  
  

I have found out that in recent versions of IntelliJ IDEA requires Java 1.8 but is not configured by default.

We can change the path or configure from Project Settings > Project > Project SDK

here we can edit or add the JDK´s path.

(in my case the path is located in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_102)

Change JDK version to 1.8

1. Language level File -> project Structure -> Modules -> Sources -> Language level -> 8-Lambdas, type annotations etc.

2. Project SDk File -> project Structure -> Project 1.8

3. Java compiler File -> Settings -> Build, Executions, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java compiler