Starting with version 2026.1, JetBrains IntelliJ-based Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) will natively support the Wayland display server protocol by default. This move away from X11 compatibility layers addresses a number of longstanding issues, including blurry text on HiDPI displays, fractional scaling inconsistencies, and input method problems when using X11 on Wayland. The introduction of the WLToolkit subsystem allows for direct interaction with the Wayland protocol, resulting in enhanced stability and functionality.
This transition is primarily motivated by the widespread adoption of Wayland as the primary display server across modern Linux distributions. Since its early preview in version 2024.2, the IntelliJ IDEs have seen improvements in stability, drag-and-drop support, input methods, and steps towards native window decorations. Despite these advancements, some restrictions inherent to Wayland’s architecture remain, such as window positioning and popup movement limitations.
For those who encounter issues with Wayland, X11 support remains available. The system can automatically fallback to X11 if the Wayland connection fails, and developers have the option to manually enforce X11 mode via VM options.
JetBrains’ commitment to enhancing Wayland support is further exemplified by its contributions to the OpenJDK Wakefield project, which aims to provide broader Java Wayland compatibility. This effort ensures that the new WLToolkit integration will continue to evolve, providing a robust development environment regardless of the display server protocol in use.

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JetBrains IntelliJ-based IDEs will support Wayland display server protocol natively by default starting in version 2026.1. The new WLToolkit subsystem enables direct Wayland interaction, resolving issues like blurry HiDPI text, fractional scaling problems, and input method inconsistencies that occurred with X11 compatibility layers. X11 support remains available as a fallback option. JetBrains is also contributing to the OpenJDK Wakefield project to improve broader Java Wayland compatibility.

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEs Introduce Native Wayland Support Starting in 2026.1