Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Error: Java: invalid target release: 11 - IntelliJ IDEA

Update IntelliJ IDEA project configuration to use Java 11 for resolving error: invalid target release: 11 - IntelliJ IDEA

Quick Answer: Update project configuration in IntelliJ IDEA to use Java 11

You have encountered the error 'Error: Java: invalid target release: 11 - IntelliJ IDEA' because you are trying to build a project that uses Java 8 with the latest version of Java 11 installed. This is not possible as Java 11 does not support Java 8 compatibility.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Update Project Configuration

  1. Step 1: Open the project settings in IntelliJ IDEA by clicking on 'File' -> 'Settings' (or press Ctrl + Alt + S).

Method 2: Use Java 11 Compatibility Mode

  1. Step 1: Go to 'File' -> 'Settings' (or press Ctrl + Alt + S) and navigate to 'Build, Execution, Deployment' -> 'Compiler'.

🎯 Final Words

To fix the error, you can either update your project configuration to use Java 11 or enable the Java 11 compatibility mode. This will allow you to build and run your project with Java 11 without any issues.

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