Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Error while opening Intellij IDEA due to an already running process

IntelliJ IDEA error due to already running process on Mac.

Quick Answer: Try closing all other IDE instances and background applications, then restart IntelliJ IDEA.

IntelliJ IDEA on Mac is a popular choice among developers, but sometimes it can be frustrating when you encounter errors while trying to open the IDE. The error message 'Cannot connect to already running IDE instance' and 'Exception: Process 464 is still' indicates that another instance of IntelliJ IDEA is currently running in the background, preventing your version from launching.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • There are several reasons why you might be getting this error, including:

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Method 1: Force Quitting the Running Instance

  1. Step 1: Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window.
  2. Step 2: Select 'IntelliJ IDEA' from the list of running processes and click 'Force Quit'.

Method 2: Closing IntelliJ IDEA from Task Manager

  1. Step 1: Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window.
  2. Step 2: Select 'IntelliJ IDEA' from the list of running processes and click 'Force Quit'.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and open IntelliJ IDEA without any issues. If you continue to experience problems, it may be worth checking for any updates or reinstalling the IDE.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions