Configuring Qt Creator

If you install Qt Creator as part of a Qt installation, you should be able to use it out-of-the-box, with the default settings and configuration options.

However, if you install the stand-alone Qt Creator package, build Qt Creator from sources, or install several Qt versions, you may need to tell Qt Creator where to find the Qt versions and compilers by adding the paths to them and by creating kits that use them.

To make Qt Creator behave more like your favorite code editor or IDE, change the preferences for generic highlighting, code snippets, and version control systems. Manage plugins and extensions to turn on and off Qt Creator features.

To make Qt Creator more accessible, use keyboard navigation or adjust colors and zoom levels.

The following sections summarize the options that you have and point you to detailed information to help you specify any required settings and to make using Qt Creator a better experience for you.

Checking Build and Run Settings

Qt Creator is an integrated development environment (IDE) for creating applications. While you can use Qt Online Installer to install Qt Creator, the stand-alone Qt Creator installer never installs Qt or any Qt tools, such as qmake. To use Qt Creator for Qt development, you also need to install a Qt version and a compiler. If you update the compiler version later, you can register it into Qt Creator.

Qt Online Installer attempts to auto-detect compilers and Qt versions. If it succeeds, the relevant kits will automatically become available in Qt Creator. If it does not, you must add the kits yourself to tell Qt Creator where everything is.

To add kits, go to Preferences > Kits and select Add.

Each kit consists of a set of values that define one environment, such as a device, compiler, and Qt version. If Preferences > Kits > Qt Versions does not show all the installed Qt versions, select Link with Qt.

If Auto-detected still does not show the Qt version, select Add to add it manually.

Also check that Preferences > Kits > Compilers shows your compiler.

Connect devices to the computer via USB to run, debug, and analyze applications on them. You can connect Linux-based devices also over a WLAN. Configure a connection between Qt Creator and the computer, and select the device in a kit.

To add devices, go to Preferences > Devices > Devices and select Add.

For more information, see How To: Manage Kits and How To: Develop for Devices.

Adding Your Own Code Snippets

As you write code, Qt Creator suggests properties, IDs, and code snippets to complete the code. It lists context-sensitive suggestions for the statement currently under your cursor. Add, modify, and remove snippets in the snippet editor.

To open the snippet editor, go to Preferences > Text Editor > Snippets.

For more information, see Snippets.

Configuring Version Control Systems

Qt Creator supports several version control systems. In most cases, you do not need to configure the version control in any special way to make it work with Qt Creator.

However, you can set some configuration options in Preferences > Version Control > General.

For more information about the supported functions, see Version Control Systems.

Managing Plugins and Extensions

Qt Creator comes with a set of plugins, some of which are disabled by default. You can enable disabled plugins if you need them and disable plugins you don't need.

Download and install more plugins from Qt Marketplace or some other source, such as GitHub.

To enable and disable plugins, go to Help > About Plugins.

To install plugins, go to Help > About Plugins and select Install Plugins.

You can also install and load extensions in the Extensions mode.

Accessibility

You can use keyboard shortcuts to navigate the UI without a mouse, or set zoom levels and change colors to improve the visibility of the text. Also, Qt Creator supports screen readers.

Changing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use Qt Creator with your favorite keyboard shortcuts.

To view and edit all keyboard shortcuts defined in Qt Creator, go to Preferences > Environment > Keyboard. For more information, see Keyboard Shortcuts.

Navigating with the Keyboard

To move between UI controls, press the the Tab key or the Left, Right, Up, and Down arrow keys.

Setting Zoom Levels

To set editor font and colors, select Preferences > Text Editor > Font & Colors.

Select the font family and size, and set the zoom level in percentage for viewing the text or use keyboard shortcuts or the mouse wheel to zoom in or out.

To improve the readability of text in the editor, adjust the line spacing.

For more information, see Font & Colors.

The system configuration determines the font sizes in other parts of Qt Creator.

When viewing output, use the and buttons or keyboard shortcuts to set the zoom level.

For more information, see View output.

Changing Color Schemes

Themes set the appearance of the Qt Creator UI: widgets, colors, and icons.

To switch themes, go to Preferences > Environment > Interface and select a theme in Theme.

Use the Qt Creator text and code editors with your favorite color scheme that sets highlighting of code elements and the background color. Select one of the predefined color schemes or create custom ones. The color schemes apply to highlighting C++ files, QML files, and generic files.

To change the color scheme, go to Preferences > Text Editor > Font & Colors.

For more information, see Change editor colors.

KSyntaxHighlighting offers generic highlighting. It is the syntax highlighting engine for Kate syntax definitions. Qt Creator comes with most of the commonly used syntax files, and you can download additional files.

To download and use highlight definition files, go to Preferences > Text Editor > Generic Highlighter.

For more information, see Download highlight definitions.