PyCharm Indexing Takes Forever / Stuck on Analyzing Project

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Exclude folders and files

   Copy steps
   1. Alt+1 for the Project tool window
   2. Right-click a folder, Mark Directory As | Excluded
   3. For a file: Override File Type | Plain text
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Watch what is running

   Copy steps
   1. Click the status bar progress to open the Processes dialog
   2. 'Scanning files' cannot be paused; analysis can be paused but not cancelled
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Invalidate caches

   Copy steps
   1. File | Invalidate Caches...
   2. Click Invalidate and Restart
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

The status bar shows indexing or 'Analyzing project to enable smart features' for a long time; completion and inspections are limited.

Why it happens

• Large generated or vendored folders (node_modules, venvs, data) are in the project
• Switching branches or plugins triggers a re-analysis
• Corrupted caches

This guide also covers

• pycharm indexing forever
• pycharm indexing stuck
• pycharm slow indexing
• pycharm analyzing project

Other PyCharm errors

• PyCharm Invalid Python Interpreter / Invalid Environment
• PyCharm No Python Interpreter Configured for the Project
• PyCharm Unresolved Reference: Installed Package Not Recognized
• PyCharm Cannot Install or Find a Package
• PyCharm Conda Executable Not Found / Conda Environment Not Detected
• PyCharm Low Memory Warning: How to Increase the Heap Size
• PyCharm Invalidate Caches / Restart: When and How
• PyCharm Debugger Not Working / Breakpoints Not Hit