IntelliJ IDE | .iml File lost or deleted

Question

Last week I was working on a Java EE project with IntelliJ IDE.

Today: As I started up my IntelliJ 2016.1 it gave me the error:

Error Loading Project

Answer 1

For Maven projects:

• Open the Maven Tool Window (for intellij users - right click on the project name and scroll down to the bottom to find the maven tool window) (indicated with this icon: )
• Click the Reimport All Maven Projects button (indicated with this icon: ).

Instructions: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/maven-projects-tool-window.html

Answer 2

I also removed .iml file by accident. Here is how it was resolved:

1. Closed IntelliJ IDEA
2. Reopened program
3. Selected Import Project -> Create project from existing sources
4. Clicked Next. It created correct project configuration for me.

Answer 3

If you can't recover it via the most upvoted way, you could simply copy another .iml file, paste it into the package* that requires a .iml file, and rename the .iml file to the name of the package. This should work if it is the same type (in my case UTF-8).

*Copy the .iml file by going into package files, right-clicking the package name, and press paste.

You can accomplish this in the left-hand task bar. I have prepared a video demonstration (there's no audio).

Answer 4

1. delete .idea folder inside your project
2. re import the project

it will again compile and build .idea folder for the configuration.