Download & install
Is PyCharm free?
PyCharm Community is completely free and open source. Professional is paid ($99/year). For most Python developers, Community is sufficient. See the edition comparison.
What is the latest PyCharm version?
PyCharm 2026.1.1 is the current stable release. Download pycharm-community-2026.1.1.exe from the download page.
Do I need Python installed before PyCharm?
Yes. PyCharm is an IDE, not a Python runtime. Install Python from python.org first, then install PyCharm. See the install guide.
Configuration
How to set up Conda in PyCharm?
File > Settings > Python Interpreter > Add > Conda Environment. See the Conda guide.
PyCharm vs VS Code — which is better for Python?
PyCharm is better for Python-specific work. VS Code is lighter and more flexible. See the full comparison.
How to use WSL with PyCharm?
Settings > Python Interpreter > Add > On WSL. See the WSL guide.
Fix issues
PyCharm not opening on Windows?
Start in Safe Mode (pycharm64.exe --safe-mode) or delete %APPDATA%\JetBrains\PyCharmCE2026.1. See the not opening guide.
PyCharm is very slow on Windows?
Add %APPDATA%\JetBrains to Windows Defender exclusions. See the speed up guide.
PyCharm shows red code everywhere?
File > Invalidate Caches > Invalidate and Restart. See the troubleshooting guide.