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, you can change the settings for keyboard shortcuts, color schemes, generic highlighting, code snippets, and version control systems. In addition, you can enable experimental plugins and disable plugins that you do not need.

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) that you can use to develop Qt applications. While Qt installers typically install Qt Creator, stand-alone Qt Creator installers never install Qt or any Qt tools, such as qmake. To use Qt Creator for Qt development, you also need to have a Qt version and a compiler installed.

Qt installers, such as SDKs, often attempt to auto-detect the installed compilers and Qt versions. If they succeed, the relevant kits will automatically become available in Qt Creator. If they do not, you must add the kits yourself to tell Qt Creator where everything is.

To add kits, select Tools > Options > Build & Run > Kits > Add.

For more information, see Adding Kits.

Each kit consists of a set of values that define one environment, such as a device, compiler, and Qt version. If you know you have installed a Qt version, but it is not listed in Tools > Options > Build & Run > Qt Versions, you must add it.

For more information, see Adding Qt Versions.

Also check that your compiler is listed in Tools > Options > Build & Run > Compilers.

For more information, see Adding Compilers.

You can connect mobile devices to the development PC to run, debug, and analyze applications on them from Qt Creator. You can connect the device to the development PC via USB. Additionally, you can connect Linux-based devices over a WLAN. You must also configure a connection between Qt Creator and the development PC and specify the device in a kit.

To add devices, select Tools > Options > Devices > Add.

For more information, see Connecting Mobile Devices.

Changing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use Qt Creator with your favorite keyboard shortcuts.

To view and edit all keyboard shortcuts defined in Qt Creator, select Tools > Options > Environment > Keyboard.

For more information, see Keyboard Shortcuts.

Changing Color Schemes

Themes enable you to customize the appearance of the Qt Creator UI: widgets, colors, and icons.

To switch from the default theme to a dark theme, select Tools > Options > Environment, and then select Dark in the Theme field.

You can use the Qt Creator text and code editors with your favorite color scheme that defines how code elements are highlighted and which background color is used. You can 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, select Tools > Options > Text Editor > Fonts & Color.

For more information, see Defining Color Schemes.

Generic highlighting is based on highlight definition files that are provided by the Kate Editor. You can download highlight definition files for use with Qt Creator.

To download and use highlight definition files, select Tools > Options > Text Editor > Generic Highlighter.

For more information, see Generic Highlighting.

Adding Your Own Code Snippets

As you write code, Qt Creator suggests properties, IDs, and code snippets to complete the code. It provides a list of context-sensitive suggestions to the statement currently under your cursor. You can add, modify, and remove snippets in the snippet editor.

To open the snippet editor, select Tools > Options > Text Editor > Snippets.

For more information, see Editing Code 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. Once it is set up correctly on the development PC, it should just work.

However, some configuration options are available and you can set them in Tools > Options > Version Control > Common.

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

Enabling and Disabling Plugins

New Qt Creator plugins are often introduced as experimental plugins to let you try them out before they are fully supported. Experimental plugins are disabled by default and you must enable them for them to become visible after you restart Qt Creator.

You can also disable plugins that you do not use, to streamline Qt Creator. However, this might cause problems when using another plugin later if the dependencies between plugins are changed between Qt Creator versions. Once you manually disable a plugin, it stays disabled even when you upgrade to a new Qt Creator version, and you must manually enable it to be able to use it.

To enable and disable plugins, select Help > About Plugins.