Error: Java: invalid target release: 11 - IntelliJ IDEA

I am trying to build an application which was built using java 8, now it's upgraded to java 11. I installed Java 11 using an oracle article in my windows machine and I use IntelliJ IDEA 2017 as my IDE.

I changed my system environment variables and set the

JAVA_HOME to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.1

And added that to the Path variable.

C:\>java -version
java version "11.0.1" 2018-10-16 LTS
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.1+13-LTS)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.1+13-LTS, mixed mode) 

When I build my application in IntelliJ, this is what I get:

Information:java: Errors occurred while compiling module 'test-domain_main'
Information: javac 1.8.0_171 was used to compile java sources
Information:1/10/2019 4:21 PM - Compilation completed with 1 error and 0 warnings in 1s 199ms
Error:java: invalid target release: 11

This is what I've tried so far:

1. I changed .idea/compiler.xml target values from 8 to 11 but that didn't help. Also, verified the Target bytecode version in settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Compiler > Java Compiler and all my modules are set to 11.

2. Went to file > Project Structure > SDKs *(currently I have 1.7 and 1.7 listed)* > Add new SDK > JDK > After that, I selected C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.1 But it errors out with "The selected directory is not a valid home for JDK"

I am not sure if I installed the wrong JDK 11, because in my C:\Program Files\Java\, I see separate JDK and JRE folders for 1.7 and 1.8 but only JDK folder for 11.0.1

Or is it something else I need to change?

I've got the same issue as stated by Gryu. Same Intellij 2018 3.3

I was able to start my project by setting (like stated by Grigoriy)

File->Project Structure->Modules ->> Language level to 8 ( my maven project was set to 1.8 java)

AND

File -> Settings -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler -> 8 also there

I hope it would be useful

• I've got the same info messages and error message today, but I have recently updated Idea -> 2018.3.3, built on January 9, 2019.

• To resolve this issue I've changed File->Project Structure->Modules ->> Language level to 10.

• And check File -> Settings -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler ->> Project bytecode and Per-module bytecode versions. I have 11 there.

• Now I don't get these notifications and the error.

  It could be useful for someone like me, having the most recent Idea and getting the same error.

1 of the 2 methods will fix the problem:

Method 1 (recommended)

Specify the Java version in your build file.

E.g., For Gradle, go to build.gradle file and specify the source and target compatability like mentioned in the docs and click on the refresh button in the Gradle tool window.

For example, to set source and target compatability to Java version 17:

java {
    sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
    targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
}

Method 2

If building a project through a build system (Maven, Gradle etc..) works but IntelliJ show Invalid target release error, then do the following,

1. Close IntelliJ

2. Go to the directory of the project

3. Delete the .idea/ directory

4. Start IntelliJ with the project's directory

This will re-create the .idea/ directory and will no longer show the error.

NOTE: Any repository specific IntelliJ settings that you have added would be deleted when the .idea/ directory is deleted and they will be re-created with the defaults.