QtCreator 18 It comes with a series of ambitious changes These improvements focus on accelerating project launches, streamlining daily editor use, and facilitating work in complex environments such as remote or embedded development. This version of the Qt IDE, available for free and across all platforms, also introduces experimental support for development containers, automating much of the environment setup.
Beyond that headline, The team has refined the welcome interface and improved notifications.C++ and QML compatibility has been updated, Git integration has been enhanced, and key Project areas have been reorganized for greater clarity. New options for remote Linux devices have also been added, kit management has been revised, and adjustments have been made to support CMake workflows, from Test Presets to a Locator filter for CTest.
Main new features of Qt Creator 18
The list of changes is long, but it can be summarized in a few large blocks. These are the areas where you'll notice the biggest difference Upon updating:
- Development (experimental) containers: detection of "devcontainer.json" and creation of Docker containers with IDE-specific customizations.
- Interface and welcome: new Overview tab in Welcome mode and integrated notifications in progress pop-ups (with preference for opting for information bars).
- Editing and languages: tabbed editors, upgrade to LLVM/Clangd 21.1, improvements to the C++ code model and a downloadable QML language server with older versions of Qt.
- Projects and CMake: reorganization of Build/Deploy/Run settings, synchronization of run configurations, CMake Test Presets and Locator filter "ct" for CTest.
- Remote devices: configuration and auto-detection of tools in remote Linux, auto-connection option at startup, and fixes in deployments with rsync.
- Version control: More actions in the commit editor and VCS status visible also in the File System view with improved update performance.
Experimental support for development containers
One of the major additions is the compatibility with Development ContainersIf your repository includes a "devcontainer.json" file, Qt Creator 18 detects it and can automatically launch a Docker container configured to match that definition. This integration allows the IDE to recognize and configure the environment without manual intervention. auto-detect kits or define custom kits, and control advanced aspects such as the so-called command bridge (the communication service with remote devices) through specific customizations for Qt Creator within the container definition.
It is worth emphasizing that this function is still experimental. It does not cover all aspects of Dev ContainersTherefore, the team recommends enabling it as an extension and testing it in real-world scenarios to assess its fit within each workflow. The project's official documentation explains in more detail how to activate the extension, what options it supports, and how to leverage it with Docker in real-world projects.
More helpful user interface and welcome screen
In Welcome mode, a new Overview tab appears that acts as a hub. Add content from the other sectionsIt suggests tutorials and examples based on your profile and needs, and highlights relevant Qt blog posts designed for developers. This view makes it easy to start your day with valuable links and resources without having to navigate through multiple menus.
The notification system has also been revamped. From now on, Notifications are integrated into progress pop-ups To unify messaging and reduce distractions. If you prefer the classic approach, in Environment > Interface you can enable the "Prefer banner style info bars over pop-ups" option to keep the information bars instead of the pop-ups.
Editing, C++ and QML: what changes in the Qt Creator 18 code
For those who spend their days writing code, there are a number of details that add up. First, You can enable editors in tabs. From Environment > Interface > Use tabbed editors. However, the team reminds users that there are faster ways to navigate: Locator filters to open files or jump to classes or symbols, the Follow Symbol and Find References actions, the Open Documents and File System views, or the location history with Window > Go Back/Forward and Window > Previous/Next Open Document in History along with their corresponding shortcuts.
In C++, the precompiled binaries of Qt Creator 18 already include Clangd/LLVM 21.1The integrated code model also receives a number of fixes to accommodate modern language features. In practice, you'll notice more accurate diagnostics and more helpful suggestions, including the appearance of quick fixes such as remove unnecessary keys or generate definitions for static data members that do not yet exist.
If you work with QML, you can now Download and use the latest version of the QML Language Server even if your project uses older versions of Qt (for example Qt 6.6The setting is located in Preferences > Language Client. This allows you to enjoy language server improvements without forcing a complete framework migration, which is especially useful for large codebases.
Finally, GitHub Copilot users in corporate environments will appreciate that Support for GitHub Enterprise has been addedThis facilitates its use in organizations that deploy private instances.
Projects, kits and CMake: order in the house
Project management has been simplified and clarified. To begin with, The .user files are moved to the .qtcreator/ folder within the project directory. Older projects will continue to function because those files are updated to maintain compatibility. This move reduces the amount of IDE-specific files in the repository root.
In Projects mode, you can now Filter to show only the truly usable kits by project, or only those for which a configuration already exists. Additionally, the old Run page has been split into two: Deploy Settings and Run Settings. Along with Build Settings, these have moved from being hidden under the kit selection to appearing as tabs in the content view. This reorganization makes it clearer where everything is located and reduces unnecessary clicks.
One very practical new feature is the possibility of synchronize run configurationsBy default, the run configurations for each build configuration are usually independent. In this version, you can keep them synchronized within the same kit or go further and synchronize them across all kits configured for the project. The setting "Build & Run > General > Keep run configurations in sync" controls this behavior and helps avoid annoying discrepancies when building for multiple destinations.
On the CMake front, there are several good things to look forward to: support is added for CMake Test PresetsThis allows you to align test execution with the presets defined in the project. A locator filter for "ct" has also been added to launch CTest-based tests directly without leaving the IDE. And the CMake project build process for all configurations has been corrected using the Build > Build Project for All Configurations action, which is very useful for verifying that everything compiles before a major commit.
Remote devices and embedded development in Qt Creator 18
On remote Linux devices, Qt Creator 18 adds configurations for various on-device toolsFrom GDB server, CMake, and clangd to rsync, qmake, and others, with the ability to auto-detect them. This streamlines the process of registering a device as a build machine and reduces the initial effort, especially in environments where debugger, toolchain, and synchronization need to be aligned.
In addition, there is an adjustment of Auto-connect on startup to decide whether the IDE should attempt to reconnect to devices on startup. And a buggy issue has been fixed: it's now possible to use rsync for deployment even when compiling on a remote device and the execution target is also remote. Taken together, these improvements fit very well with container support and the command bridge for round out a robust remote workflow.
Version control with Git made more practical
The Git commit editor adds additional actions directly on the filesStaging, unstaging, and even the ability to add files to .gitignore without leaving the commit context are small shortcuts that ultimately save time when you need to quickly adjust what's included and what's not in a change.
In addition, the version control status is now displayed also in the File System viewnot only in the Projects view. And the performance of VCS status updates per file has been improved, making the interface more responsive in large repositories. All of this points to a more consistent experience whether you're navigating the project structure or exploring the file system.
Qt Creator 18 distribution, installers and licenses
Qt Creator 18 is available as update in the Qt Online Installer For both commercial and open-source editions. Commercial license users will find offline installers in the Qt Account Portal, while open-source packages are available on the project's open downloads page. This is a free update for all users.
Linux provides ready-to-use .run installers for 64-bit and AArch64 (ARM64) architectures. If you prefer to compile yourself, there are also options available. source code tarball in the same official repositories. Cross-platform coverage is maintained: GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows remain the primary destinations before, during, and after installation.
Configuration recommendations
For multiplatform projects with multiple targets, it's worth trying the setting "Build & Run > General > Keep run configurations in sync". Keep execution configurations aligned Between kits, reduce surprises by alternating desktop and device builds. In CMake, adopt Test Presets to standardize how tests run from local to CI, and use the Locator filter "ct" to run them on demand while iterating.
In remote environments, check the new on-device tool auto-detection And if it suits you, enable the automatic startup connection option. If you work with containers, document the specifics of your kits and command bridge in your `devcontainer.json` file so that new team members can clone and start compiling without manual steps. Finally, take a look at the Git commit editor: staging, unstaging, or pushing files to `.gitignore` from there saves many unnecessary trips to the command line.
Small but significant improvements you'll notice
There are corrections that go unnoticed but are appreciated every day. build for all CMake configurations It works correctly again with the corresponding action in the Build menu, which simplifies validating configuration arrays. And the fact that the version control status is also displayed in the File System prevents jumps between views when working with folders.
On devices, the workaround that allows using rsync even when compiling and running on remote machines eliminates a limitation that complicated certain pipelines. And, of course, the implementation of direct actions in the commit editor—staging/unstaging and adding to .gitignore—completes the picture. consistent Git workflow within the IDEwithout relying so much on external tools.
This entire version of Qt Creator revolves around making everyday tasks easier and unlocking modern development scenarios. From experimental container support to interface tweaks and improvements in C++/QMLThe IDE keeps pace with the needs of distributed teams working across multiple destinations and embracing an increasingly automated culture. The combination of ready-to-use installers for Linux x86_64/ARM64, the source tarball, online installer availability, and the fact that it's a free update further facilitates rapid adoption in both personal projects and organizations.
