This method uses the JetBrains .tar.gz archive (intended for Linux) but works perfectly on Windows via tools like 7-Zip.
Step 1: Download the Correct File
Go to jetbrains.com/pycharm/download and download the "Community Edition for Linux (.tar.gz)" . Do not download the Windows .exe.
Step 2: Extract the Archive
Step 3: Configure the IDE to be Portable
By default, PyCharm stores its configuration (caches, plugins, settings) in your user home directory (C:\Users\YourName\.PyCharmCE\). We need to override this.
Inside the extracted folder, navigate to: F:\PortableApps\PyCharmCE\bin\
Create a new text file called idea.properties (if not already present). Add the following lines: pycharm community edition portable
# Paths for portable PyCharm
idea.config.path=$idea.home.path/../config
idea.system.path=$idea.home.path/../system
idea.plugins.path=$idea.home.path/../plugins
idea.log.path=$idea.home.path/../log
This forces PyCharm to store all settings, caches, and logs inside subfolders relative to the installation directory on your USB drive.
Step 4: Create a Launcher Script (Optional but Recommended)
Inside the bin folder, find pycharm64.exe (or pycharm.sh on Linux). Create a shortcut or a simple .bat file:
@echo off
set JDK_HOME=.\jbr
start .\bin\pycharm64.exe
Place this .bat file at the root of your USB drive for easy access.
Step 5: First Run
Plug your USB into a target machine. Run the .bat file. PyCharm will create the config, system, plugins, and log folders next to its installation. It is now fully portable. This method uses the JetBrains
Many corporate or government machines lock down the C:\Program Files directory and the Windows Registry. Portable apps that don’t write to the registry bypass these restrictions, allowing development where it was previously impossible.
A portable application runs without:
You can run it from a USB drive, cloud-synced folder, or a non-system partition. This is especially useful for:
⚠️ JetBrains does not officially offer a portable version of PyCharm. However, you can create one manually. Step 3: Configure the IDE to be Portable
Newer versions of JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm) have an undocumented flag that can force portability, even from the Windows .exe installer. However, you still must install it once to a portable drive.
Step-by-step:
Warning: The Windows installer still writes some registry keys (like uninstall info). This method is "mostly portable" but not perfectly clean.