Using the Annotation Processor - IDE - IntelliJ IDEA
8.4.2.2. IntelliJ IDEA The following steps must be followed to use the annotation processor within IntelliJ IDEA (version 9 and above): Go to "File", then "Settings", Expand the node "Compiler", then "Annotation Processors" Choose "Enable annotation processing" and enter the following as "Processor path": /path/to/validation-api-1.0.0.GA.jar:/path/to/hibernate-validator-annotation-processor-4.1.0.Final.jar Add the processor's fully qualified name org.hibernate.validator.ap.ConstraintValidationProcessor to the "Annotation Processors" list If applicable add you module to the "Processed Modules" list Rebuilding your project then should show any erronous constraint annotations: