diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/RecentProjectsManagerBase.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/RecentProjectsManagerBase.java
index 1691cd71f7ef..77d1ded95d82 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/RecentProjectsManagerBase.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/RecentProjectsManagerBase.java
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@
 package com.intellij.ide;
 
 import com.intellij.openapi.actionSystem.AnAction;
+import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationInfo;
 import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.application.PathManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.application.ex.ApplicationInfoEx;
+import com.intellij.openapi.components.PathMacroManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.components.PersistentStateComponent;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.ProjectManager;
@@ -99,35 +101,54 @@ public abstract class RecentProjectsManagerBase extends RecentProjectsManager im
 
     // TODO Should be removed later (required to convert the already saved system-dependent paths).
     private void makePathsSystemIndependent() {
-      makeSystemIndependent(recentPaths);
+      ApplicationInfo appInfo = ApplicationInfo.getInstance();
+      String version = appInfo.getMajorVersion() + "." + appInfo.getMinorVersion();
+      PathMacroManager pathMacroManager = PathMacroManager.getInstance(ApplicationManager.getApplication());
+      Function<String, String> convert = depPath -> {
+        String result = PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(depPath);
+        if (!result.startsWith("$APP") && result.contains("2017.1")) {
+          String migrated = result.replace("2017.1", version);
+          // check for possible PathMacroUtil.APPLICATION_*
+          if (pathMacroManager.collapsePath(migrated).startsWith("$APP")) {
+            return migrated;
+          }
+        }
+        return result;
+      };
+      Consumer<List<String>> convertList = o -> {
+        for (ListIterator<String> it = o.listIterator(); it.hasNext(); ) {
+          it.set(convert.fun(it.next()));
+        }
+      };
 
-      makeSystemIndependent(openPaths);
+      convertList.consume(recentPaths);
+      convertList.consume(openPaths);
 
       Map<String, String> namesCopy = new HashMap<>(names);
       names.clear();
       for (Map.Entry<String, String> entry : namesCopy.entrySet()) {
-        names.put(PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(entry.getKey()), entry.getValue());
+        names.put(convert.fun(entry.getKey()), entry.getValue());
       }
 
       for (ProjectGroup group : groups) {
         List<String> paths = new ArrayList<>(group.getProjects());
-        makeSystemIndependent(paths);
+        convertList.consume(paths);
         group.save(paths);
       }
 
       if (lastPath != null) {
-        lastPath = PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(lastPath);
+        lastPath = convert.fun(lastPath);
       }
 
       Map<String, RecentProjectMetaInfo> additionalInfoCopy = new HashMap<>(additionalInfo);
       additionalInfo.clear();
       for (Map.Entry<String, RecentProjectMetaInfo> entry : additionalInfoCopy.entrySet()) {
-        entry.getValue().binFolder = PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(entry.getValue().binFolder);
-        additionalInfo.put(PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(entry.getKey()), entry.getValue());
+        entry.getValue().binFolder = convert.fun(entry.getValue().binFolder);
+        additionalInfo.put(convert.fun(entry.getKey()), entry.getValue());
       }
 
       if (lastProjectLocation != null) {
-        lastProjectLocation = PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(lastProjectLocation);
+        lastProjectLocation = convert.fun(lastProjectLocation);
       }
     }
 
@@ -140,14 +161,6 @@ public abstract class RecentProjectsManagerBase extends RecentProjectsManager im
         }
       }
     }
-
-    private static void makeSystemIndependent(List<String> paths) {
-      List<String> copy = new ArrayList<>(paths);
-      paths.clear();
-      for (String path : copy) {
-        paths.add(PathUtil.toSystemIndependentName(path));
-      }
-    }
   }
 
   private final Object myStateLock = new Object();