How to install Java 8 on Mac

Editors note: This question was asked in 2014, and the answers may be outdated.

---

I want to do some programming with the latest JavaFX, which requires Java 8. I'm using IntelliJ 13 CE and Mac OS X 9 Mavericks. I ran Oracle's Java 8 installer, and the files look like they ended up at

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_05.jdk

but previous versions are at

/System/Library/Java/JavaFrameworks/jdk1.6....

Not sure why the latest installer puts this in /Library instead of /System/Library (nor what the difference is). But /usr/libexec/java_home doesn't find 1.8, so all the posts I've found on how to set your current java version don't work. I've tried adding a symbolic link to make it look like 1.8 is in the /System/Library... path, but it doesn't help. /usr/libexec/java_home -V still only lists the old Java 1.6.

Ironically, the "Java" control panel under System Preferences shows only Java 1.8!

Why doesn't Oracle's installer put it where it really goes? And how can I work around this problem?

Oracle has a poor record for making it easy to install and configure Java, but using Homebrew, the latest OpenJDK (Java 14) can be installed with:

brew install --cask adoptopenjdk8

For the many use cases depending on an older version (commonly Java 8), the AdoptOpenJDK project makes it possible with an extra step.

brew tap adoptopenjdk/openjdk
brew install --cask adoptopenjdk8

Existing users of Homebrew may encounter Error: Cask adoptopenjdk8 exists in multiple taps due to prior workarounds with different instructions. This can be solved by fully specifying the location with brew install --cask adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8.

Note: Oracle Java 8/9/10 is no longer available for public download (license change).

First install and update brew from Terminal:

bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

brew tap homebrew/cask-versions

brew update

NEW as of June 2019

To install the JDKs from AdoptOpenJDK:

brew tap adoptopenjdk/openjdk

brew install --cask adoptopenjdk8
brew install --cask adoptopenjdk9
brew install --cask adoptopenjdk10
brew install --cask adoptopenjdk11

OLD

Java 8:

brew install --cask java8

Java Latest:

brew install --cask java

Java8 is no longer available on homebrew, brew install java8 will not work.

Instead, use:

brew cask install adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8

See this commit for technical details.

Please note as well you may see issues around Cask adoptopenjdk8 exists in multiple taps. This is a known issue, currently being worked on, which you can see here:

https://github.com/AdoptOpenJDK/homebrew-openjdk/issues/106

For those who don't want to run through the details, here is a summary:

# To install JDK8
brew cask install adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8

# To be able to safely run 'brew cleanup'
brew untap adoptopenjdk/openjdk
brew untap caskroom/versions
brew cleanup

I just did this on my MBP, and had to use

$ brew tap homebrew/cask-versions
$ brew cask install java8

in order to get java8 to install.

In 2022, you can use just brew

brew install openjdk@8

and maybe you need to update PATH env:

export PATH="/usr/local/opt/openjdk@8/bin:$PATH"

…for the future give a try to sdkman, is better than brew

curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash

then open a new shell and try list to see what you could install ;-)

sdk list java 

At time of writing to install java 8 you could use:

sdk install java 8.0.322-tem 

NOTE: Update the install command to match some existing Identifier show from running sdk list java

Assumption: Mac machine and you already have installed homebrew.

Install cask (with Homebrew 0.9.5 or higher, cask is included so skip this step):

$ brew tap caskroom/cask
$ brew tap caskroom/versions

To install latest java:

$ brew cask install java

To install java 8:

$ brew cask install adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8

If you want to install/manage multiple version then you can use 'jenv':

Install and configure jenv:

$ brew install jenv
$ echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.jenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bash_profile
$ echo 'eval "$(jenv init -)"' >> ~/.bash_profile
$ source ~/.bash_profile

Add the installed java to jenv:

$ jenv add /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_202.jdk/Contents/Home
$ jenv add /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.11.0_2.jdk/Contents/Home

To see all the installed java:

$ jenv versions

Above command will give the list of installed java:

* system (set by /Users/lyncean/.jenv/version)
1.8
1.8.0.202-ea
oracle64-1.8.0.202-ea

Configure the java version which you want to use:

$ jenv global oracle64-1.6.0.39

To set JAVA_HOME:

$ jenv enable-plugin export

An option that I am starting to really like for running applications on my local computer is to use Docker. You can simply run your application within the official JDK container - meaning that you don't have to worry about getting everything set up on your local machine (or worry about running multiple different versions of the JDK for different apps etc)

Although this might not help you with your current installation issues, it is a solution which means you can side-step the minefield of issues related with trying to get Java running correctly on your dev machine!

The benefits are:

1. No need to set up any version of Java on your local machine (you'll just run Java within a container which you pull from Docker Hub)
2. Very easy to switch to different versions of Java by simply changing the tag on the container.
3. Project dependencies are installed within the container - so if you mess up your config you can simply nuke the container and start again.

A very simple example:

Create a Dockerfile:

FROM java:8
COPY . /usr/src/myapp
WORKDIR /usr/src/myapp

• Here we are specifying the Java container running version 8 of the SDK (java:8 - to use Java 7, you could just specify: java:7)
• We are mapping the local directory with the directory: /usr/src/myapp inside the container

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: "2"

services:
  java:
    build: .
    volumes:
      - .:/usr/src/myapp

Now, assume we have this Java file:

HelloWorld.java

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {        
        System.out.println("Hello, World");
    }
}

So we have the following file structure:

.
|_ Dockerfile
|_ docker-compose.yml
|_ HelloWorld.java

You can do various Java things like:

compile:

docker-compose run --rm java javac HelloWorld.java 

• You should note that the HelloWorld.class shows up in your current directory (this is cause we've mapped the current directory to the location inside the container where our code exists

run:

docker-compose run --rm java java HelloWorld 

• Note: the first time you run this it will fetch the image etc. This will take a while - it only happens the first time
• docker-compose run - runs a command from within the container
• -rm tells docker to remove the container once the command is finished running
• java is the name of the service/container (from our docker-compose file) against which this command will run
• the rest of the line is the command to run inside the container.

This is quite a cool way of dealing with running different versions of Java for different apps without making a complete mess of your local setup :).

Here is a slightly more complex example which has Maven and a simple Spring app

Disclaimer:

• I haven't really tried this within an IDE like IntelliJ - so not entirely sure how that aspect of things would work. Though it looks like docker support is coming
• Here is a significantly more complex example running Microservices with Spring Boot, Zuul and Docker

tl;dr

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/ is the correct location for the JVM to be installed. This has been the case for several years now. Many years ago, other locations were used, but no longer.

You have a choice of several vendors to obtain an installer app to install a Java implementation on your Mac. Download an installer to run locally and then discard, as you commonly do for many apps.

Your Question mentions JavaFX/OpenJFX. You might find it convenient to use a Java implementation that comes bundled with the OpenJFX libraries, such as LibericaFX from BellSoft or ZuluFX from Azul Systems.

Use the Installer, Luke

Other answers suggesting the Homebrew package manager seem a bit extreme to me. I am sure Homebrew has some good uses. But to simply run Java, or do Java programming, installing Homebrew is a needless extra step. Installing Homebrew (package manager) for the single goal of obtaining Java is like building a landing strip to park your car instead of using your driveway. If you already have it, fine, use it. But suggesting Homebrew to those who simply need Java is poor advice.

People not already using Home-brew can simply download a Mac installer from a trusted source.

You have multiple sources to obtain an easy-to-use installer app to put Java on your Mac. Run the installer on your Mac just as you do for many other apps.

Here is a flowchart diagram for finding a source of Java 11, some of which also offer Java 8.

Download an installer from a vendor such as Adoptium(AdoptOpenJDK.net).

Run the installer.

JavaVirtualMachines folder is now correct

>Why doesn't Oracle's installer put it where it really goes? And how can I work around this problem?

Not a problem.

The folder /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/ is the new home for JVMs on macOS.

To install a JVM, use an installer, discussed below.

To uninstall, simply use the Finder to delete a JVM from that folder. You will be prompted for system admin password to complete the removal.

---

Java 9 & 10 & 11

Back in 2010, Apple joined the OpenJDK project, along with Oracle, IBM, Red Hat, Azul, and other Java vendors. Each member contributes source code, testing, and feedback to the unified OpenJDK codebase.

Apple contributed most of its Mac-specific code for its JVM. Now Apple no longer releases its own Mac-specific JVM. You now have your choice of JVM supplier, with builds coming from the OpenJDK codebase.

You will find source code at: http://openjdk.java.net

New release cadence

Be aware that in 2017, Oracle, the JCP, and OpenJDK have adopted a new rapid “release train” plan for regularly-scheduled versions of Java to be delivered in a predictable manner.

Read this 2018-07 Azul Systems blog post for many details, Eliminating Java Update Confusion by Simon Ritter.

Also read Java Is Still Free.

Vendors

For a rather exhaustive list of past and present JVM implementations, see this page at Wikipedia.

Here is a discussion of a few vendors. See the flowchart above for more vendors

Oracle JDK

Oracle provides JDK and JRE installers for multiple platforms including macOS.

Over the years since acquiring Sun, Oracle has combined the best parts of the two JVM engines, HotSpot and JRocket, and merged them into the OpenJDK project used as the basis for their own branded implementations of Java.

Their new business plan, as of 2018, is to provide a Oracle-branded implementation of Java for a fee in production, and at no cost for use in development/testing/demo. Support for previous releases requires a paid support program. They have declared their intention for their branded release to be at feature-parity with the OpenJDK release. They have even donated their commercial add-ons such as Flight Recorder to the OpenJDK project.

Oracle also releases a build of OpenJDK with no support: http://jdk.java.net/

Oracle has produced a special purpose JDK, GraalVM.

Zulu & Zing by Azul

Azul Systems provides a variety of JVM products.

• Their Zulu line is based directly on OpenJDK, and is available at no cost with optional paid support plans.
• Their Zing line offers commercial JVM products enhanced with alternate technical implementations such as a specialized garbage-collector.

Both of their lines offer installers for macOS.

I am currently use Zulu for Java 10.0.1 on macOS High Sierra with IntelliJ 2018.2 and Vaadin 8. I downloaded from this page. By the way, I do not find any Java-related items installed on the Apple System Preferences app.

Adoptium

Adoptium, formerly known as AdoptOpenJDK, is a community-led effort to build binaries of the OpenJDK source. Many of the other vendors of Java implementations support this work at Adoptium.

• Your choice of either HotSpot or OpenJ9 engine.
• Builds available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, and other platforms.

OpenJ9 by Eclipse

The OpenJ9 project is an another implementation of the JVM engine, an alternative to HotSpot.

Now sponsored at the Eclipse Foundation, with technology and backing donated by IBM in 2017.

For prebuilt binaries, they refer you to the AdoptOpenJDK project mentioned above.

---

How to install

The installers provided by Oracle or by Azul are both utterly simple to operate. Just run the installer app on your Mac. A window appears to indicate the progress of the installation.

When completed, verify your JVM installation by:

• Visiting the /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/ folder to see an item for the new JVM.
• Running a console such as Terminal.app and type java -version to see the brand and version number of your JVM.

After verifying success, dismount the .dmg image in the Finder. Then trash the .dmg file you downloaded.

I'm having the same problem to solve, because I need to install JDK8 to run Android SDK Manager (because it seems that don't work well with JDK9). However, I tell you how I solve all problems on a Mac (Sierra).

First, you need brew with cask and jenv.

1. You can find an useful guide here,Homebrew Cask Installation Guide. Remember to tap 'caskroom/versions' running in the terminal: brew tap caskroom/versions
2. After that, install jenv with: brew install jenv
3. Install whatever version you want with cask brew cask install java8 (or java7 or java if you want to install the latest version, jdk9)
4. The last step is to configure which version to run (and let jenv to manage your JAVA_HOME) jenv versions to list all versions installed on your machine and then activate the one you want with jenv global [JDK_NAME_OF_LIST]

You could find other useful informations here on this Github Gist brew-java-and-jenv.md, on this blog Install multiple JDK on a Mac and on Jenv Website

If you have several Java versions on your machine and you want to choose it dynamically at runtime, i.e, in my case, I have two versions:

ls -la /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel    96B Nov 16  2014 jdk1.7.0_71.jdk/
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel    96B Mar  1  2015 jdk1.8.0_31.jdk/

You can change them by modifying the /etc/profile content. Just add (or modify) the following two lines at the end of the file:

export JAVA_HOME=YOUR_JAVA_PATH/Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

In my case, it should be like the following if I want to use:

Java 7:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_71.jdk/Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

Java 8:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_31.jdk/Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

After saving the file, please run source /etc/profile and it should work. Here are results when I use the first and second option accordingly:

Java 7:

java -version
java version "1.7.0_71"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_71-b14)

Java 8:

java -version 
java version "1.8.0_31"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_31-b13)

The process is similar if your java folder is located in different locations.

Please, run the following commands and it will install Java 8 on OS X:

brew tap adoptopenjdk/openjdk
brew install --cask homebrew/cask-versions/adoptopenjdk8

Note:

adoptopenjdk8 has been officially discontinued upstream. It may stop working correctly (or at all) in recent versions of macOS. So, this is working at the moment, but, please, don't use this answer to install Java 8

brew cask install caskroom/versions/java8

It seems that nobody has mentioned SDK man (https://sdkman.io/) yet.

SKD man allows installing multiple versions of Java on Mac and easy switching between these versions. More information is available at https://sdkman.io/usage.

For example:

$ sdk list java                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
================================================================================
Available Java Versions
================================================================================
   * 12.ea.20-open
     11.0.1-zulu
 > * 11.0.1-open
     10.0.2-zulu
     10.0.2-open
     9.0.7-zulu
     9.0.4-open
     8.0.192-zulu
     8.0.191-oracle
   + 8.0.181-oracle
     7.0.181-zulu
     1.0.0-rc-10-grl
     1.0.0-rc-9-grl
     1.0.0-rc-8-grl


================================================================================
+ - local version
* - installed
> - currently in use
================================================================================

$ sdk install java 8.0.191-oracle

$ sdk use java 8.0.191-oracle

Using java version 8.0.191-oracle in this shell.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

$ java -version                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
java version "1.8.0_191"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_191-b12)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.191-b12, mixed mode)

$ sdk use java 11.0.1-open                                           

Using java version 11.0.1-open in this shell.

$ java -version                                                                                                                                                                                                                        openjdk version "11.0.1" 2018-10-16
OpenJDK Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.1+13)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.1+13, mixed mode)
                                                                                                                                                                                                         ```

I have applications that use both Java 7 and 8 and have to go back and forth all the time.

I use this script written by Johan:

http://www.jayway.com/2014/01/15/how-to-switch-jdk-version-on-mac-os-x-maverick/

You can now set it at startup or call the script afterwards.
Install the JDK for Mac.

Java 7

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html

Java 8

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

---

Updated recommendation!!:

Use jenv https://www.jenv.be/ and homebrew.

Then its just jenv global oracle6401.6.0.39 and its set.

Run these commands on mac High Sierra

brew update
brew tap caskroom/versions
brew cask install java8

and check with command

java -version

for 2021 (also 2022) this one worked for me

brew tap homebrew/cask-versions


brew install --cask adoptopenjdk8

As of Year - 2021

brew install --cask adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8

If you are on a Mac, then Homebrew is the way to install stuff.

It seems that version 8 is no longer the most recent, so it isnt available using the default brew cask install java.

Instead I managed by doing the following:

brew install homebrew/cask-versions/

If this fails, just try the next one directly:

brew install homebrew/cask-versions/adoptopenjdk8

Test with brew cask list or java -version

brew cask commands were disabled on 2020-12-21 with the release of Homebrew 2.7.0.

Use the below commands to install JDK

brew install --cask adoptopenjdk/openjdk/adoptopenjdk8

Using brew

brew install Caskroom/cask/java

Best way is to use Brew package manager but the command

 brew cask install java8

fails with error:

Error: No available formula with the name "java8" 

So use

brew cask install caskroom/versions/java8

How did I find "caskroom/versions/java8": using brew search command:

brew cask search java8

If you are using it NOT for personal use, you might want to use OpenJDK instead to avoid any potential lawsuit from Oracle.

brew cask install adoptopenjdk8

You can try this:

$ brew search jdk
$ brew install --cask homebrew/cask-versions/adoptopenjdk8
$ /usr/libexec/java_home

 

Install with Homebrew

The version of Java available in Homebrew Cask previous to October 3, 2018 was indeed the Oracle JVM. Now however, it has now been updated to OpenJDK. Be sure to update Homebrew and then you will see the lastest version available for install.

1. install Homebrew if you haven't already. Make sure it is updated:

brew update

2. Add the casks tap, if you haven't already (or you are not seeing older Java versions anymore with step #3):

brew tap homebrew/cask-versions

3. and for the AdoptOpenJDK versions, add that tap:

brew tap adoptopenjdk/openjdk

These casks change their Java versions often, and there might be other taps out there with additional Java versions.

4. Look for installable versions:

brew search java 

or for AdoptOpenJDK versions:

brew search jdk     

5. Check the details on the version that will be installed:

brew cask info java

or for the AdoptOpenJDK version:

brew cask info adoptopenjdk

6. Install a specific version of the JDK such as java11, adoptopenjdk8, or just java or adoptopenjdk for the current. For example:

**brew cask install java**

**brew cask install java8**

**brew cask install java11**

You can use the fully qualified path to older versions as well:

brew cask install homebrew/cask-versions/java11

brew search openjdk find some openjdk formulae, in 2021, brew offer openjdk11 and openjdk8 as options.

Simplest is to download the dmg file from following site and install by double click

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

look for available JVMs from home directory

ls -al /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines

and update the .bash_profile with relevent version

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_XXX.jdk./Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

and finally

source ~/.bash_profile

MacOS Big Sur 2021 Java 8 installation guide:

1. Go to https://profile.oracle.com/myprofile/account/create-account.jspx and sign up if not already;
2. Go to https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/#jdk17-mac
3. Select "Java 8";
4. Select "macOS";
5. Press on "jdk-8u301-macosx-x64.dmg";
6. Check the checkbox;
7. Press "Download jdk-8u301-macosx-x64.dmg";
8. Open the downloaded file;
9. Follow installation guide;

Enjoy =)

Easiest way

1) brew cask install java

2) java -version

java version "1.8.0_131"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_131-b11)

P.S - Cask is an extension to Homebrew that is intended to manage large Mac binaries and graphical applications, but using the Homebrew interface. Also see this answer on Apple StackExchange.

Try :

brew cask install java 8

it will give the below result

8tracksradiohelper       adoptopenjdk8            amitv87-pip              
corretto8                icons8                   vmware-fusion8           
x48                      zulu8

Next enter:

brew cask install adoptopenjdk8

---- java 8 will be installed in Mac.

The simplest answer is the Zulu java prebuilts. They even come with an installer that does all the work for you.

https://www.azul.com/downloads/?version=java-8-lts&os=macos&package=jdk

Eclipse Temurin is the official successor to adoptopenjdk. So, as of May 2022, I would use the following

brew install --cask temurin8

When the installation is done, JDK 8 is installed in /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/temurin-8.jdk

As of May 17, 2022, this site has a download link for jre8u33: https://java.com/en/download/mac_download.jsp

It is a dmg, which will install java 8 on MacOS.

Below steps worked for me.

1. Uninstall all jdks

In the Terminal window Copy and Paste the command below:

sudo rm -fr /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

sudo rm -fr /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefpane

2) Install APPLE jdk.

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572?locale=en_US

3. Download latest JDK from Oracle and install it , for me it was JDK 1.82

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jre8-downloads-2133155.html

Thats all it will work like a charm.