How to Set Oracle Java as Default Runtime Environment

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Last updated: Jan 05, 2024 by Wayne Chen
2 min read

Desmond Leung updated April 7, 2015 at 1:59 PM


Questions Addressed

  • How do I set the Oracle version of Java as the default runtime environment on my machine? How do I set the Oracle version of Java as the default runtime environment on my machine?
  • Why does running the command "java -version" display the wrong version of Java? Why does running the command "java -version" display the wrong version of Java?


If you already have Java for OS X from Apple installed, then installing a JRE from Oracle will not update java -version symlinks. These steps must be done manually.

Note: Use the following command to determine the version of a not-linked-for-shell use Java

  • '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java' -version
  1. Download and install the latest version of Java 7 or Java 8 from Oracle if you have not already done so. https://www.java.com/en/download/
  2. Open Terminal.app
  3. Type in the following command:
    1. java -version
    2. If the version number looks like 1.7.X_XX OR 1.8.X_XX, then an Oracle version of Java is already set as the default runtime environment. Do not proceed to the next steps.



    3. If the version number does not does not look like 1.7.X_XX OR 1.8.X_XX, then an Oracle version of Java is not set as the default runtime environment. Proceed to the next step.



  4. Type in the following two commands:

    sudo mv /usr/bin/java /usr/bin/java-1.6
sudo ln -s '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java' /usr/bin/java

  5. Type in the following command:

    java -version
  6. It should now indicate that Java 7 or Java 8 is the default runtime environment.


For more information, see https://gist.github.com/johan/10590467


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