How to set JAVA_HOME in Mac permanently?

Question

I am trying to set JAVA_HOME by entering export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/Home at terminal. It sets the JAVA_HOME for current session.

How can I set it permanently?

Here we are in 2019 ( 6 years after original question ) - and this still only has a convoluted solution. Try supporting macs in the field with this problem. Is there no utility that will add export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/Home to the current user bash profile - or a machine level equivalent ? — Sql Surfer, Jan 27 '19 at 23:11

score 130 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 15 '20 at 09:26

130

You can use /usr/libexec/java_home -v <version you want> to get the path you need for JAVA_HOME. For instance, to get the path to the 1.7 JDK you can run /usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.7 and it will return the path to the JDK. In your .profile or .bash_profile just add

export JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v <version>`

and you should be good. Alternatively, try and convince the maintainers of java tools you use to make use of this method to get the version they need.

To open '.bash_profile' type the following in terminal :

nano ~/.bash_profile

and add the following line to the file:

export JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v <version>`

Press CTRL+X to exit the bash. Press 'Y' to save changes.

To check whether the path has been added, type following in terminal:

source ~/.bash_profile
echo $JAVA_HOME

edited Jan 15 '20 at 09:26

Joachim Sauer

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answered Oct 29 '13 at 16:30

Jonas Rabbe

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It's not the answer because it does not permanently set the `JAVA_HOME` environment variable I suppose, which is what the OP asked for. This is only `temporary for the current session.` A reboot will change it back to the permanently set variable. – Roy Hinkley Dec 10 '15 at 14:42
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Re Android Addict comment: There are no 'permanent' environment variables for shells, that's why you have a .bash_profile, .bashrc, .zshrc, etc. This answer will solve the question and should be chosen. – Merlin Apr 25 '18 at 19:25
I had problems with this approach when having multiple versions of Java installed especially when one of these installed with `brew` – Bostone Aug 17 '20 at 15:29
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In my case, this worked for that instance only. Though replacing `bash_profile` with `zshrc` worked for me – paradocslover Sep 15 '20 at 06:03
Thank you, please change format answer to the following format. Of course it our responsibility to change version. But anyway I have merged your answer with @Arv answer below. THen It worked. JAVA_HOME='/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_241.jdk/Contents/Home' – Sanatbek_Matlatipov Nov 22 '20 at 09:46
In my case, the first command worked even without "-v ". Why is "-v " beneficial? Can you have a separate JAVA_HOME for each version? – Onat Korucu Oct 31 '21 at 20:46
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@paradocslover renaming bash_profile to zshrc (I have created bash_profile in the first place) saved my life. Thanks! – Alexei Artsimovich Dec 01 '21 at 13:31
getting all versions use capital V, like: "/usr/libexec/java_home -V" – Dmitri Algazin Jan 19 '22 at 10:28

AbdulBasit · Answer 2 · 2019-11-19T06:22:23.403

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I was facing the same issue in MAC Catalina, If I edit .bash_profile i found export JAVA_HOME="/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_201.jdk/Contents/Home But When I run terminal echo $JAVA_HOME it was returning empty, Later I found that the file .zshrc was missing I created this file with

touch .zshrc

Then edit it by nano .zshrc and wrote

source ~/.bash_profile

Which solves my issue permanently

edited Nov 19 '19 at 06:22

answered Nov 19 '19 at 06:16

AbdulBasit

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Worked for MAC Catalina solve..! Thanks for sharing the tip! – Kiren James May 15 '20 at 13:53
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Wowww...That's Awesome. Thanks for sharing. – Ritesh Adulkar Oct 22 '20 at 08:44
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I am using jenv and figured out that adding JAVA_HOME after jenv configuration in zshrc file sets the JAVA_HOME variable else I was getting an empty value. `export PATH="$HOME/.jenv/bin:$PATH" eval "$(jenv init -)" export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.8.0_252)` – learner Nov 03 '20 at 06:55
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This is genius! – bellotas Nov 05 '20 at 15:39
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This should be marked as the right answer, it worked for me as well. – Ananth Kamath Sep 22 '21 at 10:01
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I think only Oh_my_zsh users need to modify zshrc file. – lbrobinho May 25 '22 at 22:57
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You people are mixing zsh and bash. They are different terminal shells. Use .bashrc for bash config and .zshrc for zsh config. Don't mix them. – ubuntudroid Jan 28 '23 at 18:08
Perfect answer. working on Monterey. – sam Feb 05 '23 at 17:25

score 27 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 07 '23 at 04:01

Installing Java on macOS 11 Big Sur:

the easiest way is to select OpenJDK 11 (LTS), the HotSpot JVM, and macOS x64 is to get the latest release here: adoptopenjdk.net
Select macOS and x64 and download the JDK (about 190 MB), which will put the OpenJDK11U-jdk_x64_mac_hotspot_11.0.9_11.pkg file into your ~/Downloads folder
Clicking on pkg file, will install into this location: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-11.jdk
Almost done. After opening a terminal, the successful installation of the JDK can be confirmed like so: java --version
- output:

openjdk 11.0.9.1 2020-11-04
OpenJDK Runtime Environment AdoptOpenJDK (build 11.0.9.1+1)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM AdoptOpenJDK (build 11.0.9.1+1, mixed mode)

JAVA_HOME is an important environment variable and it’s important to get it right. Here is a trick that allows me to keep the environment variable current, even after a Java Update was installed. In ~/.zshrc, I set the variable like so:
export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)
In previous macOS versions, this was done in ~/.bash_profile. Anyway, open a new terminal and verify: echo $JAVA_HOME
- output: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/adoptopenjdk-11.jdk/Contents/Home

TEST: Compile and Run your Java Program

Open a text editor, copy the code from below and save the file as HelloStackoverflow.java.

public class HelloStackoverflow {
  public static void main(String[] args){
    System.out.println("Hello Stackoverflow !");
  }//End of main
}//End of HelloStackoverflow Class

From a terminal set the working directory to the directory containing HelloStackoverflow.java, then type the command:

javac HelloStackoverflow.java

If you're lucky, nothing will happen
Actually, a lot happened. javac is the name of the Java compiler. It translates Java into Java Bytecode, an assembly language for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The Java Bytecode is stored in a file called HelloStackoverflow.class.
Running: type the command:

java HelloStackoverflow

# output:
# Hello Stackoverflow !

since yesterday i am trying to write it to the .bash_profile file and wondering why it is not working. **.zshrc** file !!! You saved my day. Thank you — Kerem, Dec 15 '20 at 07:23
@Kerem It depends what is your default shell Set. You can know this by doing `echo $SHELL` If it is `/bin/bash` then you need to change in .bash_profile, if it is `/bin/zsh` then you should set it in .zshrc file. — Ajay Kr Choudhary, Mar 11 '21 at 12:49
open new terminal and hit this cmd for open bash file xxxxx@XXX-MacBook-Pro ~ % cd ~/ xxxx@XXX-MacBook-Pro ~ % touch ~/ xxxx@XXX-MacBook-Pro ~ % open -e .bash_profile — Love, Jun 18 '22 at 15:43

score 20 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 27 '18 at 06:37

20

To set your Java path on mac:

Open terminal on mac, change path to the root cd ~
vi .bash_profile (This opens the bash_profile file)
Click I to insert text and use the following text to set JAVA_HOME and PATH
- export JAVA_HOME='/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_181.jdk/Contents/Home'
- export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
  1. Type :wq to save and exit the file.
  2. Type source .bash_profile to execute the .bash_profile file.
  3. You can type echo $JAVA_HOME or echo $PATH

answered Sep 27 '18 at 06:37

Arv

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I tried this, it changes for the shell session, but has no effect on a new shell session. – MithunS Feb 09 '19 at 22:25
Mac OS automatically executes .bash_profile on every terminal session.Are you still facing the issue ? Did you try restarting ? – Arv Feb 11 '19 at 20:07
~/.bash_profile is not a default file; most won't have it, so you can't just start editing it. And you can't just create it because it has syntax; it needs to be a full script file. – ktappe Sep 18 '20 at 06:13

score 13 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 09 '15 at 15:44

13

Try this link http://www.mkyong.com/java/how-to-set-java_home-environment-variable-on-mac-os-x/

This explains correctly, I did the following to make it work

Open Terminal
Type vim .bash_profile
Type your java instalation dir in my case export JAVA_HOME="/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home
Click ESC then type :wq (save and quit in vim)
Then type source .bash_profile
echo $JAVA_HOME if you see the path you are all set.

Hope it helps.

answered Nov 09 '15 at 15:44

Dilip Rajkumar

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THIS is the answer, not all the other stuff above. (Though note that Dilip left off the trailing " at the end of line 3.) – ktappe Sep 18 '20 at 06:16

ericn · Answer 6 · 2017-06-22T07:59:26.150

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Besides the settings for bash/ zsh terminal which are well covered by the other answers, if you want a permanent system environment variable for terminal + GUI applications (works for macOS Sierra; should work for El Capitan too):

launchctl setenv JAVA_HOME $(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.8)

(this will set JAVA_HOME to the latest 1.8 JDK, chances are you have gone through serveral updates e.g. javac 1.8.0_101, javac 1.8.0_131)

Of course, change 1.8 to 1.7 or 1.6 (really?) to suit your need and your system

edited Jun 22 '17 at 07:59

answered Jun 11 '17 at 10:06

ericn

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This is the correct answer for GUI Applications (not the OP's question, though...). Work like charm on macOS Sierra. – Elist Jun 14 '17 at 12:49
This command dont work on terminal.Anyone? tried the bash_profile and nothing. – cabaji99 Nov 29 '17 at 18:46

score 9 · Answer 7 · answered Nov 27 '20 at 13:22

run this command on your terminal(here -v11 is for version 11(java11))-:

/usr/libexec/java_home -v11

you will get the path on your terminal something like this -:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.9.jdk/Contents/Home

now you need to open your bash profile in any editor for eg VS Code

if you want to edit your bash_profile in vs code then run this command -:

code ~/.bash_profile

else run this command and then press i to insert the path. -:

open ~/.bash_profile

you will get your .bash_profile now you need to add the path so add this in .bash_profile (path which you get from 1st command)-:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.9.jdk/Contents/Home

if you were using code editor then now go to terminal and run this command to save the changes -:

source ~/.bash_profile

else press esc then :wq to exit from bash_profile then go to terminal and run the command given above. process completed. now you can check using this command -:

echo $JAVA_HOME

you will get/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.9.jdk/Contents/Home

score 9 · Answer 8 · answered Jan 17 '21 at 07:41

To set JAVA_HOME permanently in Mac, I tried following steps.

Download and install Java JDK to your Mac. When you install a Java JDK version which will be installed in the following location by default in MAC.

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines

Open the .bash_profile file (Here My Mac version is MacOS High Sierra. You may need to open .zshrc file in some different MacOS versions).

atom ~/.bash_profile

Add following to your bash_profile file.

Change the JDK version accordingly

export JAVA_HOME="$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.8)"
export JAVA_HOME='/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_271.jdk/Contents/Home'
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

Open the Terminal and execute following.

source ~/.bash_profile

Open a new terminal and check 'echo $JAVA_HOME'

Thanks.

You only need the second line saying export JAVA_HOME since it will overwrite the value of JAVA_HOME set on the line before it. — Will, Jun 05 '23 at 10:14
Oh, and on my M1 Mac, I put the export line (thagt I needed) in the file ~/.zshenv e.g.: `export JAVA_HOME="/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/zulu-11.jdk/Contents/Home"` — Will, Jun 05 '23 at 10:17

score 7 · Answer 9 · edited Jan 16 '20 at 09:12

7

This link may helps you: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/qa/qa1067/_index.html

Also, you can put the environment variable in one of these files:

~/.bashrc
~/.bash_profile
~/.profile

edited Jan 16 '20 at 09:12

Joachim Sauer

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answered Feb 05 '13 at 08:09

Miguel Prz

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score 7 · Answer 10 · answered Nov 12 '21 at 15:38

the answers here are in general correct, but for me I didn't know that I need to do something like source ~/.bash_profile to be able to really make it work.

so the full answer is:

nano ~/.zshenv // or
nano ~/.zshrc // or
nano ~/.bash_profile
//add this line to zshrc and bash_profile if you want to be 100% sure
export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)
//save
source ~/.bash_profile //the KEY that generally isn't in the answers
source ~/.zshrc //I didn't do this one, but maybe you need it

score 4 · Answer 11 · edited May 09 '20 at 01:41

1) The first step is to if you have Java installed and running your system.

which java

Usually, it should be /usr/bin/java.

2) JAVA_HOME is essentially the full path of the directory that contains a sub-directory named bin which in turn contains the java.

cd /Library/Java/

You should have bin folder inside /Java folder and in turn it must contain the [java] executable package.

Folder structure for Mac OS

3.1) If you want to set the path only for the current session then execute this command in your terminal export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java

3.2) If you want it to persist, you will have to add the command to your ~/.bash_profile file

Open up Terminal vi ~/.bash_profile
Add these lines to terminal export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/Home and save it
Execute below command source ~/.bash_profile

4) Verify you have correctly added JAVA_HOME path. Below command should give you the proper Java version.

That's it and your ready to use!!

Sonu Gill · Answer 12 · 2018-03-08T14:01:07.213

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Adding to Dilips's answer, if you are working with JDK 9, use the following (my JDK version is 9.0.4) in Step # 3:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-9.0.4.jdk/Contents/Home

edited Mar 08 '18 at 14:01

answered Mar 08 '18 at 03:38

Sonu Gill

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Thank you. I have tried 5 different things, but your solution actually helped me. Using macOS 10.14.5 (18F132) and setting JDK version. – Boris Y. Aug 30 '19 at 16:14

score 3 · Answer 13 · edited Apr 25 '19 at 08:48

sql-surfer and MikroDel,

actually, the answer is not that complicated! You just need to add:

export JAVA_HOME=(/usr/libexec/java_home)

to your shell profile/configuration file. The only question is - which shell are you using? If you're using for example FISH, then adding that line to .profile or .bash_profile will not work at all. Adding it to config.fish file though will do the trick. Permanently.

score 3 · Answer 14 · answered Sep 01 '20 at 00:38

First, figure out where your java home is by running the command /usr/libexec/java_home -v <version> replacing with whatever version of OpenJDK your running.

Next use vim ~/.bash_profile to edit your bash profile. Add export JAVA_HOME="<java path>" replacing with the path to your java home found in the last step.

Finally, run the command source ~/.bash_profile

This should permanently set your JAVA_HOME environment variable.

To make sure it worked run echo $JAVA_HOME and make sure it returns the path you set

score 2 · Answer 15 · answered Mar 24 '19 at 16:36

2

to set JAVA_HOME permenantly in mac make sure you have JDK installed in your system, if jdk is not installed you can download it from here https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

After installing jdk follow these steps :-

1) Open Terminal

2) Type "vim .bash_profile"

3) press "i" to edit or enter the path

4) Type your java instalation dir :- export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)

5) Click ESC then type ":wq" (save and quit in vim)

6) Then type "source .bash_profile"

7) type "echo $JAVA_HOME" if you see the path you are all set.

THANK YOU

answered Mar 24 '19 at 16:36

user11248574

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(This requires vim too though, doesn't it? Not that bad of a problem, but the user has to install it.) – tryman Mar 24 '19 at 16:45
vim is pre installed in mac – user11248574 May 02 '19 at 07:24
one either use vi or even textmate. which sh'd not be an issue – Sumit Ramteke Jun 30 '20 at 14:17

Joffrey Hernandez · Answer 16 · 2020-01-15T09:06:30.807

Declare two export inside your .bashrc or .zshrc:

export JAVA_8_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v1.8) 
export JAVA_11_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v11)

Add alias for quick change:

alias java8='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_8_HOME'
alias java11='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_11_HOME'

set default to Java 11

java11

export PATH

export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

you could change java11 by java8 inside your .bashrc/zshrc file to change permanently your java version

score 2 · Answer 17 · answered Nov 11 '20 at 16:45

If you are using fish shell. Then all the variables can be set in .config/fish/config.fish

vim .config/fish/config.fish

Add the following lines

set -g JAVA_HOME "your_path_to_jdk"

save and exit out of vim.

This should be setting your JAVA_HOME. Thanks

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered Oct 27 '20 at 08:16

If you are using the latest versions of macOS, then you cannot use ~/.bash_profile to export your environment variable since the bash shell is deprecated in the latest version of macOS.

Run /usr/libexec/java_home in your terminal and you will get things like /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_261.jdk/Contents/Home
Add export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_261.jdk/Contents/Home to .zshrc

score 1 · Answer 19 · answered Jun 01 '21 at 21:10

1

Find out the jenv will set the $JAVA_HOME a short version like "/Users/*****/.jenv/versions/1.8".

Have to uninstall jenv to make the $JAVA_HOME setting works like "JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_261.jdk/Contents/Home"

answered Jun 01 '21 at 21:10

Luke Songling Yan

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score 1 · Answer 20 · answered Jul 25 '23 at 11:35

Most of the answers were suggesting to source .bash_profile were outdated for me, I'm using macOS Ventura 13.4.1 which uses Zsh shell. Knowing which shell you are using helps you determine which configuration file to modify.

Step 1:

 echo $SHELL

Step 2:

if you see /bin/zsh then you need to update JAVA_HOME in ~/.zshrc, oterwise if you're seeing /bin/bash you need to update JAVA_HOME in ~/.bash_profile. Here ~/ is the home path. you can find .zshrc and .bash_profile in your home directory. you can go to you home directory by pressing return after cd

Step 3

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

run this command to see the jdks installed on your mac.

Step 4

I was using the Zsh shell, so I had to add this export in my .zshrc file. if you don't have this file in you ~/ home direcroy you need to create it.

export JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v 11`

replace the version after -v to the version you want to permanently set and aready have installed.

Step 5

if you're using Zsh shell

source .zshrc

else

source .bash_profile

make sure you're running this command in your home directory if you're not in your home directory run source ~/.zshrc as ~/ is shorthand for home directory.

score 0 · Answer 21 · answered Feb 05 '13 at 08:08

0

add following

setenv JAVA_HOME /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Home

in your ~/.login file:

answered Feb 05 '13 at 08:08

Fathah Rehman P

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score 0 · Answer 22 · edited Mar 27 '23 at 11:38

If you want to set the java version permanently, i.e., If you have 2 or more Java versions in your local

Then, follow these steps:

1. Check the available java versions using "/usr/libexec/java_home -V" command

2. Set the path inside the .bash_profile

Open your terminal
vi .bash_profile
export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.9.jdk/Contents/Home

Here, "/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.9.jdk/Contents/Home" is the java11 version path from step 1

How to set JAVA_HOME in Mac permanently?

22 Answers22

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