Need Java on MacOS? Here’s How to Install Java (JDK/JRE) on Mac with Eclipse Temurin
Need to install Java on your Mac to run a particular application? While most Mac users will never need Java, there are certain apps, development tools, enterprise software, and utilities that still require a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) to function properly. You might discover this when you go to open the app, and you might see a message about requiring Java, or needing a Java Virtual Machine.
If you’ve launched an app and received a message stating Java is required, or you’re setting up software that depends on Java, installing a modern JDK/JRE is usually the easiest solution. One of the best options available today is called Eclipse Adoptium, which is a free, open-source distribution of OpenJDK that’s widely used on MacOS, Windows, and Linux, but obviously we’re focused on the Mac here.
Why do I need Java on my Mac?
Apple no longer ships with Java included in MacOS. Nonetheless, a fair number of apps still continue to rely on Java to function properly, or run at all.
Surprising numbers of applications continue to use Java, whether it’s legacy enterprise software, trading software, scientific and engineering tools, analysis utilities, educational applications, Minecraft servers and mods, some cross platform games and simulators, development environments, database administration and management tools, network utilities, and much more.
You will know you need Java because an app may refuse to install or launch until a JRE/JDK is installed successfully. The JRE part, which BTW JRE stands for Java Runtime Environment, is what’s really essential here to get apps running.
How to Install Java on MacOS Tahoe 26, MacOS Golden Gate 27 with Eclipse Temurin OpenJDK
- Go to the Adoptium download page and download the installer
- Run the Adoptium installer to install the JRE/JDK on your Mac
- After installation has finished, you can verify Java has been successfully installed by going to the Terminal and entering:
- Restart the Mac*
- If an app required Java/JRE/JDK to open, try again and the app should now launch as expected
java --version
You should see the version of OpenJDK you just installed, which might look something like this:
openjdk 25.0.3 2026-04-21 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Temurin-25.0.3+9 (build
25.0.3+9-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Temurin-25.0.3+9 (build 25.0.3+9-LTS, mixed mode, shari ng)
username@M4-MacBook-Pro
*You don’t always have to restart the Mac for all apps to work properly, but if you’re trying to open an app and it’s having difficulty finding Java after you just installed it, try rebooting the Mac.
While often just any version of Java will do, some apps are picky and want a specific Java version. Eclipse Adoptium supports multiple versions to exist together, so if you need Java 8 and Java 17, for example, you can have both.
Most Mac users will never need Java, a JRE, or JDK, but if you do run into a situation where a particular necessary application requires it, then installing a modern OpenJDK distribution is often the fastest solution. Whether you know you need it ahead of time, or you go trough run an application and encounter a Java required error message, now you know what to do to move things along.
Why Eclipse Temurin over Oracle Java?
There are various reasons for this, but one of the most compelling is due to a licensing change from Oracle taking Oracle Java to a paid licensing model, whereas Eclipse Temurin remains free for any usage including commercial production.
