Turns out java has been moved into brew core recently, so the correct command as of August 2022 is:
brew install java
Then check your installation by running
java -version
If the result does not looks like this:
openjdk 18.0.2 2022-07-19
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Homebrew (build 18.0.2+0)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Homebrew (build 18.0.2+0, mixed mode, sharing)
but like this:
The operation couldn’t be completed. Unable to locate a Java Runtime.
Please visit http://www.java.com for information on installing Java.
Then you also need to create a symlink for the system Java wrappers to find this JDK:
sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/libexec/openjdk.jdk \
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk.jdk
Answer from Tim Fulmer on Stack OverflowTurns out java has been moved into brew core recently, so the correct command as of August 2022 is:
brew install java
Then check your installation by running
java -version
If the result does not looks like this:
openjdk 18.0.2 2022-07-19
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Homebrew (build 18.0.2+0)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Homebrew (build 18.0.2+0, mixed mode, sharing)
but like this:
The operation couldn’t be completed. Unable to locate a Java Runtime.
Please visit http://www.java.com for information on installing Java.
Then you also need to create a symlink for the system Java wrappers to find this JDK:
sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/libexec/openjdk.jdk \
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk.jdk
As an add-on to the accepted answer: to install a certain version of Java, e.g. version 11, run:
brew install openjdk@11
And symlink it:
sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@11/libexec/openjdk.jdk \
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-11.jdk
where can i download java 21?
Unable to install Java 8 on MBP M4
downloading java
Which Java (JDK 21) Is Most Preferred for MacBook Air?
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I tested this answer using a clean install of High Sierra 10.13.6. All updates from Apple were installed.
The downloads of the JDKs can be found at Java Downloads. I could not correctly view this site using Safari under High Sierra. Instead, I installed and used Firefox ESR (Extend Support Release). This link for Firefox download can be successfull viewed from Safari. The file I downloaded and installed was Firefox 115.16.1esr.dmg.
I tried JDK 23 by downloading and installing jdk-23_macos-x64_bin.dmg. This was not recognized by Java. Next, I tried JDK 21 by downloading and installing jdk-21_macos-x64_bin.dmg. This was recognized by Java.
Instructions for uninstalling a JDK can be found here. Personally, I just used the Finder to move the /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-23.jdk folder to the Trash.
I tested by using the simple code given below. The code was stored in the file named Simple.java.
class Simple{
public static void main(String args[]){
System.out.println("Hello Java");
}
}
Example of testing is given below.
dmas-Mac:Desktop dma$ javac Simple.java
dmas-Mac:Desktop dma$ java Simple
Hello Java
BTW, I tested JDK 23 using macOS Monterey and did not encounter the problems that occurred with High Sierra.
I've successfully installed Java 21 from Microsoft on High Sierra.
$ java --version
openjdk 21.0.8 2025-07-15 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Microsoft-11933195 (build 21.0.8+9-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Microsoft-11933195 (build 21.0.8+9-LTS, mixed mode, sharing)
Java 25 has the some issue as mentioned above. It looks like the jdks have been build with a dependency to "chkstk_darwin" which ist not available in High Sierra.