java version manager mac

stackoverflow.com › questions › 26252591 › mac-os-x-and-multiple-java-versions

The cleanest way to manage multiple java versions on Mac is to use Homebrew.

And within Homebrew, use:

homebrew-cask to install the versions of java
jenv to manage the installed versions of java

As seen on http://hanxue-it.blogspot.ch/2014/05/installing-java-8-managing-multiple.html , these are the steps to follow.

install homebrew
install homebrew jenv
install homebrew-cask
install a specific java version using cask (see "homebrew-cask versions" paragraph below)
add this version for jenv to manage it
check the version is correctly managed by jenv
repeat steps 4 to 6 for each version of java you need

homebrew-cask versions

Add the homebrew/cask-versions tap to homebrew using:

Copybrew tap homebrew/cask-versions

Then you can look at all the versions available by searching for Eclipse temurin, more details here

Copybrew search temurin

Then you can install the version(s) you like, though version 7 no longer shows up in homebrew via these casks:

Copybrew install --cask temurin8
brew install --cask temurin9

And add them to be managed by jenv as usual.

Copyjenv add <javaVersionPathHere>

I think this is the cleanest & simplest way to go about it.

Another important thing to note, as mentioned in Mac OS X 10.6.7 Java Path Current JDK confusing :

For different types of JDKs or installations, you will have different paths

You can check the paths of the versions installed using /usr/libexec/java_home -V, see How do I check if the Java JDK is installed on Mac?

On Mac OS X Mavericks, I found as following:

Built-in JRE default: /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home

JDKs downloaded from Apple: /System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Home/

JDKs downloaded from Oracle: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_11.jdk/Contents/Home

Resources

Removing Java 8 JDK from Mac
http://hanxue-it.blogspot.ch/2014/05/installing-java-8-managing-multiple.html
http://sourabhbajaj.com/mac-setup/index.html
http://brew.sh
https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew/tree/master/share/doc/homebrew#readme
http://sourabhbajaj.com/mac-setup/Homebrew/README.html
"brew tap” explained https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew/blob/master/share/doc/homebrew/brew-tap.md
“brew versions” explained Homebrew install specific version of formula? and also https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-versions
https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-cask
“cask versions”, similar to “brew versions”, see https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-versions and also https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-cask/issues/9447
http://www.jenv.be
https://github.com/gcuisinier/jenv

Answer from Adri w Ukraine on Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow

stackoverflow.com › questions › 26252591 › mac-os-x-and-multiple-java-versions

macos - Mac OS X and multiple Java versions - Stack Overflow

homebrew-cask versions

Add the homebrew/cask-versions tap to homebrew using:

Copybrew tap homebrew/cask-versions

Then you can look at all the versions available by searching for Eclipse temurin, more details here

Copybrew search temurin

Then you can install the version(s) you like, though version 7 no longer shows up in homebrew via these casks:

Copybrew install --cask temurin8
brew install --cask temurin9

And add them to be managed by jenv as usual.

Copyjenv add <javaVersionPathHere>

I think this is the cleanest & simplest way to go about it.

Another important thing to note, as mentioned in Mac OS X 10.6.7 Java Path Current JDK confusing :

For different types of JDKs or installations, you will have different paths

You can check the paths of the versions installed using /usr/libexec/java_home -V, see How do I check if the Java JDK is installed on Mac?

On Mac OS X Mavericks, I found as following:

Built-in JRE default: /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home

JDKs downloaded from Apple: /System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Home/

JDKs downloaded from Oracle: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_11.jdk/Contents/Home

Resources

Removing Java 8 JDK from Mac
http://hanxue-it.blogspot.ch/2014/05/installing-java-8-managing-multiple.html
http://sourabhbajaj.com/mac-setup/index.html
http://brew.sh
https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew/tree/master/share/doc/homebrew#readme
http://sourabhbajaj.com/mac-setup/Homebrew/README.html
"brew tap” explained https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew/blob/master/share/doc/homebrew/brew-tap.md
“brew versions” explained Homebrew install specific version of formula? and also https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-versions
https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-cask
“cask versions”, similar to “brew versions”, see https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-versions and also https://github.com/caskroom/homebrew-cask/issues/9447
http://www.jenv.be
https://github.com/gcuisinier/jenv

2 of 16

445

Uninstall jdk8, install jdk7, then reinstall jdk8.

My approach to switching between them (in .profile) :

Copyexport JAVA_7_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v1.7)
export JAVA_8_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v1.8)
export JAVA_9_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v9)
export JAVA_20_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v20)

alias java7='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_7_HOME'
alias java8='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_8_HOME'
alias java9='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_9_HOME'
alias java20='export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_20_HOME'

#default java8
export JAVA_HOME=$JAVA_8_HOME

Then you can simply type java7 or java8 in a terminal to switch versions.

(edit: updated to add Dylans improvement for Java 9)

Mac Install Guide

mac.install.guide › java › version-managers

Java Version Managers · Mac Install Guide · 2026

Here are the most popular and recommended Java version managers. SDKMAN – JVM-focused (Java, Kotlin, Scala), installs JDKs plus Maven, Gradle, Spring Boot CLI · mise – Polyglot (Java + Node + Python + Ruby), fastest performance, unified config, automatic JAVA_HOME · jEnv – Homebrew-centric workflow, lightweight switching for Homebrew-installed JDKs · Manual method – Simple needs (1–2 JDKs), no tools required, uses built-in macOS utility

Discussions

How to choose between multiple JDK's on MacOS?

I have used sdkman - you can use it to manage your sdks like java, Scala, groovy More on reddit.com

r/java

August 29, 2021

Getting started with SDKMAN! – Manage Java, Maven, Gradle versions with ease

I love sdkman!!! sdk install java 23.0.2-amzn sdk install maven sdk install gradle so easy!!! More on reddit.com

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April 20, 2025

Switching versions of Java on Mac OSX

Not standard, but easier, try using sdkman. More on reddit.com

r/javahelp

January 7, 2023

How to choose between multiple JDK's on MacOS? : r/java

Videos

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Home | SDKMAN! the Software Development Kit Manager

Install Software Development Kits for the JVM such as Java, Scala, Kotlin and Groovy. Ant, Gradle, Grails, Maven, SBT, Spark, Spring Boot, Vert.x and many others also supported. Written in Rust and bash and only requires curl, zip, and unzip dependencies to be present on your system. Even works with ZSH too. Operates seamlessly across various UNIX-based platforms, including macOS, Linux, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows.

Faun

faun.pub › simplify-java-version-management-on-macos-a-guide-to-sdkman-and-jabba-8f8d563b6c56

Simplify Java Version Management on macOS: A Guide to SDKMAN! and Jabba

October 20, 2024 - Lightweight: Jabba is a lightweight version manager focused solely on managing Java versions, making it a simple and efficient solution for developers who only need to manage Java environments. Easy Installation: Jabba can be installed via Homebrew, a popular package manager for macOS, simplifying the installation process for users familiar with Homebrew.

GitHub

github.com › jenv › jenv

GitHub - jenv/jenv: Manage your Java environment · GitHub

With macOS OpenJDK 21.0.2 installed, ... Your JVM directory may vary! Observe now that this version of Java is added to your jenv versions command:...

Starred by 6.6K users

Forked by 398 users

Languages Shell 99.0% | Dockerfile 1.0%

GitHub

gist.github.com › gramcha › 81dcec3f1e4ce8cffd7f248d3e2a42a7

Managing multiple Java versions in MacOS · GitHub

Managing multiple Java versions in MacOS · Raw · having-multiple-jdk-macos.md · We need to install a tool called jenv - Java version manager which is similar to nvm(nodeJs version manager). brew install jenv · Export the jenv path to ...

Medium

medium.com › @haroldfinch01 › step-by-step-guide-installing-and-switching-java-versions-on-mac-osx-f3896b9872f4

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing and Switching Java Versions on Mac OSX | by Harold Finch | Medium

May 21, 2024 - Step-by-Step Guide: Installing and Switching Java Versions on Mac OSX To install Java on macOS and allow for easy switching between different versions, you can use a version manager like jenv. Here's …

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Snyk

snyk.io › blog › installing-and-managing-java-on-macos

Installing and managing Java on macOS | Snyk

October 12, 2023 - Finally, we can use SDKMAN! to easily switch between Java versions. Running sdk use instructs SDKMAN! to set the active Java version to 19.0.2: ... Now that we’ve reviewed several methods for installing and managing Java on macOS, let's review the answers to some of the most common questions about the process.

Medium

medium.com › @manvendrapsingh › installing-many-jdk-versions-on-macos-dfc177bc8c2b

Installing & switching between multiple JDK on macOS | by Manvendra P Singh | Medium

February 20, 2023 - Lets use HomeBrew, openjdk and zshrc to install and manage different java / JDK versions on MacOS / OsX

DEV Community

dev.to › blaytenshi › installing-multiple-java-on-macos-managed-by-jenv-l6i

Installing (multiple) Java on MacOS managed by jEnv - DEV Community

October 7, 2024 - We'll create symlinks to versions .../libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-21.jdk · jenv is a Java installation version manager......

javaspring

javaspring.net › blog › version-java-mac

Java Version Management on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide — javaspring.net

In this blog, we'll explore the fundamental concepts of Java version management on a Mac, how to use different methods for version management, common practices, and best practices to make your Java development experience smooth.

Medium

medium.com › @annurahar › manage-various-java-versions-on-mac-osx-e6aee82c882c

Manage various Java versions on Mac OSX | by Annu Rahar | Medium

September 16, 2021 - Manage various Java versions on Mac OSX There are few options to do the installation as well as manage JDK switching. Installation can be done by Homebrew, SDKMAN, Jabba, or a manual install …

GitHub

gist.github.com › gwpantazes › 50810d5635fc2e053ad117b39b597a14

How to install different JDK versions on MacOS with Homebrew · GitHub

It has a Java plugin which handles downloading/installing and local/shell/global environment (i.e. the roles of Homebrew and jenv respectively). It also has a standard interface for all other languages it supports (which are many: python, ruby, nodejs, etc.), so it's a nice cohesive experience overall. I recommend trying out asdf if you need to do tool version management and switch between multiple versions of things.

Mac Install Guide

mac.install.guide › mise › mise-java-mac

Java with Mise Version Manager · Mac Install Guide · 2026

March 9, 2026 - Mise is multi-language version manager. Manage Java versions on Mac with Mise instead of SDKMAN. Install, switch distributions, configure JAVA_HOME, and manage build tools.

Medium

blog.bigoodyssey.com › how-to-manage-multiple-java-version-in-macos-e5421345f6d0

How to Manage Multiple Java Versions in MacOS (Updated 2023 + macOS Ventura) | by Chamika Kasun | Medium

February 7, 2023 - I have been using multiple versions of Java with a Version Manager on my Mac for a while, whenever I need to switch between different projects which use different versions of Java this feature becomes handier so I thought of sharing with you how you can use a Java Version Manager-jEnv in your daily work in order to switch between multiple Java versions.

notiz

notiz.dev › blog › how-to-manage-multiple-java-versions-on-mac

How to manage multiple Java JDK versions on macOS X

April 16, 2020 - How to manage multiple Java JDK versions on macOS X using homebrew.

MungingData

mungingdata.com › java › jenv-multiple-versions-java

Running Multiple Versions of Java on MacOS with jenv - MungingData

Switching manually is possible, but who wants to waste mental energy thinking about Java versions every time they switch a project? jenv will help you manage Java on your Mac, even if you only need to use a single version.

GitHub

github.com › shyiko › jabba

GitHub - shyiko/jabba: (cross-platform) Java Version Manager · GitHub

(cross-platform) Java Version Manager. Contribute to shyiko/jabba development by creating an account on GitHub.

Starred by 3.4K users

Forked by 222 users

Languages Go 83.8% | Shell 10.1% | PowerShell 3.6% | Makefile 2.5%

Mac Install Guide

mac.install.guide › java › sdkman

Install SDKMAN for Java on Mac · Mac Install Guide · 2026

The Java version manager SDKMAN, or Software Development Kit Manager, is a command-line tool that installs, manages, and switches among multiple Java versions on macOS.

reddit.com › r/java › how to choose between multiple jdk's on macos?

r/java on Reddit: How to choose between multiple JDK's on MacOS?

August 29, 2021 -

On MacOS, you can run /usr/libexec/java_home to get the current JDK MacOS will use...

On my system, it's:

OpenJDK Runtime Environment Zulu16.32+15-CA (build 16.0.2+7)

But, I have multiple JDK's installed:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

Matching Java Virtual Machines (2):

16.0.2 (arm64) "Azul Systems, Inc." - "Zulu 16.32.15" /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/zulu-16.jdk/Contents/Home

16.0.2 (x86_64) "Oracle Corporation" - "Java SE 16.0.2" /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-16.0.2.jdk/Contents/Home

Does anyone know how (if I can) switch what MacOS will use by default?

So far, if I delete the current default, it'll switch to the one remaining (I've tried this my moving the current JDK to /tmp). But is there a more elegant way to do this?