The whole structure with Java 11 has changed. Java is now a modular platform, where you can create your own "JRE" distribution with specifically the modules that you need to run your application.

The release notes at https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/11-relnote-issues-5012449.html have the following sentence:

In this release, the JRE or Server JRE is no longer offered. Only the JDK is offered. Users can use jlink to create smaller custom runtimes.

Documentation about jlink: https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/11/tools/jlink.html

And another article about it: https://medium.com/codefx-weekly/is-jlink-the-future-1d8cb45f6306

Answer from dunni on Stack Overflow
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Oracle
oracle.com › java › technologies › javase › jdk11-archive-downloads.html
Java Archive Downloads - Java SE 11
Go to the Oracle Java Archive page. The JDK is a development environment for building applications using the Java programming language.
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Oracle
java.com › en › download › manual.jsp
Download Java
» What is Java » Remove older versions » Security » Support » Other help · This download is for end users who need Java for running applications on desktops or laptops. Java 8 integrates with your operating system to run separately installed Java applications.
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UnoGeeks
unogeeks.com › home › blog › jre 11 download
JRE 11 Download
December 26, 2023 - ... Click on the download link to start the download of the JRE installer for your platform. ... Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the installation instructions.
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Oracle
jdk.java.net › 11
JDK 11 Releases - Java.net
The JDK 11 Early Access Program has concluded. Please visit Java SE Downloads for production ready builds.
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OpenLogic
openlogic.com › openjdk-downloads
OpenJDK Downloads | OpenLogic
In August 2019, OpenLogic recognized that the current state of Java WebStart technology in OpenJDK was not as capable as the Oracle JDK equivalent. The build was missing critical functionality such as site exceptions, jar key matching, Windows Proxy settings, and other functions. OpenLogic added functionality to IcedTea-Web to bring parity with Oracle’s WebStart distribution. These upgrades were accepted into IcedTea-Web 2.0. OpenLogic now provides free, quarterly builds of OpenJDK 8, OpenJDK 11, OpenJDK 17, and OpenJDK 21 for Linux, Windows, and MacOS.
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Azul Systems
azul.com › home › azul downloads
Java 8, 11, 17, 21, 25 Download for Linux, Windows and macOS
January 30, 2023 - Click here to download the Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK for Java 8, 11, 17, 21, 25 for Linux, Windows and macOS. Also download Azul Platform Prime.
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Bell Software
bell-sw.com › pages › downloads
Java Download | Java 8, Java 11, Java 17, Java 21, Java 25 - OpenJDK Builds for Linux, Windows & macOS
Download Liberica JDK, supported OpenJDK builds. Open source Java 8, 11 and more for Linux, Windows, macOS.
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The Answer by Stephen C is correct, and important.

Oracle no longer intends for end-users to be installing a JRE or a JDK. Java Applets in a browser and Java Web Start app delivery are both being phased out, leaving the end-user with no need for a JRE. Java-based apps are expected to bundle their own Java implementation. The only folks consciously installing a JDK will be developers & server-side sysadmins.

Important:

  • Understand clearly the nature of the OpenJDK project, as explained in Wikipedia
  • Read this white paper by Oracle of 2018-03, Java Client Roadmap Update
  • Read the white paper Java Is Still Free, authored by key members of the Java community.

Learn about:

  • Java Platform Module System
  • jlink (JEP 282)
  • jpackage (JEP 343)

Desktop apps are now expected to bundle their own Java runtime. Those tools listed above can create a very small runtime custom-fit to your particular app.

Here is a flowchart diagram that may help you finding and deciding amongst the various vendors providing a Java 11 implementation.


And a table mapping possible motivations or considerations leading to suggested vendors of Java.

Compatibility concerns

In the Comments, an question was raised, concern over compatibility issues between releases by various vendors.

Firstly, know that the OpenJDK project includes a vast suite of tests known as the OpenJDK Community Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK). Vendors are free to self-declare whether their release has passed those tests. These claims are not verified, and rely on the honor system. On my diagram above, I have check-marked "TCK" on the couple vendors I know have self-declared: Oracle JDK by Oracle & Zulu by Azul Systems.

All the products listed in the blue barrel area of my chart above are built almost directly on the OpenJDK source code. So generally, you should see virtually identical compatibility.

There are two areas of concern you might consider: Technology differences, and schedule of updates/patches.

As for technology differences, vendors using the OpenJDK project can ship with either the HotSpot engine or the OpenJ9 engine. These will differ on performance (faster/slower startup versus overall speed, more/less memory), but their behavior in terms of complying with the Java specifications should be identical. They could differ, and certainly either might present a flaw (that likely would be soon fixed) that the other lacked. Personally, I would not be concerned by this, but I mention it for completeness.

Another technology difference is the different kind of JVM used by Zing by Azul Systems and GraalVM by Oracle. Either of these might differ in some way from each other or from the other products, because they intentionally have a different kind of JVM implementation, to offer special features. But given the thoroughness of the Java specs, they should not be incompatible. If they were, you can expect any compatibility problem to be rapidly resolved. If I needed the special features of either of these products, I would use them with full confidence.

Another possible concern is the speed with which a vendor might update their own releases with certain bug fixes or security patches. For example, Oracle has stated that they reserve the right to immediately ship any ready patches to their own customers, while submitting those to the OpenJDK project for consideration. Certainly, any of the vendors providing commercial support are likely to rush a fix or patch to their paying customers. Those releases built as a courtesy to the community provided free-of-cost may take longer to update, likely after the OpenJDK project has incorporated a fix/patch.

And each vendor is free to modify their code base at will, as long as they comply with the Java specs. For example, the Corretto team at Amazon has already made improvements to their own release, and then shared those changes upstream to the OpenJDK project. There may a gap in time before OpenJDK incorporated those changes, if they decide to do so. So it is possible that various releases might differ. But at this point, all of the vendors in the Java community seem to have sincere commitments to work together to prevent fragmentation. So, again, I have no real concern here, but mention this for completeness.

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Right now, there seem to be no free + easy Oracle-supported Java 11 JRE (only) options. Your options are:

  1. Download and use an OpenJDK Java 11 JDK from the OpenJDK site.

  2. Download and use an Oracle Java 11 JDK from the Oracle site ... and be sure that you fully understand the restrictions on "commercial use" that now apply to the Oracle Java 11+ releases.

  3. Try to roll your own Windows JRE for Windows from the OpenJDK sources; see Create jre from OpenJDK Windows. (I wouldn't recommend doing this. There are better alternatives.)

  4. Look into using the new jlink tool to create a custom image (basically a cut-down JRE) for your application. This seems to be the option that Oracle want 3rd-party application developers to use.

  5. Talk to Oracle sales about a Java support contract, and specifically ask about how to get a JRE build. (I don't know what the answer will be. If someone does try this, and they get a positive response, please comment!)

  6. Use a 3rd-party Java JRE distribution.

    • The list of Java vendors changes over time, but as of now it includes AdoptOpenJDK, Amazon, Azul, BellSoft, IBM, jClarity, Red Hat and SAP. See also: Difference between OpenJDK and Adoptium/AdoptOpenJDK

    • Some of these vendors offer JRE distros. Check their download sites.

    • Since (nearly) all Java vendors base their products on the same standard OpenJDK codebase that is used for Oracle Java, there is no reason to be concerned about the stability of a 3rd party JRE. Some vendors offer (paid for) support.

(Or switch from Windows to Linux. I can install an OpenJDK Java 11 JRE-only package from the distro package manager on recent versions of Ubuntu, Fedora, ...)


For those people who think that Oracle Java 11 and OpenJDK Java 11 are the same, please read the following from the Oracle download site:

Important changes in Oracle JDK 11 License

With JDK 11 Oracle has updated the license terms on which we offer the Oracle JDK. The new Oracle Technology Network License Agreement for Oracle Java SE is substantially different from the licenses under which previous versions of the JDK were offered. Please review the new terms carefully before downloading and using this product.

Oracle also offers this software under the GPL License on jdk.java.net/11

Notice that Oracle are saying that the licenses for Oracle Java and OpenJDK Java are different. (Not withstanding that the two are built from essentially the same source code base.) Ignore this at your peril!

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The Coder World
thecoderworld.com › home › windows › how to install java jre on windows 11
How to Install Java JRE on Windows 11 - thecoderworld
December 20, 2025 - To download JRE from Oracle, you’ll need to have an Oracle account. After installation, add the JRE’s bin folder path to the system’s PATH variable. You will only find the Java JDK folder when you install Java JDK on Windows 11.
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TechSpot
techspot.com › downloads › 5553-java-jdk.html
Java SE JDK 11.0.30 Download Free | TechSpot
January 20, 2026 - Download Java JDK - The Java JDK lets you develop and deploy Java applications on desktops and servers. Java offers the rich user interface, performance, portability, and security that today's applications require.
Rating: 4.3 ​ - ​ 450 votes
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MiniTool Partition Wizard
partitionwizard.com › home › partition magic › java runtime environment download and install for windows 10/11
Java Runtime Environment Download and Install for Windows 10/11 - MiniTool Partition Wizard
September 6, 2023 - So, you can download JRE by getting the Java JDK download package and installing it on Windows 10/11. Of course, some third-party websites provide a single Java Runtime Environment download package.
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Oracle
oracle.com › java › technologies › downloads
Download the Latest Java LTS Free
For Java developers. Includes a complete JRE plus tools for developing, debugging, and monitoring Java applications.
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Adoptium
adoptium.net › temurin › releases
Eclipse Temurin JDK 11 LTS
Pick a version, package type, JDK/JRE, and download the binaries. All VersionsJDK 25 - LTSJDK 21 - LTSJDK 17 - LTSJDK 11 - LTSJDK 8 - LTS
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Eclipse
download.eclipse.org › justj › jres › 11 › updates › release › latest › index.html
JustJ JREs 11.0.30 Release Latest
JustJ Adoptium OpenJDK Hotspot JRE Base for Windows x86 64 bit 11.0.30 38.4MB · ◢▷ Properties · java.vm.compressedOopsMode = 32-bit · org.eclipse.justj.url.source = https://github.com/adoptium/temurin11-binaries/releases/download/jdk-11.0.30+7/OpenJDK11U-jdk_x64_windows_hotspot_...
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Red Hat
developers.redhat.com › products › openjdk › download
Download the Red Hat Build of OpenJDK | Red Hat Developer
July 25, 2024 - Red Hat build of OpenJDK is available for RHEL, Windows, and other Linux environments too as a Java Runtime Environment(JRE) and a complete Java Development Kit (JDK).
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CodeJava
codejava.net › java-se › download-and-install-java-11-openjdk-and-oracle-jdk
Download and Install Java 11 (OpenJDK and Oracle JDK)
According to Oracle, JDK 11 will be supported (commercial support) until September 2026.Head to Java SE Development Kit 11 Downloads page and choose the download file appropriate to your operating system. Oracle JDK 11 comes with installers for Linux (rpm and deb), macOS (dmg), Windows (exe) ...
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Oracle
oracle.com › java › technologies › downloads › archive
Looking for an Older Java Release?
Access the historical java release archive that includes JRE and JDK to help developers debug issues in older systems.