How to Install Java on Linux

This wikiHow teaches you how to install the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your Linux computer.

Table of Contents

Installing on Non-RPM Linux

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9b/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9b/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-1- Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Java for Linux download page . You will see several options.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/03/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/03/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-2- Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Linux . This link is in the middle of the page. The Java installation file will be downloaded.

You can also click on the Linux X64 version if you want to install 64-bit Java.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4f/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4f/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-3- Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Record the filename. The latest Java version is the 8th version, but you may also need the updated version number after the “8u” at the end of the file name.

For example, your file might be named “jre-8u151”, this is the 8th version, update 151.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/64/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-4-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-4-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/64/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-4- Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-4-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open command line. This step will vary depending on your version of Linux, but you can usually find the command line by opening the Terminal application or clicking the bar at the top or bottom of the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/92/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/92/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-5- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Change the installation directory. Type cd into the console, press the spacebar once, then type the path (eg /usr/java/ then press ↵ Enter .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d8/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d8/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-6- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the install command. Type tar zxvf , press the spacebar once, then enter the full name of the file. This depends on your Java version and when you downloaded it.

As of October 2017, you will have to type tar zxvf jre-8u151-linux-i586.tar .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/32/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-7-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-7-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/32/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-7- Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-7-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Press ↵ Enter . Java will be installed on the computer in a directory titled “jre1.8.0_[update]” where “[update]”, where “update” is the version number (eg: 151).

Install on RPM Linux

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/63/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/63/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-8- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Java for Linux download page . You will see several options.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3c/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3c/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-9- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Linux RPM in the middle of the page. The Java installation file for RPM will be downloaded.

You can also click on the Linux RPM X64 version if you want to install 64-bit Java.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fd/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fd/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-10- Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Record the filename. The latest Java version is the 8th version, but you may also need the updated version number after the “8u” at the end of the file name.

For example, your file might be named “jre-8u151”, which is the 8th version and the 151 update.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/78/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-11-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/78/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-11- Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open command line. This step will vary depending on your version of Linux, but you can usually find the command line by opening the Terminal application or clicking the bar at the top/bottom of the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8f/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8f/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-12- Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the root command. Type sudo su and press ↵ Enter . The command line will ask for the user password. ^{[1] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3a/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-13-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-13-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3a/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-13- Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-13-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter your account password. Type the account’s password and press ↵ Enter . As long as you have super access (or root privileges) on the account, this will allow you to install Java.

If you do not have root access on the account, you need to enter the password of the account with root access.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5b/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5b/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-14- Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Change the installation directory. Type cd into the console, press the spacebar once, then type the path (eg /usr/java/ then press ↵ Enter .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cf/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-15-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-15-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cf/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-15- Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-15-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the install command. Type rpm -ivh , press space once, type the full name of the file, and then press ↵ Enter . Java will be installed on the computer.

The file name will depend on when you download it. As of October 2017, you will have to type rpm -ivh jre-8u151-linux-i586.rpm and then press ↵ Enter .

Upgrade file download. Type rpm -Uvh jre-8u73-linux-i586.rpm and press ↵ Enter . This will check for updates for the Java package and apply them where possible.

Install on Ubuntu (OpenJDK)

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/06/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/06/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-17- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open command line. Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or click the black frame icon with a white “>_” on the left side of the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a1/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-18-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-18-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a1/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-18- Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-18-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the update command. Type sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y and press ↵ Enter . The package list will refresh and install all available updates for you.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/88/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/88/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-19- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the password if asked. If asked for a user password, you need to enter it and press ↵ Enter .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/49/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-20-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/49/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-20- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

You need to make sure Java is not installed. Type java -version and press ↵ Enter . If you see the message “The program ‘java’ can be found in the fplowing packages” it means Java is not installed on the computer.

If Java is already installed, you will see a command line report about the current version of Java on your computer.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/34/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-21-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java- on-Linux-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/34/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-21- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the install command. Type sudo apt-get install default-jre in the command line, then press ↵ Enter . Java will be installed to the default directory on the Ubuntu computer.

If this doesn’t work, try typing sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jdk instead

Install on Ubuntu 16.04 via PPA

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/18/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-22.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java-on-Linux- Step-22.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/18/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-22.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-22.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

First of all, this is a third-party installation package, so the Linux distribution’s package management system (often referred to as distro) cannot inventory this package, so you need to be careful when using it. However, you still have to press Ctrl + Alt + T first to open the terminal.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/57/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-23.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux- Step-23.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/57/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-23.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-23.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

You need to make sure the system is up to date. After typing sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y , the system will prompt you for your password, type the password and then press ↵ Enter , note that no dots or asterisks will appear. out as you enter and this is normal.

While this step isn’t technically required, it’s always recommended before we install any content, so it’s a good idea to keep your system up to date to avoid problems.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/bf/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-24.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java-on-Linux- Step-24.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bf/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-24.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-24.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Add the PPA repository to the system. Type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java and then press ↵ Enter .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c8/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-25.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java-on-Linux- Step-25.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c8/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-25.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-25.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Update the package lists again. Type sudo apt-get update and wait for the packages to refresh.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/15/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-26.jpg/v4-728px-Install-Java-on-Linux- Step-26.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-26.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-26.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Install package. Type sudo apt-get install oracle-java9-installer -y .

You may be asked to enter a password, then type it in and press ↵ Enter , note that no periods or asterisks will appear as you type and this is normal.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/0e/Install-java-on-Linux-Step-27.jpg/v4-728px-Install-java-on-Linux- Step-27.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/0e/Install-Java-on-Linux-Step-27.jpg/v4-728px-Install- Java-on-Linux-Step-27.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Set Oracle’s Java as default. On many Ubuntu derivatives, OpenJDK is usually the default Java used. If you want Oracle’s Java to be used as default, you need to type sudo apt install oracle-java9-set-default .

Advice

Although there are ways to load Java using a program interface (such as a graphical user interface – GUI), the installation process takes significantly less time if you use the command line.

Warning

Oracle Java is no longer supported on Ubuntu. You can use OpenJDK (free version of Oracle Java) instead.
Oracle does not distribute .deb packages, any .deb packages for Oracle from Oracle come from third parties and may harm your system.

Steps