In this article, I show you exactly how to download and install Java for Minecraft. Java is the foundation of Minecraft. It’s literally the language that Minecraft is coded into. For this reason, whether you’re looking to play Minecraft mods or start a Minecraft server, you’ll need to download Java. Luckily, this article shows you every step to set up and run Java for Minecraft, so let’s jump right into it!
What this Java guide will cover:
- Download
- worksWhy
- do you need Java for Minecraft?
-
- open in WinRARDoes
- require Java 18
Minecraft
?
- How to link .jar files to
- What version of Java do you need for Minecraft servers?
JavaNeed Java for Minecraft mods?
Java Install Java Confirm that Java
Troubleshooting What to do if .jar files
How to download Java for Minecraft Mods
Step 1) Go
to Java download page
First things first, you will need to access the Java download page. Just click on the big yellow button above or on this Java download link. You will then land on Oracle’s website. Oracle is the company behind Java and the website where Java downloads are hosted.
Step 2) Selecting
Java 17 and Windows
Once you are on the download page, make sure Java 17 and Windows are selected. If these are not selected, you will get the wrong version of Java and it will not work with your mods or server.
Note: If you’re still having trouble after getting Java, confirm that you have Java 17. If you have a newer or older version of Java, you will have problems with Minecraft.
Step 3) Download
Java 17
Finally, we can download Java 17. Do this by clicking on the link in the download column next to ‘x64 Installer’. The download will then begin. You may need to keep or save the file depending on your browser. It is 100% safe to download Java from Oracle.com as they are the Java developers.
How to install Java for Minecraft
Step 1) Open
Java installer
Java is installed using a system installer. This means that the file you downloaded will need to be opened to start the installation process. Do this by simply double-clicking on the Java file you downloaded. When it does, the installer will open. The installer window will be titled ‘Java(TM) SE Development Kit 17.
Step 2) Install Java with
the installer
With the installer open, click Next on the first page to start the installation. On the second page, click Next again, and Java 17 will start installing automatically.
Once Java has finished installing, you can click the close button on the installer to close it. You now have Java 17 for Minecraft.
Confirm that
Java is working
with downloaded Java, you need to make sure it is working. The easiest way to do this is by going back to whatever Java Minecraft file you were trying to use. Whether it’s Forge, Optifine, Fabric, a Minecraft server, or something else, it should now have a Java coffee cup logo as a file icon.
If the file icon isn’t the Java logo, it’s really no big deal. All you need to do is run the Jarfix. That simple program will take all the .jar files on your computer and link them to Java to make them work properly.
Why does
Minecraft need Java?
Well, technically, you don’t need Java to play Minecraft. What you need Java for are Minecraft mods and servers. The reason for this is that Minecraft is coded in the Java programming language.
Truth be told, the only reason Minecraft is coded in Java is because the creator of Minecraft liked to program in Java. Therefore, the game was built in Java from the beginning. For this reason, all Minecraft mods are also coded in Java, and that’s why you need Java for Minecraft mods and servers!
No
one
likes problems, but they are likely to arise in one form or another. For this reason, we wanted to fix all the potential problems you may have when getting Java for mods and servers in Minecraft. If there is a problem we missed here, please contact us on our contact page and we will try to help you.
What to do if .jar files open in
WinRAR
One of the most common problems is that WinRAR is opening your .jar files. This can be annoying as it prevents you from moving forward completely with a .jar file.
Fortunately, the solution for this is very simple. Step one that ‘ you have probably already completed. You need to download Java. You must have Java installed for .jar files to work on your computer.
After having Java, we can move on to the second step of this process and that is to run the Jarfix. The Jarfix will unlink the .jar file type from WinRAR and link it back to Java. By doing so, your files will .jar be able to double-click to open them automatically with Java fixing .jar files that open in WinRAR.
Note: The above process also works with 7Zip and other alternative file explorers
.
Does Minecraft require
Java 18? No,
in fact, if you try to use Minecraft mods or start a server with Java 18, it may not work at all. The reason for this is that Java 17 is the version that is natively compatible with Minecraft.
Eventually, we expect Java 18 to work with Minecraft. However, when that happens, we will update this article.
How to link .jar files to Java
We’ve covered this several times in this article, but it’s a very common question. Therefore, it is worth looking at it again.
To repair your .jar files that won’t open with Java, you should use Jarfix. In just a few steps, all your .jar files will work with Java again. You should also download Java before opening the Jarfix program. If you don’t install Java first, the Jarfix simply won’t work leaving your files .jar exactly as they are.
Need Java for Minecraft mods?
Yes, you need Java to install mods for Minecraft. Specifically, however, you need Java to install mod loaders like Forge and Fabric, as well as mods that have their own dedicated installers like Optifine and Iris Shaders.
Minecraft mods
themselves technically don’t require Java, but since it’s required for mod uploaders that make mods work, you’ll need it no matter what
.
What version of Java do you need for
Minecraft servers?
Currently, you need Java 17 to start a Minecraft server. In the past, it has needed other versions of Java, and we expect Mojang to update the version of Java required for servers in the future. When this happens, we’ll update the article to reflect the new version of Java you need.
