How to Set Java Home

This updated guide examines How to Set Java Home and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

For Windows

1. Assuming that the path for the Java Development Kit (JDK) during installation is not changed, it will be in a directory under C: Program FilesJava. This path will have the JDK, let's assume it has jdk1.6.0_06. So the install path is C:Program FilesJavajdk1.6.0_06.
2. Setting JAVA_HOME using "My Computer":
   1. Right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select properties
   2. Click the Advanced Tab
   3. Click the Environment Variables button
   4. Under System Variable, click New
   5. Enter the variable name as JAVA_HOME
   6. Enter the variable value as the install path "C:Program FilesJavajdk1.6.0_06"
   7. Click OK
   8. Click Apply Changes
   9. Restart the computer to make sure the changes are reflected.
3. Setting JAVA_HOME using command prompt
   1. Open command prompt
   2. Type the following in the command prompt set JAVA_HOME = C:Program FilesJavajdk1.6.0_06 and press enter The JAVA_HOME is set.

Method 2

For Linux

1. To set the JAVA_HOME we use.bash_profile which is a start-up script. This particular file is used for commands which runs when the normal user logs in. The steps to set JAVA_HOME are:
   1. Login to your account and open.bash_profile file $ vi ~/.bash_profile
   2. If your path is set to /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_06/, set JAVA_HOME as follows: export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/jdk1.6.0_06/
   3. Save and close the file. Logout and login back to see new changes, or type source ~/.bashrc