How to Set the Path in Java

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

Method 1

Windows

1. Open the Control Panel. The steps to do this vary depending on your version of Windows:
   • Windows 10 & 8: Press Windows Key + S to bring up the search bar, typecontrol panel, and then click Control Panel in the search results.
   • Windows 7 and earlier: Click the Start menu and select Control Panel .
2. ClickSystem. If you don't see this option, click System and Security first, then click System .
3. ClickAdvanced system settingsin the left column. Depending on your settings, you may be prompted to enter your administrator password to continue.
4. Click theEnvironment Variablesbutton. It's near the bottom of the window.
5. Select the "Path" variable and clickEdit. Choose the one that's under "System Variables" at the bottom of the window, not the one under "User Variables".
   • If there is no Path variable under "System Variables," click New below that section, then typePathinto the "Variable Name" field.
6. Add the path variable.
   • If you clicked Edit in the last step, click New near the top-right corner of the window, and then enter the desired path.
   • If you had to create a path variable, in the last step by clicking New , type the desired path into the "Variable Value" field.
7. ClickOKand thenOKagain to save. Now that you've updated the Path, launch a new command prompt window (instead of the one you were using previously, if applicable) to run your java code.^{[1]XResearch source}

Method 2

macOS

1. Open a terminal window. If you haven't done so already, you can do so by typingterminalinto the Spotlight search bar and clicking Terminal in the search results.
2. Find the locations of your Java installations. You usually won't need to add or update the path unless you are switching between installed Java versions. To see which versions are installed (and their locations), type/usr/libexec/java_home –Vand press?Return.^{[2]XResearch source}
3. Run theexportcommand to set your path. If you only want to set the path for the current terminal window, use step. If you want to make the change permanent, skip to the next step. Here's how set the path for the current terminal only:
   • Note the version number you want to use as your default installation (e.g., 1.8.0_121).
   • Typeexport JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v version_number `, replacing version_number with the actual version (e.g., 1.8.0_121).
   • Press?Return.
4. Add theexportcommand to your shell profile. If you want to update the path permanently so you don't have to runexportevery time you open a terminal window, follow these steps:
   • Type$ cd ~/and press?Return. This ensures you're in your user directory.
   • Typels -aand press?Returnto see the contents of your user directory.
   • If you see a file called .bash_profile , great! If not, typetouch.bash_profileand press?Returnto create it. If you use a different shell, ignore this step.
   • Typeopen -e.bash_profileand press?Returnto open the file in your default text editor. If you use a shell other than bash, open your shell's profile in your desired text editor as you wish.
   • Typeexport JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v version_number `on the first empty line in the file. Replace version_number with the version you want to set as the default (e.g., 1.8.0_121).
   • Save the file and close the text editor.
   • If you skipped step 3, typesource.bashand press?Returnso the path is set for the current window.

Method 3

Linux

1. Open a terminal window. If you're not already at the command prompt, open a terminal window now. You can usually do this by pressingCtrl+Alt+T.
2. Typejava -versionand press?Enter. If you already have a Java version in your path, this will display the version number.
   • If you see the correct version of Java, your path is already set.
   • If you see "java: command not found," the path is not set, and you should continue with this method.
   • If you see a version number other than the one you want to use, continue with this method to add the desired Java version to your path.
3. Open your shell startup file in a text editor. For example, if you use the bash shell, you could runvi.bashrcto open your shell startup file in the Vi text editor. If you use the C shell, you'd runvi.cshrcinstead.
4. Add the path variable to your source file. The syntax is different depending on your shell:^{[3]XResearch source}
   • First, if you're using Vi, pressito get into insert mode.
   • bash: TypePATH=/usr/local/jdk1.8.0/bin:$PATHonto one line, but replace /usr/local/jdk1.8.0 with the actual path to Java. On the next line, typeexport PATH.
   • csh: Typeset path=(/usr/local/jdk1.8.0/bin $path)on its own line, but replace /usr/local/jdk1.8.0 with the actual path to Java.
5. Save and exit the file. If you're using Vi, pressEscto go into command mode, type:wq!and press?Enter.
6. Load the startup file. To make the changes take effect, you can either open a new terminal window or run the following command at the current prompt:
   • bash:. /.profile.
   • csh:source ~/.cshrc.
7. Runjava -versionto check the path. Now that you've added the correct directory to your path, you should see the desired version when you run this command.