Java Download — JDK & JRE for Every Version (1.0 to 25)

Direct Java download links for every version from Java 1.0 (1996) through Java 25 (2025). Oracle JDK, OpenJDK, Adoptium (Eclipse Temurin), Amazon Corretto, Azul Zulu. Skip the Oracle login wall — pick a free distribution below.

Java LTS Versions (Long-Term Support)

For production. Each LTS gets 8+ years of free security patches from OpenJDK distributions.

Java Current (Non-LTS) Releases

Legacy Java Versions (1.0 → 7)

Java JRE (Runtime Only)

Oracle JDK vs OpenJDK — Quick Comparison

Install + Verify

After downloading, install and set JAVA_HOME:

# Windows (PowerShell, admin)
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("JAVA_HOME", "C:\Program Files\Eclipse Adoptium\jdk-21.0.5+11", "Machine")
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$env:Path;%JAVA_HOME%\bin", "Machine")

# macOS / Linux (bash/zsh)
export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 21)
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

# Verify
java -version
javac -version

Common Install / Runtime Errors

FAQ

Is Java free to use in production?

Yes. OpenJDK distributions (Temurin, Corretto, Zulu) have always been free. Oracle JDK became free again under the NFTC license in September 2021 for current LTS releases. Avoid Oracle JDK between Java 11 and 17 unless you bought a support contract.

Which Java should I install — JDK or JRE?

Install JDK if you're developing, compiling, or running build tools (Maven, Gradle, Ant). Install JRE if you only need to run a pre-built .jar. For Java 9+, JDK is the only option — use jlink to strip it down for production deployment.

Why does the Oracle JDK download page ask for a login?

Oracle requires an Oracle account for all archived JDK downloads (anything not in active feature support). Free OpenJDK distributions (Temurin, Corretto, Zulu) never ask. Pick those unless you specifically need Oracle's binaries.

Adoptium vs Corretto vs Zulu — which is best?

All three are identical OpenJDK builds with minor patches. Temurin is the most widely used (Eclipse Foundation, vendor-neutral). Corretto is best on AWS (Amazon's optimization). Zulu has the longest free support windows. For most cases — pick Temurin.

Can I have multiple Java versions installed at once?

Yes. Each JDK installs to its own directory. Switch active version by changing JAVA_HOME. On macOS use /usr/libexec/java_home -V to list, then export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 17). On Windows, use mise or jenv for easy version switching.

Where does Java store its install path?

Windows: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21 or C:\Program Files\Eclipse Adoptium\jdk-21.0.5+11. macOS: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/. Linux (Temurin): /usr/lib/jvm/temurin-21-jdk-amd64.

Is Java still relevant in 2026?

Yes — Java 21 + Spring Boot 3 is the dominant enterprise stack. Java added virtual threads (Project Loom), pattern matching, sealed classes, and records since Java 17. Modern Java is competitive with Go and Kotlin for backend services.

Need help with Java enterprise deployment, JVM tuning, or migration from Oracle JDK to OpenJDK? Contact Medha Cloud.