Java for OS X for Mac

Quick summary

Apple stopped bundling Java with OS X starting in recent updates because of security concerns. Machines shipped with OS X 10.8.3 or later do not include a preinstalled Java runtime. To run Java-based applications and browser applets on these Macs, you can install the Apple-supplied Java runtime as an optional download or choose a compatible free runtime.

Installation checklist

• Open System Preferences and choose the Java panel to begin the installation from within macOS (an alternate access route).
• Download the runtime installer (DMG) from the official Apple/Java download page.
• Quit your web browser before launching the installer to avoid plugin conflicts.
• Mount and run the downloaded DMG file to complete the setup.

Security and plugin behavior

The Apple-provided runtime has been updated to address known vulnerabilities and includes safer defaults for the web plugin. By default, the Java web plugin will prevent Java applets from launching automatically. If you need to allow an applet, you can re-enable execution through the Java Preferences utility. Note that if the plugin detects no applet activity over a prolonged period, it may again block automatic execution to reduce exposure.

Compatibility and legacy releases

This installer is intended for Macs running OS X 10.8.3 and newer so they can run Java applications. Older releases of the runtime are available for legacy systems such as OS X 10.6, if you need compatibility with older machines.