OpenWebStart for Windows

Brief summary

OpenWebStart is a free Windows utility that restores the ability to launch Java Web Start (JNLP) applications after Oracle removed built-in Java Web Start support in Java 11. It offers a practical way to keep legacy and current Java apps running by handling JNLP files and integrating with installed Java runtimes.

Core capabilities

• Simple, graphical launcher for Java-based web applications
• Fine-grained control over Java configuration and security settings
• Compatibility with multiple JDK releases and standard JRE installations

Compatibility and integration

OpenWebStart works with a range of Java Development Kit versions and plugs into existing Java Runtime Environment setups, making it suitable for both development environments and end-user systems. It preserves the functionality of applications that depend on Java Web Start, reducing the need to rewrite deployment mechanisms.

Security and management

• Supports up-to-date security practices so applications execute safely
• Lets administrators and users adjust policy settings to match local requirements
• Provides logging and management options for maintaining application behavior

User experience

OpenWebStart focuses on clarity and ease of use: it streamlines launching web-deployed Java programs, centralizes Java-related settings, and simplifies applying security rules so users spend less time configuring environments and more time running applications.

Suggested alternative

• SHAREit (Free) — commonly suggested as a complementary utility for quick file transfer, though it serves a different purpose than OpenWebStart

Who benefits from using it

Organizations and developers that rely on JNLP-deployed software, as well as IT teams maintaining legacy Java applications, will find OpenWebStart a practical tool to bridge the gap left by the removal of official Java Web Start support.