Installing Java 17 on macOS

When installing Java 17 on macOS, it's common to encounter situations where multiple Java versions coexist, leading to confusion about which version is active. This guide covers the best methods to install and properly configure Java 17 on your Mac.

Understanding the Java Installation Location

Java installations on macOS are typically located at:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/

This is the system-wide location accessible to all users, not to be confused with the user-specific ~/Library/ directory.

Checking Installed Java Versions

To see all Java installations on your system, use:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

This command shows all JDK versions installed in the standard location and their paths.

Method 1: Homebrew Installation (Recommended)

Installing OpenJDK 17

brew install openjdk@17

Configuring the Installation

After installation, you need to create a symbolic link to make it discoverable by macOS:

Apple Silicon

sudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-17.jdk

Intel

sudo ln -sfn /usr/local/opt/openjdk@17/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-17.jdk

Setting PATH Environment Variable

Add the following to your shell profile (~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc):

export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin:$PATH"  # Apple Silicon
# or
export PATH="/usr/local/opt/openjdk@17/bin:$PATH"     # Intel

Apply the changes:

source ~/.zshrc  # or ~/.bashrc

Method 2: Using SDKMAN! (Alternative Approach)

SDKMAN! provides an excellent way to manage multiple Java versions:

Installation

curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash

Close and reopen your terminal, or run:

source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"

Managing Java Versions

sdk list java           # View available versions
sdk install java 17.0.0-tem  # Install specific version
sdk use java 17.0.0-tem      # Switch to Java 17

Method 3: Manual Installation

1. Download Java 17 from Adoptium
2. Extract the archive to the Java Virtual Machines directory:

tar xzf OpenJDK17U-jdk_*.tar.gz -C /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines

Setting JAVA_HOME Environment Variable

To ensure tools use the correct Java version, set JAVA_HOME:

export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v17)

Add this to your shell profile for persistence.

Verifying Your Installation

Confirm Java 17 is active:

java -version
javac -version
echo $JAVA_HOME

Managing Multiple Java Versions

Create aliases for easy switching between versions:

alias j17="export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v17); java -version"
alias j11="export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v11); java -version"
alias j8="export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v1.8); java -version"

IDE Configuration

IntelliJ IDEA

• Go to File > Project Structure > Project
• Under SDK, select the Java 17 installation from /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/

Troubleshooting

WARNING

If you encounter "command not found" or version mismatches after installation, ensure you've:

1. Created the symbolic link for Homebrew installations
2. Updated your PATH environment variable
3. Restarted your terminal session

If issues persist, verify the installation location with:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

Alternative Installation Options

For JavaFX applications, consider JDK distributions that include JavaFX:

• Azul Systems (ZuluFX)
• Bellsoft (LibericaFX)

These can be downloaded directly from their respective websites.

Conclusion

The Homebrew method is generally recommended for most users due to its simplicity and ease of updates. SDKMAN! excels for developers who frequently switch between multiple Java versions. For corporate environments or specific requirements, manual installation provides the most control.

Remember to always verify your active Java version with java -version after making changes to ensure the correct version is being used.