How to Download and Install JDK 1.8 on Windows

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download install jdk 8 windows

In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to download and install JDK 1.8 on Windows.

(Step-by-step)

First, I’ll show you where you can get JDK 8.

Then you’ll see how to configure it.

And finally how to verify if everything is working.

Let’s dive right in…

Check following post if you are looking to download and install JDK 1.5, JDK 1.6, JDK 1.7, JDK 9, JDK 10 or JDK 11.

What is a JDK?

When you want to create a Java application you need a Java Development Kit (JDK). It contains tools that allow you to develop and run your Java program.

what is a jdk

One of these development tools is a compiler (javac) that converts Java source code (.java files) into Java bytecode (.class files). Other tools include an archiver (jar) and a documentation generator (javadoc).

The JDK also contains a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that is able to run compiled Java code. To do this the JRE uses Java libraries and a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that executes the compiled Java code.

Different JDK implementations are available. The official reference implementation is maintained by Oracle.

Step #1: Download

There are several Java platforms. In this tutorial, we will install the Java Standard Edition (SE).

Head over to the Oracle Java download page.

Look for the Java SE 8u191 / Java SE 8u192 section.

Click on the Download button right below JDK.

jdk 8 download java se

Click on the radio button next to Accept License Agreement.

Verify your windows bit version and click on the corresponding link:

  • For 32-bit = Windows x86 installer
  • For 64-bit = Windows x64 installer

In this guide, we will download the 64-bit installer: jdk-8u191-windows-x64.exe.

jdk 8 download java se windows binary

Wait for the download to complete.

Check the Java Archive section for older versions like JDK 1.8.0_131, 1.8.0_144, 1.8.0_172 or 1.8.0_181

Step #2: Install

Open the location of the downloaded executable.

jdk 8 downloaded installer

Double-click it to run the installer.

On Windows 10 a pop-up window will appear: The app you're trying to install isn't a verified app from the Store

Click on Install anyway.

windows 10 install app not in store

The JDK installer will start. Click Next.

jdk 8 installer start

You can change the installation location by clicking on the Change… button.

In this example, we keep the default install location of C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_191. From now on we will refer to this directory as [JAVA_INSTALL_DIR].

jdk 8 installer default location

We will not install the public JRE as the JDK development tools already include a private JRE.

Select the Public JRE dropdown and click on This feature will not be available. as shown below.

jdk 8 installer disable public jre

Click Next to start the installation.

jdk 8 installer custom setup

The JDK installation will now start.

A progress bar shows the various steps that are executed.

jdk 8 installer progress

Once the installation is complete, click Close.

jdk 8 installer complete

Step #3: Setup

We need to set up an environment variable that will point to our JDK installation.

Click on the search button. Then type “env” (without quotes).

On Windows 7 click on the Windows button.

Click on the Edit environment variables for your account shortcut.

windows search env

Wait for the environment variables window to open.

Click on New….

windows account environment variables new

Enter “JAVA_HOME” as variable name. Enter the [JAVA_INSTALL_DIR] as variable value.

In this tutorial, the Java installation directory is C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_191.

Click OK.

jdk 8 home variable

Next, we need to configure the PATH environment variable so we can run Java from a command prompt.

Select the Path variable. Click on Edit….

jdk 8 edit path variable

Click on New and type “%JAVA_HOME%\bin” as shown below.

Click OK.

jdk edit path variable add java home

Click OK once more to close the environment variables window.

jdk 8 windows account environment variables

If a Path variable does not exist you need to create it. Use “Path” as variable name and “%JAVA_HOME%\bin” as variable value.

On Windows 7 you cannot add extra values for an existing Path variable. You need to append “;%JAVA_HOME%\bin” at the end of the variable value instead.

Step #4: Test

Let’s test the setup.

Click on the search button. Then type “cmd” (without quotes).

Click on the Command Prompt shortcut.

windows search cmd

Wait for the command prompt to open.

Type “java -version” and press ENTER.

jdk version command

The above command prints the installed JDK version: 1.8.0_191.

jdk 8 version output

Congratulations, you have installed JDK 1.8 on Windows 10!

Now take the next step and write your first Java program.

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