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Updating Java is one of the important things to do when playing Minecraft, as some technical bugs may only be fixed by updating Java.
Since launcher version 1.6.11, the Minecraft launcher is bundled with Java version 1.8.0_25, which is used by default. It is possible to change the used Java version in the profile options menu.
What is Java?
Java is a programming language and computing platform. Unlike many other languages, as for example C++, Java does not run directly on the hardware, but in a virtual machine, called JVM. Minecraft is written in Java, and uses it for all game logic.
As of Jun. 6, 2017, the latest stable Java version is 1.8.0_131, and the latest development builds are 1.8.0_152-b04 and 1.9.0_b172.
Note: Minecraft will not run with Java 9 unless you remove -XX:+CMSIncrementalMode from your JVM Arguments.
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Why update?
The latest versions of Java contain important enhancements to help improve performance, stability and security of the Java applications that run on your machine. Installing the latest Java update will ensure that Minecraft will continue to run safely and efficiently.
- Minecraft requires Java 8 as of the 1.12 1.12 Official name World of Color Update 1] Release date Jun. 7, 2017 Development versions View all Snapshot 17w06a 17w13a 17w13b 17w14a 17w15a 17w16a 17w16b 17w17a 17w17b 17w18a 17w18b Pre-release 1.12-pre1 1.12-pre2 1.12-pre3 1.12-pre4 1.12-pre5
update. - Minecraft may sometimes crash without the latest version of Java.
- Updates fix lots of problems and bugs, and typically cause increase in performance.
Where to download
Obtain the latest stable Java update here.
You can also obtain the latest Java 8 development build here.
You can also obtain the latest Java 9 development build here.
Please note that development versions of Java are unstable and may cause unexpected issues and crashes.
Notes
- As the Minecraft launcher is bundled with Java, it is not necessary to install it separately unless you`re using a third-party launcher.
- If you have a 64-bit machine, it is advised to install the 64-bit version for optimum performance.
- It is not necessary to uninstall all versions of Java on the machine before attempting to update.
- When you install the latest version of Java, it may ask if you want to uninstall older versions of Java, or do it automatically.
- Some systems require administrator privileges to update Java.