'Java' is not recognized as an internal or external command

Question

When trying to check the current version of Java in which I am running, I received the error "java is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.".

I am running Windows 7 OS and have downloaded the latest JDK and felt I may have accidentally deleted the java from machine as before I was able to check the Java version using the command "java -version".

What software must I download to get Java working on my machine again?

EDIT:

I have managed to get Java running from my cmd again after ensuring all environment variables pointed to the current Java SDK.

Answer 1

You need to configure your environment variables, JAVA_HOME and PATH.

JAVA_HOME must contain the path to java, and you should add %JAVA_HOME%\bin to PATH

Alternatively, you can simply add to your PATH the whole path to the bin folder, without the JAVA_HOME variable, however, this makes a little more annoying when you need to have more than one java version on your machine (that way you only need to change JAVA_HOME and don't even bother with PATH)

Answer 2

For Windows 7:

1. Right click on My Computer
2. Select Properties
3. Select Advanced System Settings
4. Select Advanced tab
5. Select Environment Variables
6. Select Path under System Variables
7. Click on Edit button

8. In Variable value editor paste this at the start of the line

   C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_72\bin;
   

9. Click Ok then Ok again

10. Restart command prompt otherwise it won't see the change to the path variable
11. Type java -version in command prompt.

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Notes on Step 8:

start of the line

Notes on Step 6:
1. This sets the path for the computer, not for the individual user. It may be that you're working on a computer which other developers also use, in which case you'd rather set the user variables, rather than the system variables

Answer 3

It sounds like you haven't added the right directory to your path.

First find out which directory you've installed Java in. For example, on my box it's in C:\Program Files\java\jdk1.7.0_11¹. Once you've found it, try running it directly. For example:

c:\> "c:\Program Files\java\jdk1.7.0_11\bin\java" -version

Once you've definitely got the right version, add the bin directory to your PATH environment variable.

Note that you don't need a JAVA_HOME environment variable, and haven't for some time. Some tools may use it - and if you're using one of those, then sure, set it - but if you're just using (say) Eclipse and the command-line java/javac tools, you're fine without it.

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¹ Yes, this has reminded me that I need to update...

Answer 4

Assume, Java/JDK is installed to the folder: C:\Program Files\Java:

Follow the steps:

1. Goto Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Advanced → Environment variables (Win+Pause/Break for System in Control Panel)
2. In the System variables section click on New…
3. In Variable name write: JAVA_HOME
4. In Variable value write: C:\Program Files\Java\bin, press OK:
5. In the System variables section double click on Path
6. Press New and write C:\Program Files\Java\bin, press OK:
7. In Environment variables window press OK
8. Restart/Run cmd.exe and write: java --version:

Answer 5

Search environment variables.

open the "edit the system environment variables". then click on "environment variables".

Under "User variables" click on "Path" then "Edit".

Find your Java path and click "Edit".

then paste the path of your java installation folder. Mostly you can find it on a path similar to this. C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-12.0.2\bin

Then click OK. now in the start menu, type cmd. open the command prompt. type java -version If you did it right,it should show something like this.

Answer 6

For me its start working after putting ,: in the starting of the system variable path :--

Answer 7

My solution was to put same value (path to JDK bin folder) in JAVA_HOME and Path

Answer 8

This problem is on Windows 8. First copy your Path of java jdk - e.g. C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_51\bin.

1. Right on the My Computer Icon on the Desktop and Click Properties.

2. Select 'Advanced System Settings' in the left pane.

3. Under 'Advanced' tab, select 'Environment Variables' at the bottom.

4. In System Variables, select 'Path' Variable and edit it.

Paste the path and add a ';' at the end - e.g. C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_51\bin;

Answer 9

In my case, PATH was properly SET but PATHEXT has been cleared by me by mistake with .exe extension. That why window can't find java or anything .exe application from command prompt. Hope it can help someone.

Answer 10

I had the same problem. Just Install the exact bit of java as of your computer. If your PC is 64 bit then install 64 bit java. If it is 32 bit then vice versa :)

Answer 11

Not sure why, but in my case, the reason was because I was running Anaconda terminal instead of the CMD.

After I use CMD and update the path settings as mentioned by all comments above the issue solved on my side.

Answer 12

I corrected my path variable but command prompt need to Restart otherwise, it won't be able to verify the change to the path variable. May be helpful for someone like me. so "restart command prompt"

Answer 13

In case you are using a laptop and do not have the Pause\Break button. For windows 10 users with 20h2 and above:

1 WIN → type "About your PC" → scroll at the bottom → Advanced system settings → Environment variables or WIN+R → shell:::{bb06c0e4-d293-4f75-8a90-cb05b6477eee} to open Classic System Properties → on the left side → Advanced system settings → Environment variables

Also for Windows 10 and Windows 7:

1 WIN → This PC → properties → Advanced system settings → Environment variables

2. In the System variables section click on New…
3. In Variable name write: JAVA_HOME
4. In Variable value write: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-15.0.2\bin, press OK

I have taken steps 2-4 from Vijay Bhatt

There is a bit faster way to set a system variable. Run a console (terminal) as an administrator.

General command synax to add a new variable:

setx variableName value /M

In our example, we would need to set it as

setx JAVA_HOME "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-15.0.2\bin" /M`

Like this:

/M - flag specifies to set the variable in the system environment. After command execution, you should see the message: SUCCESS: Specified value was saved.

How can I check that it is added?

1. Close your active terminal;
2. Open your favorite terminal;
3. Type java -version.

You should see something similar to this:

Notice: User variables can be created w/o having a root (administrator privileges), whereas to create System variable; You need to open a console as a root.

I have used C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-15.0.2\bin as an example, in your case, it could be different from mine.

Answer 14

if you have cygwin installed in the Windows Box, or using UNIX Shell then

Issue bash#which java

This will tell you whether java is in your classpath or NOT.

Answer 15

If you have set the environment variables (JAVA_HOME and PATH) under user variables, command prompt (run as administrator) will not identify java. For that you need to set environment variables under system variables.

Answer 16

Try this:

System variables: PATH = /bin folder of your jdk install

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/10/install/installation-jdk-and-jre-microsoft-windows-platforms.htm

Answer 17

Just some extra information for people that have still problems, instead of editing the path variable of java, delete that part of the path(only the java!!) and make a new variable pointing tpo the jdk/jre.

this seemed to work for me.

Answer 18

I opened a new command prompt in Windows 10 after updating the environment variables without closing the old one(To have my commands handy and lazy to type again) Still, the new cmd window was referring to the previous version of Java.

Then once I closed the all cmd prompts that ran with admin privileges, the new java version was getting reflected.