How to uninstall Java on a Mac completely

Stuck trying to delete Java versions from your Mac? You’re in the right place. We’re here to help you go all the way with your Java uninstallation attempts 😉.

In this step-by-step guide, we come up with four options and possible workarounds on how to remove Java from a Mac entirely.

What is Java?

Java is a popular programming language and open-source platform used to build cross-platform applications. It powers everything from business tools to web services, often through the Java Development Kit (JDK) or Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

Video Guide: How to Delete Java on macOS

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Do I need Java on my Mac?

Although Java has been around for 29 years as of 2025, it’s still widely used in development, with over 90% of Fortune 500 companies relying on it.

However, even if you’re building apps using the JDK or working in a Java-based development environment, you might still decide to:

• Switch to another language – you may be moving to Swift, Python, or JavaScript and no longer need Java.
• Fix compatibility issues – you may need to remove it to prevent any potential conflicts with other software.
• Clean up older versions – for instance, you installed the beta and now want to change the version.

Also, you might want to uninstall Java for:

• Security risks: Java has a history of security vulnerabilities, making it a potential target for cyberattacks and malware. One of the most common threats, SQL injections, gives hackers access to your queryable information. This can potentially let them steal, destroy, or corrupt your database. In this case, you might need to uninstall MySQL on your Mac.
• System slowdowns: Java can hog memory and drag performance down. Background Java processes can consume memory and CPU, which might be one of the reasons that slow your Mac down.
• Accidental installation: Sometimes Java comes bundled with other apps. If you didn’t install it intentionally, it’s safe to remove.

Options to delete Java from Mac

Whatever the reason, we are at your service to help you figure out how to uninstall Java safely and completely. While Java offers its official uninstallation method, however, it does not delete the app entirely, but leaves a bunch of remnants generated after installation.

That’s why we prepared the main methods to fully delete Java so you can choose the one that best fits your situation and comfort level. Here is the comparison:

Before diving into Java uninstallation methods, keep in mind that we compiled this guide by testing it with Java 8 Update 451 on macOS Sequoia 15.3.1.

How to delete Java manually from System Settings

Java isn’t a typical app, so you won’t find it in your Applications or Launchpad. Instead, you can locate it through System Settings. Here is how to find it:

1. Click on the Apple icon from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select the System Settings from the dropdown list.
3. Scroll down the System Settings list of the sidebar and Locate Java at the bottom of the sidebar list → control-click on it.
4. Select the Remove Java Settings pane.
5. Remove leftover files manually. For this, open Finder → press Cmd + Shift + G →in the Go to Folder field, enter each of the following directories one by one, hit Return → delete any Java related files, if any:

   In the Go to Folder field, enter each of the following directories one by one, hit Return → delete any Java-related files, if any:

   • Main

     /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

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   • Caches

     /private/var/db/receipts/

     Copy

     → remove any files starting with com.oracle

     ~/Library/Caches/

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     → delete everything containing java in its name

     ~/Library/Saved Application State/net.java.openjdk.cmd.savedState

     Copy

     ~/Library/Caches/Oracle.MacJREInstaller

     Copy

     ~/.oracle_jre_usage

     Copy

     /private/var/folders/

     Copy

     → go to your temporary user data short-named folder (e.g. v4, 21) → open the very long alphanumeric folder (example for reference: 1n42g35d31v8bjztscsn5dmm0000gn) → navigate to the C/ subfolder → delete Com.oracle.java.8u451.java and Oracle.MacJREInstaller.

     ~/Library/Caches/

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     → trash anything prefixed with com.oracle.java

   • Library

     /Library/

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     → locate and delete Java folder

   Application Support

   ~/Library/Application Support/Oracle/Java

   Copy

   /Library/Application Support/Oracle/Java

   Copy

   ~/Library/Application Support/JREInstaller

   Copy

   /Library/Application Support/JREInstaller

   Copy

   ~/Library/HTTPStorages/Oracle.MacJREInstaller

   Copy

   ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.java.util.prefs.plist

   Copy

   ~/Library/HTTPStorages/

   Copy

   → delete Oracle.MacJREInstaller and files containing com.oracle.java in the name

   Preferences

   ~/Library/Preferences/

   Copy

   → delete files matching the prefix com.oracle.java

   /Library/Preferences/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

   Copy

   Logs

   /private/var/log/jreinstall.log

   Copy

6. Empty the Trash.

That’s it. You nailed it 😎

Heads up for Java 9+ versions: Newer Java versions (9-24) are of a more consolidated structure. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see a Java Preference Pane or if there are fewer files to delete compared to Java 8. This reduced footprint is normal for these modern installations.

How to uninstall Java using its installation file

Next, you can uninstall Java on macOS with its installer. This method works if the installer is still available and you didn’t delete it after installation. If so, our tip here is that you can download the installation file again from Oracle’s site, but make sure you are about to download the same version as installed.

Now, let’s assume you have the installer. The Java uninstallation process will look like this:

1. Locate the Java .dmg file in your Downloads folder.
2. Click on the installer.
3. Run the Java installation file.

4. Enter your Mac admin password, if permission is required to continue.
5. Click on the Remove button.

   You’ll get a message confirming Java has been removed.

6. Clean up leftovers as per step 5 in the How to delete Java manually from System Settings section.
7. Empty your Trash.

That’s all. The end 🤗

How to uninstall Java from Mac with Terminal

Another way to uninstall Java on Mac is to use a special command in Terminal. Terminal is a default macOS application that you can find in the Launchpad or in the Applications folder. If you are comfortable using the command line, here is how to delete Java on Mac:

1. Run Terminal from the Applications folder → Utilities.
2. Remove the Java Control Panel by entering this command in Terminal:
   sudo rm -rf /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefPane

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   Note:

   Before proceeding with the next move, remember that the following Java leftovers deletion script only deletes Java-related files and folders generated during installation and runtime. It does not impact any other apps or system components on your Mac.

3. Erase any Java-associated files: download the Java uninstallation script → activate it in Terminal using the commands below one after another:

   Important!

   The command works if you save the file with script to your Downloads folder. If you saved script_remove_java.sh somewhere else, replace ~/Downloads/ with the actual path to the script.

   chmod +x ~/Downloads/script_remove_java.sh ~/Downloads/script_remove_java.sh

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All done. Finito 🤌

What if you can’t uninstall Java on Mac? How to fix it?

Sometimes things go wrong, and you just can’t remove Java. Understandable. That’s why we cover some dead-end situations where standard uninstallation methods fail – whether it’s a missing installer, broken links, or leftover files that won’t go away.

Case #1: The issue occurred when uninstalling all Java versions from Mac.

That’s what the user was worried about:

I’ve been trying to uninstall all java versions from my Mac by following:
% cd /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines
When I did ls into JavaVirtualMachines, I saw that there are no folders/ java versions available. However, when I do java –version, there is still a OpenJDK installed on my Mac:
openjdk 11.0.17 2022-10-18 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Corretto-11.0.17.8.1 (build 11.0.17+8-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Corretto-11.0.17.8.1 (build 11.0.17+8-LTS, mixed mode)
which java returns /usr/bin/java
Any advice on how I can uninstall this openJDK version?

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/

rm -rf corretto-11.0.17

Case #2: The problem connected with handling several JDK versions and uninstalling Java.

That’s what the user was worried about:

I installed several versions of the JDK, both official and open source. But I no longer need them. How exactly do you “uninstall” Java on macOS?

In our experience, using Terminal commands or a dedicated Java uninstall tool like App Cleaner & Uninstaller can help force a complete and safe removal.

Final thoughts

It turned out that removing Java from a Mac can be more complicated than expected, especially when dealing with multiple JDK versions, hidden files, and leftover components. Moreover, there is Java embedded in the system, other tools, making it trickier to know what can safely be removed.

That’s why having App Cleaner & Uninstaller is so handy, it streamlines the process of removing unnecessary applications, extensions, and junk files. With this tool, you know exactly what you are going to remove, and deleting and managing apps becomes fast, simple, and effortless – like a hack if digging through system folders is not your thing.

If something is still unclear, drop us a line. We will not leave you alone with uninstallation and any other tech problems!