How to Install Java OpenJDK 15 on macOS Big Sur

In this article, I will demonstrate how to install Java OpenJDK 15 on macOS Big Sur in 2021.

Update: I have created a video tutorial on how to install OpenJDK on macOS Big Sur:

If you prefer written instructions, just keep reading:

Download and Install OpenJDK 15

Download the .tar.gz version of OpenJDK 15 from jdk.java.net/15/ and move the file to /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/ on your mac. Then, extract it and delete the archive:

sudo mv openjdk-15.0.1_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
cd /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
sudo tar -xzf openjdk-15.0.1_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz
sudo rm openjdk-15.0.1_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz

Next, execute the following command to find out where JDK 15 is located:

$ /usr/libexec/java_home -v15
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-15.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home

and append the resulting path as an export into your .bash_profile (or, change the existing JAVA_HOME entry in your .bash_profile if it already exists):

echo -n "\nexport JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-15.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home" >> ~/.bash_profile

and make sure to apply the changes:

source ~/.bash_profile

Test Java

You should now be able to run java:

java -version

Depending on your security settings, the following warning needs to be accepted by clicking “Open”:

You should then see an output similar to the following:

openjdk version "15.0.1" 2020-10-20
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 15.0.1+9-18)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 15.0.1+9-18, mixed mode, sharing)

Congratulations! You have installed OpenJDK 15.

Tags: 15 16 2020 big big sur java macos openjdk sur

Bernhard Knasmüller November 17, 2020

8 Comments

hotdoglipstick says:

December 3, 2020 at 8:06 pm

Sweet jesus, was ready to throw my laptop at the wall trying to fix my Java because nothing was adding up with other resources online until this parted the clouds! (And realizing maybe Big Sur was behind all this.) You saved my laptop and wall!

Reply
James says:

December 29, 2020 at 8:47 pm

Thanks for this guide Bernhard!

Reply
Zsolt says:

January 9, 2021 at 11:40 am

Demonstration how to install Java OpenJDK 15 on macOS Big Sur in 2020 worked for me. Thank you so much – much appreciated!

Reply
Aleksandar says:

January 21, 2021 at 7:34 pm

Thank you so much! You are the best! ^_^

A side note: if you downloaded 15_0_2 version of the JDK, here is how the first 4 commands should look like:
“`
sudo mv openjdk-15.0.2_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
cd /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
sudo tar -xzf openjdk-15.0.2_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz
sudo rm openjdk-15.0.2_osx-x64_bin.tar.gz
“`
Also, the JAVA_PATH update command will become:
“`
echo -n “\nexport JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-15.0.2.jdk/Contents/Home” >> ~/.bash_profile
“`
Finally, if you are using oh-my-zsh, then you should edit the file .zshrc (located on ~/.zshrc), and you might not even have the “.bash_profile” file.

Reply
jen says:

February 21, 2021 at 12:50 am

Thank you! Glad i found this article!

Reply
D Bantz says:

March 17, 2021 at 10:56 pm

Clear and very helpful – worked for me to restore functioning of Apache Directory Studio.
Thank you!

Reply
ReubenR says:

April 8, 2021 at 2:34 am

At 2min 30 sec in the video, what are you doing to exit Vim? I’m a newbie 🙁

Reply
- Bernhard Knasmueller says:
  
  April 8, 2021 at 7:41 am
  
  You can exit vim by entering :q! and pressing enter. However, if you are new to vim, you can also use any other text editor to change the file content (e.g., nano or code).
  
  Reply