Java 7 Auto-Update to Java 8 General Information and FAQ
About the Java 7 Auto-Update to Java 8
Oracle started auto-updating Windows 32-bit and OS X, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) users from JRE 7 to JRE 8 in January 20, 2015.
The Java auto-update mechanism is designed to keep Java users up-to-date with the latest security fixes. To achieve this goal Windows and OS X users that rely on Java’s auto-update mechanism will have their JRE 7 replaced with JRE 8.
- JRE 8 has been the default version on Java.com since October 2014 and is now being used by millions of users.
- As we did when JRE 6 was replaced by JRE 7, we have auto-updated users of the older release to the newer version of Java.
- As always, all users are encouraged to update to the most recent Java versions available for public download.
- In March 2014 Oracle announced the End of Public Updates for their Java SE 7 products for April 2015. See:
What versions of Java will I have on my system after the automated update from 7 to 8 happens on my system?
The Java auto-update process updates the latest version of Java on a user’s Windows and OS X machine. During the automatic update from JRE 7 to JRE 8, if a user only has one version of Java 7 the auto-update process will replace that JRE 7 with the latest version of JRE 8 leaving only JRE 8 in the system. OS X users can only have one JRE available through web browsers so OS X users will only have JRE 8 available through the web browser after the upgrade
CWhat happens if I have more than one JRE version already installed on my system?
On Windows, the auto-update process updates only the latest JRE on your system. Versions other than the latest will not be removed as there are cases in which a user, particularly enterprise users, would need more than one version of Java on their systems. If you would like to remove older JRE versions from your system please use our Java Uninstall Tool to identify and remove older versions.
OS X users can only have one JRE available through web browsers so OS X users can not have more than one JRE available through the web browser and will only only have JRE 8 available through the web browser after the upgrade.
My IT department manages the Java versions on my users computers, will this impact me?
No, where an enterprise IT department manages the Java versions of the users in their enterprise, auto-update does not effect users.
Can I keep JRE 7 as well as JRE 8 on my system?
Unless you have a support contract with Oracle or a license for Java SE Advanced products you will not be able to get security updates for JRE 7 from Oracle after April 2015 and it is not advisable to keep older versions of Java on your system. Nevertheless on Windows systems, if you would like to continue to have both versions, JRE 7 and JRE 8 can be installed on the same computer. OS X users can also have multiple JRE versions available for desktop applications but only one of those versions can be used through the web browser.
Will this be a completely silent upgrade?
No. All Java auto-updates request the user’s permission before installing a new version on their system.
Will all my Java programs continue to work after the update?
Oracle strives to make new versions of Java backward compatible with earlier versions and the vast majority of Java applications written for older versions of Java will work –without any change- on newer versions of the JRE. There are however some exceptions. Any change in the code –even if only to fix a security vulnerability- has the potential to cause an application to stop working properly.
Can I do a roll-back to JRE 7, and if so how?
To revert back from JRE 8 to JRE 7, first uninstall JRE 8. Then reinstall the latest JRE 7 version. Until Jul 2015, the latest version of JRE 7 can be found on the Download tab of the Java SE section on OTN. After Jul 2015 further security updates to JRE 7 will only be available through My Oracle Support and will require a support contract with Oracle.
Do I have to remove JRE 8 for JRE 7 to work on my system or can I keep both?
It depends.
For Windows users, by default, Java applications that are accessed through a web-browser or webstart will use the latest version of Java on the system. It is possible for an application to specifiy the Java version required. If an application has left it up to the system on which it is running to determine which version to use, and you have JRE 7 and JRE 8, only JRE 8 will be used. If an application has specified JRE 7, and you have both on your system, JRE 7 will be used.
OS X users can only access one JRE version through a browser; other versions might be available in the system but will not be available through the browser.
Can I, as a developer, specify my application to use Java version 7 vs. 8?
Yes, however note that users will be unable to receive public security updates for Java 7 after April 2015. See the Applet Deployment documentation on setting the JRE version for applets. See the JNLP File Syntax documentation for how to set the JRE version for a webstart application. See the Java SE documentation for APIs, Developer guides, Release Notes and more.
Note that in some cases users might not have older JRE version available or -in the case of OS X users- might be unable to launch more than one JRE version through the browser.Note that in some cases users might not have older JRE version available or -in the case of OS X users- might be unable to launch more than one JRE version through the browser.
Can I get JRE 8 before the auto-update process?
Absolutely. You can install and download the latest update for JRE 8 from Java.com. If you are software developer and would like the latest version of JDK 8 go to the Java SE downloads page on OTN.
When will the auto-update from JRE 7 to JRE 8 happen?
The auto-update from JRE 7 to 8 was turned on in January 20, 2015.
What if I have an application that requires Java 7 and is not yet certified with Java 8?
Your application provider should be able to guide you. Contact them directly.
What if it is an Oracle Application that requires Java 7 and is not yet certified with Java 8?
Until April 2015, Oracle will continue to provide updates to JRE 7 via our public download sites. After the End of Public Updates for Java 7 in April 2015, if you have a valid support contract for an Oracle Product that requires Java, or an Oracle Java SE Support contract, you can download the support versions of Java from My Oracle Support. Oracle will continue to provide updates for JRE 7 for our customers with support contracts after the End of Public Updates to JRE 7. See the Oracle Java SE Support Roadmap for additional details.
My system is not running Windows 32-bit system or OS X. Will My machine be auto-updated to JRE 7?
No. For other operating systems see the Java Downloads for All Operating Systems page on Java.com to install the latest version of the JRE. Developers can download the JDK for all supported operating systems from the Oracle Technology Network.