How can you change the default version of Java on a mac?

 

To change the default version of Java on a Mac, you can use the java_home command or update your system's PATH environment variable. Here's how you can do it:

Using java_home command:

1. Open Terminal.

2. Use the java_home command to list the available Java versions:

   sh

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

Identify the desired Java version from the list.

Set the desired Java version as the default using the export command:

sh

4. export JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v <desired_version>`
   

   Replace <desired_version> with the version you want to use.

5. You can add the above export command to your shell profile (e.g., ~/.bash_profile, ~/.zshrc) to make the change permanent.

Updating PATH environment variable:

1. Open Terminal.

2. Use the java_home command to get the path to the desired Java version:

   sh

/usr/libexec/java_home -v <desired_version>

Copy the path that is displayed.

Open your shell profile (e.g., ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc) using a text editor.

sh

nano ~/.bash_profile

or

sh

nano ~/.zshrc

Add the following line to set the PATH environment variable:

sh

5. export PATH=<path_to_desired_java>:$PATH
   

   Replace <path_to_desired_java> with the path you copied in step 3.

6. Save the file and exit the text editor.

7. Restart your Terminal or run source ~/.bash_profile (or source ~/.zshrc) to apply the changes.

Please note that the exact steps might vary slightly depending on your system configuration and the shell you're using (bash, zsh, etc.). Make sure to replace <desired_version> and <path_to_desired_java> with the appropriate values in the above instructions.