Mac storage basics · Programming languages and toolchains

How do I remove old Java JDK versions from my Mac?

Q: How do I remove old Java JDK versions from my Mac?

Run /usr/libexec/java_home -V in Terminal to list every installed JDK and where it lives — usually /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines. To remove one, delete its folder from that location in Finder (your administrator password is needed). Keep the version your tools and projects use; build tools often download their own JDKs too, which live in their caches (Maven and Gradle caches). If you installed Java through Homebrew, uninstall it with Homebrew instead.

Short answer: List JDKs with /usr/libexec/java_home -V, then delete unneeded ones from /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines. Use Homebrew to remove any it installed.

Run /usr/libexec/java_home -V in Terminal to list every installed JDK and where it lives — usually /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines.

To remove one, delete its folder from that location in Finder (your administrator password is needed). Keep the version your tools and projects use; build tools often download their own JDKs too, which live in their caches (Maven and Gradle caches). If you installed Java through Homebrew, uninstall it with Homebrew instead.

Last reviewed October 1, 2026

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How do I remove old Java JDK versions from my Mac?

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