How to set the JAVA_HOME variable in Mac OS X – Snow Leopard

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How to set the JAVA_HOME variable in Mac OS X – Snow Leopard

February 26, 2010 by decoding

Recently I had to setup a Java app on my Mac, which was running from the Terminal, and needed the JAVA_HOME variable set.

Here’s what had to be done:

- Start the Terminal app.
- Create/Edit ~/.bash_profile file.
Note: I first tried creating and using the ~/.bashrc file, but that didn’t work (Mac OS 10.6.2), while ~/.bash_profile worked as expected.

Therefore,

$ vi ~/.bash_profile

… and paste the following (make it a single line):

export JAVA_HOME=/System/Library/Frameworks/
JavaVM.framework/Versions/CurrentJDK/Home

… save and exit vi.

Restart Terminal app just to be sure that it worked, and try accessing it by typing:

$ echo $JAVA_HOME

If you see the correct JAVA path, then it is all done!

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Posted in Apple, Java, Tips | Tagged Mac, Terminal | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on February 7, 2011 at 14:10 | Reply Andrew

Thanks for the pointer mate.
on February 10, 2011 at 19:31 | Reply Jason Edwards

Thanks for this info.. I am trying to do the same thing and opening the terminal and pasting “$ vi ~/.bash_profile” gives me a “-bash: $: command not found” reply. Any ideas?

Regards
- on February 10, 2011 at 19:34 | Reply decoding
  
  Hi, just start from vi not the dollar sign.
on March 13, 2011 at 7:39 | Reply How to set the JAVA_HOME variable in Mac OS X – Snow Leopard (via Decoding the Web) | Chicago Mac/PC Support

[...] Recently I had to setup a Java app on my Mac, which was running from the Terminal, and needed the JAVA_HOME variable set. Here's what had to be done: – Start the Terminal app. – Create/Edit ~/.bash_profile file. Note: I first tried creating and using the ~/.bashrc file, but that didn't work (Mac OS 10.6.2), while ~/.bash_profile worked as expected. Therefore, $ vi ~/.bash_profile … and paste the following (make it a single line): export JAVA_HO … Read More [...]
on March 29, 2011 at 10:27 | Reply Jessica

Thank you for this sweet tip on setting JAVA_HOME on MacOS. It worked like a charm
on July 13, 2012 at 3:41 | Reply Rebecca

I have wasted two days trying to get JavaDB working on my Macbook Pro. You gave me the lightbulb moment that allowed me to get it working. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! This post is a gift that is still giving 2 years later. I wanted you to know.
on July 20, 2012 at 17:33 | Reply Daniel Serodio

The proper way to set JAVA_HOME on OS X is to export JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home`, because it respects the settings from the Java Preferences app, and works for non-Apple JVMs (eg. Oracle JVM).
on September 23, 2012 at 3:33 | Reply difficult to keep track

@daniel serodio
thx for yr comment