A computer can have multiple versions of Java and if you also have more than one browser, each browser can use a different version (or not use Java at all). This article will guide you to find out which version of Java you are using.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Verify Online
Step 1. Open a new window in your web browser, then click here to enter the Java site
Oracle, the creator of Java, has provided a simple page that will check your Java installation and display the Java version your browser is using. You can visit the page from any operating system.
Step 2. Click the "Verify Java Version" button to start the verification process
Step 3. If the browser security program asks for security confirmation, allow Java to determine the version
Step 4. After a while, check the result
You will find the version number as well as the program update number. The program version number is the most important number if you are checking Java compatibility with other programs.
Method 2 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Press Windows key + R, then enter "CMD"
In the command line window, enter "java -version" (without the quotes). You will see something like "Java version "1.6.0_03 Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_03-b05) Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0_03-b05, mixed mode, sharing)" on the screen..
Step 2. On computers that do not have Sun Microsystems' Java built in, you will see an error message:
'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Step 3. On computers with older versions of Java from Microsoft, you will also see the same error message, and on computers with multiple versions of Java, the default JVM version will be displayed on the screen
Method 3 of 4: Mac OSX
Step 1. Open "Hard Drive" on your desktop
You can also open the Finder menu to view a list of apps.
Step 2. After that, go to the Applications > Utilities folder
Step 3. In the Utilities folder, open Terminal
Enter "java -version" on the command line. The default Java version will be displayed.
Method 4 of 4: Linux
Step 1. Open a Terminal window
In the terminal, type "java -version".
If Java is installed, you will see the words "Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.6)" on the screen. If you see the phrase "bash: java: command not found", it means that you don't have Java installed on the computer or you haven't set the "path" correctly
Step 2. Use the free Java testers you can find on the internet
Visit [1], and click the "Test Java Version" button. You can also click to [2]
- In Firefox 3, go to the Tools menu > Add-ons > Plug-ins.
- On Firefox 2/3, enter "about:plugins" in the address bar. If Java is already installed on your computer, you will find several Java entries.
- In Internet Explorer 7/8, go to the Tools menu > Internet Options. On the General tab, click the "Browsing History Settings" button. Select the "View Objects" button. Right click on the ActiveX control, then get its properties. Every ActiveX control has a code base, and for each version of Java, you'll find the version in the code.
