How to Uninstall JAVA

JAVA or JAVA Runtime Environment (JRE,) is a piece of software found on many macOS and Windows devices. Many users need it to use a wide range of Web-based applications reliably, but there also plenty of computer users who have it installed even though they do not use it at all. Keeping JAVA running if you do not need it is not recommended because this software is often targeted by cybercriminals. If you have noticed JAVA on your computer and you wish to remove it, then you should follow these instructions:

Uninstalling JAVA on Windows

Windows users can take advantage of the free uninstaller provided by JAVA. If this option is not applicable to you, you will need to use an alternative method. Start by opening the Windows Control Panel, and then navigating to the 'Programs & Features' section. There, find the JAVA entry, and then select the 'Uninstall' option.

Uninstalling JAVA on macOS

Per JAVA's official uninstallation instructions, macOS users can take care of JAVA's full removal via the Terminal utility. Open the Finder -> Utilities directory, and then launch Terminal. Then, run the follow three commands one by one:

sudo rm -fr /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

sudo rm -fr /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefPane

sudo rm -fr ~/Library/Application\ Support/Java

Do not worry if you see a prompt to enter your password – this is macOS making sure that you want to launch these commands with elevated permissions.