This page describes the Apple Java Preferences Application.

Apple Java For Os X 106 9
Install Java Os X

Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 16 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6. Jun 08, 2015 OS X v10.11 is the last major release of OS X that will support the previously deprecated Java 6 runtime and tools provided by Apple. Applications or features that depend upon Java 6 may not function properly or will not launch when Java 6 is removed. Developers should move to a newer version of Java as provided by Oracle. Jun 18, 2013 Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 17 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.065. This update enables per-website control of the Java plug-in within Safari 5.1.9 or later. 'Apple has integrated Java really well into Mac OS X,' said Apple Java product manager Allen Denison. 'A lot of developers like the command line utilities that we offer in the Unix implementation.

Apple Java For Os X 106 9

If you have not yet installed Apple's Java OS X 2012-006 update, then you are still using a version of Apple Java 6 that includes the plug-in and the Java Preferences app. There is an important difference about the installation of Oracle Java (both JRE and JDK) that you should be aware of.

The Applications > Utilities > Java Preferences application is part of Apple's implementation of Java. Once Apple no longer distributes Java as part of their release, the Java Preferences application is retired.

Under Apple's implementation of Java, it was possible to have multiple JREs installed, and the Java Preferences app was used to determine the first compatible version that would be used. The following instructions show how to change the default JRE.

Install Java Os X

Launch Java Preferences. The Java Preferences window contains a list of installed JREs. Java applications and command line tools use the listed order to determine the first compatible version to use. The Vendor column indicates whether the Java release is supplied by Apple or Oracle. The Version column specifies the version of Java that is installed.
To make JRE 8 the default version of Java, re-order the list by dragging Java SE 8 to the top of the list.

Note that if you install only Oracle Java JRE 8, it will not appear in this list. You must install the full JDK in order for JRE 8 to be listed.