Runtimes
Java versions
Minecraft's server and client both run on Java, and the required version changes between releases. This is which runtime each version needs, plus official builds you can verify by checksum.
| Java | Support | Minecraft releases requiring it | Temurin builds | Latest build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java 26 | Feature release | None | 78 | jdk-26.0.1+8 |
| Java 25 | LTS | 4 releases | 85 | jdk-25.0.3+9 |
| Java 24 | Feature release | None | 78 | jdk-24.0.2+12 |
| Java 23 | Feature release | None | 73 | jdk-23.0.2+7 |
| Java 22 | Feature release | None | 67 | jdk-22.0.2+9 |
| Java 21 | LTS | 14 releases | 73 | jdk-21.0.12+8 |
| Java 20 | Feature release | None | 43 | jdk-20.0.2+9 |
| Java 19 | Feature release | None | 62 | jdk-19.0.2+7 |
| Java 18 | Feature release | None | 51 | jdk-18.0.2.1+1 |
| Java 17 | LTS | 13 releases | 79 | jdk-17.0.20+8 |
| Java 16 | Feature release | 2 releases | 25 | jdk-16.0.2+7 |
| Java 11 | LTS | None | 79 | jdk-11.0.32+9 |
| Java 8 | LTS | 66 releases | 46 | jdk8u492-b09 |
5 of 13 Java versions are required by at least one Minecraft release. Build data from the Eclipse Adoptium API; we link to Adoptium and never mirror archives.
How Java versions work with Minecraft
Minecraft: Java Edition runs on the Java platform, both the game client and any server you host. Bedrock Edition does not use Java at all. The version a release needs has climbed over the years: the 1.16 line ran on Java 8, 1.17 moved to Java 16, 1.18 to Java 17, 1.20.5 to Java 21, and the 2026 calendar releases need Java 25.
A newer Java than a release asks for almost always works, so one modern runtime usually covers everything you play. An older Java will not start the game at all. When a version lists “Java 21 or newer”, the “or newer” is the part that matters.
Long term support releases such as Java 21 and 25 receive years of security updates; feature releases are supported for six months. For running Minecraft either is fine, but an LTS is the one worth installing because it stays supported.
Common questions about Java for Minecraft
Which Java version does the latest Minecraft need?
The 2026 calendar releases need Java 25 or newer. Each version's exact requirement, taken from Mojang's own manifest, is on that version's page, and the table above lists it per Java release.
Can I use a newer Java than Minecraft asks for?
Almost always, yes. A release built for Java 21 runs fine on Java 25. The reverse does not work: a release that needs 21 will not start on 17. Heavily modded setups are the exception, where a specific loader build can pin a runtime.
Do I need to install Java myself?
The official launcher bundles a runtime, so most players never install Java by hand. A server you host does need its own Java installed, which is what the Temurin builds linked here are for.
What is Eclipse Temurin?
Temurin is the free, open-source OpenJDK build from the Eclipse Adoptium project, and the runtime most Minecraft server guides recommend. We link to Adoptium's own downloads and show the checksum; we never mirror the archive.
What is the difference between an LTS and a feature release?
An LTS (long term support) release such as Java 21 or 25 receives years of updates. A feature release is supported for six months until the next one arrives. Both run Minecraft; the LTS is the safer install because it keeps getting security fixes.