Tool
Which Java version do I need?
Pick the Minecraft version you run, or the one you want to move to. The requirement comes straight from Mojang's own version metadata, which is the same value the game checks when it starts.
Runtimes that will start it
Every Java version we track at or above the requirement.
- Java 8required minimumLTSbuilds available
- Java 11newerLTSbuilds available
- Java 16newerbuilds available
- Java 17newerLTSbuilds available
- Java 18newerbuilds available
- Java 19newerbuilds available
- Java 20newerbuilds available
- Java 21newerLTSbuilds available
- Java 22newerbuilds available
- Java 23newerbuilds available
- Java 24newerbuilds available
- Java 25newerLTSbuilds available
- Java 26newerbuilds available
Server software for 1.9.4
Each one targets the same runtime requirement.
What this does and does not tell you
A runtime older than Java 8 will refuse to start this version. The check happens before the world loads, so it fails immediately rather than corrupting anything.
Source: Mojang version metadata
1.9.4 was released 10 May 2016 and speaks protocol 110. Everything about this version
Frequently asked
How do I know which Java version my Minecraft server needs?
Mojang publishes a required Java version in the metadata for every Minecraft version. This tool reads that value directly, so the answer is the same one the game checks at startup rather than an estimate.
Will a newer Java version work?
Usually, but nobody publishes a guarantee per version. A runtime older than the requirement will refuse to start. A newer one normally runs, and the risk sits with the server software and the plugins rather than with the game itself.
What happens if the Java version is too old?
The server refuses to start and prints an error naming the required version. It fails before loading a world, so nothing is damaged.
Do mods and plugins change the Java requirement?
They can raise it. A plugin compiled for a newer Java than your runtime will fail to load even when the server starts. The version requirement here is the floor for the game, not for everything you install on it.