Which Java Version Does Minecraft Need?

Minecraft 26.3

Java for each game version — the version the Mojang launcher downloads. What to install for a Paper server and what UnsupportedClassVersionError means.

  • For 26.3 Java 25
  • 103 versions in the table
My Game select version

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At a glance

For version 26.3, Java 25 is required — all versions below are incompatible

  • What is the cost of Java?
    java -version

For 26.3 needed Java 25. For 1.20.5 — 1.21.11 — Java 21; For 1.18 — 1.20.4 — Java 17; For 1.17 — 1.17.1 — Java 16; For 1.0 — 1.16.5 — Java 8.

What Java version is needed for each version

Game versionsJavaFrom what numberClass file version
26.1 — 26.3 5 versionsJava 2524.03.202669.0
1.20.5 — 1.21.11 14 versionsJava 2123.04.202465.0
1.18 — 1.20.4 13 versionsJava 1730.11.202161.0
1.17 — 1.17.1 2 versionsJava 168.06.202160.0
1.0 — 1.16.5 69 versionsJava 818.11.201152.0

Java in the table — the version the official launcher downloads for each game version. A newer version of Java usually works, but an older one won't: the game will not launch.

What Java version is needed for a server

A vanilla server requires the same Java version as the game. Paper servers sometimes require a newer version: they have their own table, and they differ on several versions.

Server versionsVanilla minimumPaper recommends
26.1 and laterJava 25Java 25
1.20.5 — 1.21.11Java 21Java 21
1.20 — 1.20.4Java 17Java 21
1.18 — 1.19.4Java 17Java 17
1.17 and 1.17.1Java 16Java 17
1.16.5Java 8Java 16
1.12 — 1.16.4Java 8Java 11
1.7.10 — 1.11Java 6Java 8

Pre-made start.bat or start.sh with correct flags and memory — in the generator server launch file.

UnsupportedClassVersionError

Java responds this way when it's older than needed. In the error message, two numbers appear — "class file version 65.0 … only recognizes class file versions up to 61.0." The first is what the game requires, the second is what your Java supports. Class file version is calculated as: Java version plus 44.

In the errorNeeded
class file version 69.0Java 25
class file version 65.0Java 21
class file version 61.0Java 17
class file version 60.0Java 16
class file version 52.0Java 8

Where to get Java?

For two-player gameplay, you don't need to install Java manually: the official launcher downloads the required version automatically. JuxLauncher — also. Java is required separately for the server: any OpenJDK version of the required version will work, for example Eclipse Temurin. To check which Java version is installed, use the command java -version in the terminal: it is available in 'Brief' at the top.

If multiple versions of Java are installed on the computer, the server will start the one listed first in the PATH. More reliably, specify the full Java path in the launch file.

Java for each version

VersionRelease dateJava
26.315.09.2026Java 25
26.216.06.2026Java 25
26.1.29.04.2026Java 25
26.1.11.04.2026Java 25
26.124.03.2026Java 25
1.21.119.12.2025Java 21
1.21.107.10.2025Java 21
1.21.930.09.2025Java 21
1.21.817.07.2025Java 21
1.21.730.06.2025Java 21
1.21.617.06.2025Java 21
1.21.525.03.2025Java 21
1.21.43.12.2024Java 21
1.21.323.10.2024Java 21
1.21.222.10.2024Java 21
1.21.18.08.2024Java 21
1.2113.06.2024Java 21
1.20.629.04.2024Java 21
1.20.523.04.2024Java 21
1.20.47.12.2023Java 17
1.20.35.12.2023Java 17
1.20.221.09.2023Java 17
1.20.112.06.2023Java 17
1.207.06.2023Java 17
1.19.414.03.2023Java 17
1.19.37.12.2022Java 17
1.19.25.08.2022Java 17
1.19.127.07.2022Java 17
1.197.06.2022Java 17
1.18.228.02.2022Java 17
1.18.110.12.2021Java 17
1.1830.11.2021Java 17
1.17.16.07.2021Java 16
1.178.06.2021Java 16
1.16.515.01.2021Java 8
1.16.42.11.2020Java 8
1.16.310.09.2020Java 8
1.16.211.08.2020Java 8
1.16.124.06.2020Java 8
1.1623.06.2020Java 8
1.15.221.01.2020Java 8
1.15.117.12.2019Java 8
1.1510.12.2019Java 8
1.14.419.07.2019Java 8
1.14.324.06.2019Java 8
1.14.227.05.2019Java 8
1.14.113.05.2019Java 8
1.1423.04.2019Java 8
1.13.222.10.2018Java 8
1.13.122.08.2018Java 8
1.1318.07.2018Java 8
1.12.218.09.2017Java 8
1.12.13.08.2017Java 8
1.127.06.2017Java 8
1.11.221.12.2016Java 8
1.11.120.12.2016Java 8
1.1114.11.2016Java 8
1.10.223.06.2016Java 8
1.10.122.06.2016Java 8
1.108.06.2016Java 8
1.9.410.05.2016Java 8
1.9.310.05.2016Java 8
1.9.230.03.2016Java 8
1.9.130.03.2016Java 8
1.929.02.2016Java 8
1.8.99.12.2015Java 8
1.8.828.07.2015Java 8
1.8.75.06.2015Java 8
1.8.625.05.2015Java 8
1.8.522.05.2015Java 8
1.8.417.04.2015Java 8
1.8.320.02.2015Java 8
1.8.219.02.2015Java 8
1.8.124.11.2014Java 8
1.82.09.2014Java 8
1.7.1026.06.2014Java 8
1.7.914.04.2014Java 8
1.7.811.04.2014Java 8
1.7.79.04.2014Java 8
1.7.69.04.2014Java 8
1.7.526.02.2014Java 8
1.7.410.12.2013Java 8
1.7.36.12.2013Java 8
1.7.225.10.2013Java 8
1.6.419.09.2013Java 8
1.6.28.07.2013Java 8
1.6.11.07.2013Java 8
1.5.22.05.2013Java 8
1.5.121.03.2013Java 8
1.4.79.01.2013Java 8
1.4.519.11.2012Java 8
1.4.620.12.2012Java 8
1.4.414.11.2012Java 8
1.4.225.10.2012Java 8
1.3.216.08.2012Java 8
1.3.11.08.2012Java 8
1.2.54.04.2012Java 8
1.2.422.03.2012Java 8
1.2.32.03.2012Java 8
1.2.21.03.2012Java 8
1.2.11.03.2012Java 8
1.112.01.2012Java 8
1.018.11.2011Java 8

Frequently asked questions

What Java version is needed for Minecraft 26.3?

Java 25. The official launcher installs it by default; for a server running 26.3, Java 25 or later is required.

What Java version is required for Minecraft 1.20.1?

Java 17. It supports all versions from 1.18 to 1.20.4; Java 21 is required from 1.20.5 onwards.

What Java version is required for 1.12.2 and 1.16.5?

Java 8: the launcher installs it for all versions up to and including 1.16.5. Java 16 is required from 1.17 onwards, and Java 17 from 1.18 onwards.

More in the wiki

All wiki content How to allocate more memoryHow to update MinecraftHow to create your own serverLatest Minecraft versionWhat is Minecraft: genre, release year, editions?Generator: Mod CompatibilityMinecraft Generator: Server Launch FileBuild: BattleArmory TACZ

Data from Minecraft 26.3: Launcher manifest from Mojang, version.json inside each client version, and server.properties, which the server itself creates.