How to uninstall JDK on Mac OS?

Shivank Sharma picture Shivank Sharma · Apr 27, 2018 · Viewed 52.9k times · Source

Folks - I am facing challenges while trying to uninstall JDK from my MAC (macOS High Sierra Version 10.13.4 - 17E199). I have two JDK instances installed and I want to uninstall both of them.

I am following the steps listed on this page: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/install/mac_jdk.html

I am trying to run this command in the /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines directory which throws an error that I do not have the permission.

rm -rf jdk1.8.0_06.jdk

I am the administrator of the machine and am not sure what more permission do I need. I have made attempts as the admistrator and as the root user with no success.

Please share your thoughts on this.

Answer

Danila Zharenkov picture Danila Zharenkov · Apr 27, 2018

From the official Oracle manual.

Navigate to /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines and remove the directory whose name matches the following format:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdkmajor.minor.macro[_update].jdk

For example, to uninstall 8u6:

%rm -rf jdk1.8.0_06.jdk

Do not attempt to uninstall Java by removing the Java tools from /usr/bin. This directory is part of the system software and any changes will be reset by Apple the next time you perform an update of the OS.

To remove system files you need to add sudo before rm -rf command.