Java 8 remains the runtime for a surprising number of production applications, build tools, and enterprise systems that haven’t migrated to newer LTS versions. If you’re running legacy Java apps on Ubuntu, OpenJDK 8 is available directly from Ubuntu’s repositories on both 24.04 and 22.04.
This guide covers installing OpenJDK 8 (JDK and JRE), setting JAVA_HOME, and switching between multiple Java versions when you need both Java 8 and a newer JDK on the same system. For the latest LTS release, see the guide on installing Java 21 on Ubuntu.
Verified working: March 2026 on Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS with OpenJDK 1.8.0_482
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or 22.04 LTS
- sudo access
- About 400 MB of disk space for the full JDK
Install OpenJDK 8 JDK
Update the package index and install the full JDK (includes compiler, tools, and JRE):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openjdk-8-jdkThe JDK package pulls in the JRE as a dependency, so you get both. Verify the installation:
java -versionThe output confirms OpenJDK 8:
openjdk version "1.8.0_482"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_482-8u482-ga~us1-0ubuntu1~24.04-b08)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.482-b08, mixed mode)Check the compiler version too:
javac -versionThis should show javac 1.8.0_482.
Install Only the JRE
If you only need to run Java applications (no compilation), install just the JRE for a smaller footprint:
sudo apt install -y openjdk-8-jreThe JRE is about half the size of the full JDK. Use it for production servers that only run compiled Java applications.
Set JAVA_HOME
Many Java applications and build tools (Maven, Gradle, Tomcat) require the JAVA_HOME environment variable. On Ubuntu 24.04, the OpenJDK 8 path is:
/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64Set it permanently for all users by adding it to /etc/environment:
echo 'JAVA_HOME="/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64"' | sudo tee -a /etc/environmentLoad the change in the current session:
source /etc/environment
echo $JAVA_HOMEYou should see /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64 printed. For a single user, add the export line to ~/.bashrc instead of /etc/environment.
Switch Between Java Versions
Ubuntu’s alternatives system lets you install multiple Java versions side by side and switch the system default. This is common when some applications need Java 8 while newer tools require Java 17 or 21.
List all installed Java versions:
update-alternatives --list javaWith Java 8, 11, 17, and 21 all installed, the output looks like:
/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk-amd64/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/javaSwitch to a specific version with:
sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/javaThe system confirms the switch:
update-alternatives: using /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java to provide /usr/bin/java (java) in manual modeDon’t forget to also switch the compiler if you use javac:
sudo update-alternatives --set javac /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/bin/javacRemember to update JAVA_HOME accordingly when switching versions, especially for build tools like Apache Maven that depend on it.
Java Versions on Ubuntu 24.04
| Version | Package | JAVA_HOME path | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java 8 (LTS) | openjdk-8-jdk | /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64 | Available, legacy support |
| Java 11 (LTS) | openjdk-11-jdk | /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64 | Available |
| Java 17 (LTS) | openjdk-17-jdk | /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64 | Available |
| Java 21 (LTS) | openjdk-21-jdk | /usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk-amd64 | Available, recommended |
| Java 25 | openjdk-25-jdk | /usr/lib/jvm/java-25-openjdk-amd64 | Available, non-LTS |
For new projects, Java 21 is the recommended LTS. Java 8 is best reserved for applications that specifically require it, as it is approaching end of public updates from some vendors.
Test a Java Application
Quick compile-and-run test to confirm the JDK works:
cat << 'JAVA' > Hello.java
public class Hello {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Java " + System.getProperty("java.version") + " works!");
}
}
JAVA
javac Hello.java && java HelloThe output confirms compilation and runtime both work:
Java 1.8.0_482 works!If you need to set the default Java version more permanently, or run Java applications as systemd services, see the guide on running Java JAR files with systemd.
