How to change a default Java version in macOS X

Let me check the current Java version

$ java -version

java version "13.0.2" 2020-01-14

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 13.0.2+8)

In macOS Java is installed as part of /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines folder.

Let me go there.

$ cd /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/

I want to set Java 11 as the default Java version. Let me check what all I've installed in my system.

$ pwd

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines 

$ ls

jdk-11.0.7.jdk jdk-13.0.2.jdk jdk1.8.0_201.jdk

Let me set the default Java version to jdk-11.0.7.jdk

$ export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.7.jdk/Contents/Home/

$ export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

The above changes are applicable only for the current shell. To change permanently for all the shells you need set those two lines in the .bash_profile

First, go to the user home directory to run the below command

$ cd ~

$ pwd

/Users/kondal

$vim .bash_profile

Append the above two lines in the .bash_profile at the end, and save and exit.

All set.

Check again!

$ java --version

java 11.0.7 2020-04-14 LTS

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.7+8-LTS)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.7+8-LTS, mixed mode)

Good to go!!