After upgrading to a newer version of Mac OS X (Yosemite 10.10 and El Capitan 10.11) or macOS (Sierra 10.12 and High Sierra 10.13), you may end up getting an annoying new pop-up message whenever you start your computer. It says, “To use the java command-line tool, you need to install a JDK.” It asks you to click “More Info” and visit the JDK (Java Developer Kit) download website.
The reason you’re receiving this message is due to the removal of Java support in newer versions of OS X for security reasons. Older software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator requires legacy Java support. Without a compatible Java command-line tool for these software, you’ll get this pop-up every time you turn on your Mac computer.
With Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and later, the Java runtime is no longer installed automatically as part of the OS installation. Follow any of the methods below to install Java runtime. JDK-8166591: macos 10.12 Trackpad scrolling of text on macOS 10.12 Sierra is very fast (Trackpad, Retina only). % java -version java version '9.1.1.1-ea' Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9.1.1.1-ea+13) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.2-b04, mixed mode) Note: If you have not yet installed Apple's Java OS X 2012-006 update, then you are still using a version of Apple Java 6 that includes the plug-in and the Java Preferences application.
When you visit the download website to update Java, you find that the issue isn’t resolved! You’re still getting the same pop-up. This isn’t a complicated issue to fix, but it is an indirect one. The problem is that you’re not being routed to the correct download website when you click “More Info.”
Apple could have remedied this issue by programming the “More Info” button to direct you to the right fix. Here are the steps you can take to finally rid yourself of this pop-up:
An error “you need to install the legacy Java SE 6 runtime”, is encountered when you open any Adobe application.
With Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and later, the Java runtime is no longer installed automatically as part of the OS installation. Follow any of the methods below to install Java runtime.
You can download and install the latest Java runtime from the Java website - Download Free Java Software.
Note:
On Mac OS 10.10 (Yosemite), when you launch any Adobe product, you might receive a warning 'The Application has been moved and its path has been changed...'.
Click Repair Now or Update button to update the location and resolve the issue. When prompted for password, enter your system password to complete.
If Java runtime is not installed, you are prompted to install when you first launch any Adobe product. Follow the onscreen instructions in the Java required notification dialog box to install.
Use the following method to initiate the Java runtime installation or confirm if it is installed.
If Java is not installed, you receive the following message: “To open “Java Preferences,' you need a Java runtime. Would you like to install one now?”
Many Adobe applications depend on the Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for some features to work. Apple recently changed the way it includes Java in Mac OS, and with Lion, Java is no longer preinstalled. It is now an optional install that you must select.
Since current Adobe installers and applications were built before these changes by Apple, Adobe software anticipates that Java is installed. Adobe and Apple have worked together to ensure that you can install Java at OS install time. Or it can be installed later before you install Adobe applications. At runtime, when you launch an Adobe application, you are prompted to install Java if it is not already installed. If you do not install Java before running an Adobe application, there can be missing or improperly behaving features. If you encounter any issues, install Java to correct the problems. Adobe recommends that corporate IT organizations pre install Java (or make sure that Java can be installed through their firewalls/security) to avoid conflicts with Adobe applications.
If the Java runtime is not installed, some issues that are known to occur include -