How do I find where JDK is installed on my windows machine?

Dealing with unconventional installs

What if JAVA_HOME isn't set, or the install path is non-standard? Here are some remedies:

Locate javac using where:

where javac
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This command finds the javac.exe in the JDK directory & returns its location.

Manually search: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Java\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\ and look for directories prefixed with 'jdk'.

Check both "Program Files" directories: On 64-bit systems, JDK can be in Program Files or Program Files (x86), depending on whether you installed the 64-bit or 32-bit JDK.

Check the folder structure: An established JDK directory has specific subfolders. Confirm it possesses bin, lib, and others.

Detailed guide on navigating JDK detection problems

Java Control Panel: Windows offers a GUI-based Java Control Panel for managing Java versions and finding JDK location:

• Find the Control Panel -> Java
• Under the Java tab, manage your Java runtime installations.

Deeper with Command Line: Beyond where, one can use the cmd for more information:

for %i in (java.exe) do @echo. %~$PATH:i
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This command searches your PATH for java.exe, outputting its location. Use this navigation guide to find the JDK's hideout.

Remember the difference between JDK and JRE: Ensure you're viewing the JDK, not the JRE. JDK contains tools like javac, while JRE does not. Also, setting JAVA_HOME is crucial for many development tools, even if it's not necessary for running Java applications.

For macOS or Unix-based systems: Not a Windows scenario, but on Unix-based systems like macOS, you can find the installation using symbolic links:

ls -l /usr/bin/java
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