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Many web pages use Java applets for interactive content such as online games. Java is a programming language that can run on Windows, Mac, Linux, and other computer systems. This article will help you install or update Java and get it working in Firefox.

{for win,linux}{warning}'''Warning:''' There is a security issue with older Java versions that can allow a malicious website to gain control of your computer. Firefox has blocked these versions for your protection. To fix, simply update Java from the official Java website: [http://www.java.com/download]{/warning} {/for} {for mac}{warning}'''Warning:''' There is a security issue with older Java versions that can allow a malicious website to gain control of your computer. Firefox has blocked these versions for your protection. At this time, there is no version of Java available from Apple that does not contain this vulnerability.{/warning}{/for} Many web pages use [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_applet Java applets] for interactive content such as online games. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language Java is a programming language] that can run on Windows, Mac, Linux, and other computer systems. *[http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/whatis_java.xml Java] is not the same thing as JavaScript (see [[JavaScript|this article]] for information about JavaScript). Before Firefox can run Java applets you must have the Java plugin properly installed and enabled. {for win,linux,fx35}Starting in Firefox 3.6, {/for}{for win,linux}Firefox also requires the new Java plugin included in '''Java 6 Update 10''' or above.{/for} <!-- http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/firefox_newplugin.xml --> This article will help you install or update Java and get it working in Firefox. __TOC__ = Testing Java = A number of online tools will tell you if Java is installed and enabled in Firefox. * You can visit the [http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.jsp Java test page at java.com]. * You can visit the [http://browserspy.dk/java.php Java Information page at BrowserSpy.dk]. * [http://javatester.org/index.htm Java Tester] includes links to verify your Java version and whether Java is enabled. = Enabling Java = If Java is not working, make sure that the Java plugin is enabled in the Add-ons {for fx35}window{/for}{for fx4} Manager tab{/for}: # [[T:Open Add-ons|type=Plugins]] # Click on the {for win}'''Java (TM) Platform''' plugin{/for}{for mac,fx35}'''Java Embedding Plug-In'''{/for}{for mac,fx4}'''Java Plug-in 2 for NPAPI Browsers''' (Mac OS 10.5 & 10.6) or '''Java Applet Plug-in''' (Mac OS 10.7){/for}{for linux}'''Java''' plugin{/for} to select it. # Click on the {button Enable} button (if the button says {button Disable}, Java is already enabled). {for win}{note} '''Note:''' You only need to enable the "Java(TM) Platform" plugin, if it is disabled. The "Java Deployment Toolkit" plugin is used by Java developers to detect your Java version and to deploy their Java applications and does not need to be enabled for Java to work.{/note}{/for} == Other software that may block Java == Even if Java is installed and enabled in Firefox, it may be blocked by other software or Firefox add-ons, such as the following: {for win} * The ZoneAlarm Pro software firewall can block Java. For more information on enabling Java through this program, see [http://forums.zonelabs.com/showthread.php?t=39390 the ZoneAlarm Pro forum].<!-- http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=AllowAccess&message.id=61 dont work anymore. looks at for the article: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=AllowAccess&message.id=61 --> {/for} * The NoScript extension for Firefox will block Java. For more information, see the [http://www.noscript.net/faq#qa1_8 NoScript FAQ] = Installing or updating Java = {for win} == Manual install or update == # Go to the [http://java.com/download/ download page at java.com]. # Click the {button Free Java Download} button. # Click the {button Download Now} button to download the Java installer to your computer. # After the down is complete, close Firefox. # Open the file you downloaded to start the Java installation. == Automatic update == Java for Windows includes a [http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000020700.xml#java_update Java Update] feature that, in Windows 2000 and later, periodically checks for updates and notifies you when an update is available for installation. {note}'''Note:''' To eliminate potential security vulnerabilities and to save disk space, you should remove any older Java versions that may still be installed. For more information, visit [http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000010800.xml java.com].{/note} = Troubleshooting = After enabling Java in your operating system and through your Firefox options, Java may still fail to work properly. To activate Java, try the following: * '''Remove outdated Java plugin files from the Firefox plugins folder:'''{note}'''Note:''' It is recommended that you <u>do not</u> copy Java plugins from other locations to the Firefox plugins folder. Outdated Java plugins can cause Java not to work if you update Java and then uninstall the older Java version, if plugins from the old Java version are still in the Firefox plugins folder.{/note} *# [[T:Open Add-ons|type=Plugins]] *# Select the '''Java(TM) Platform''' plugin and make sure that it is enabled. *# Check if the '''Java(TM) Platform''' plugin is correctly detected. All Java plugins listed in the Add-ons {for fx35}window{/for}{for fx4} Manager tab{/for} should match the version number of the currently installed Java plugin. For example, if Java 6 Update 24 is currently installed, the Java plugin in the Add-ons {for fx35}window{/for}{for fx4} Manager tab{/for} should be listed as '''Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U24'''. *# If you find Java plugin files listed that do not match your current version, that means that the Firefox plugins folder contains outdated Java plugin files which should be removed. This folder is typically in the following location:<br/>{filepath C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins} on 32-bit Windows, {filepath C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugins} on 64-bit Windows<br/>Java plugin files from older versions in the Firefox plugins folder can prevent Java from working. For more information, see the [http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/faqs/java.html#Issues PluginDoc Java FAQ]. *'''Add missing registry entry:''' Sometimes a Windows registry entry that Java needs may be missing. To fix, you should re-install Firefox - see the instructions in [[Installing Firefox on Windows]] for installation instructions. {/for} {for mac} '''On Mac OS X 10.6 and below,''' Java is installed with the operating system. To update Java, use the [http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1338 Mac OS X Software Update] feature. '''On Mac OS X 10.7,''' Java is not installed by default. Java for OS X Lion is available from [http://support.apple.com/downloads#java_for_os_x_lion Apple Support Downloads]. {/for} {for linux} See [http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/manual-plugin-install-linux-136395.html Java Plugin Install for Linux] at oracle.com for help installing or updating Java on your Linux system. {/for} {for mac, linux} = Troubleshooting = {/for} {for mac, =fx4, =fx5} For '''Mac OS X 10.5''', Apple's Java Update 10 removed support for Java Plugin2, preventing Firefox and other non-Apple browsers from detecting that Java is installed. Mozilla fixed the problem in Firefox 5.0.1 and above so, in order to run Java applets, you should [[Updating Firefox|update to the latest version of Firefox]]. {/for} For more information on specific issues with Java, see [[Java-related issues]]. = Additional resources = *The [http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/index_general.xml Java FAQs] page at Java.com answers some frequently asked questions. *[http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/ PluginDoc] includes Java downloads and installation instructions for other operating systems. <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java Java (mozillaZine KB)]'''''