How to Uninstall Java on Windows 11

Want to learn various ways you can uninstall Java on Windows 11?

One of the most popular programming languages and computing platforms, Java, can take up quite some space on your computer, has slow performance, and is susceptible to many viruses. Thus it wouldn’t be a surprise if you too, like many other users, want to Uninstall Java on Mac or Windows 11 PC.

Though Java is not installed on your computer by default, the websites and programs developed by Java might automatically download it as Java is necessary for them to work.

As it’s not an essential part of Windows, there’s no harm in getting rid of Java, unless of course, you need to run programs based on Java. This guide is all you need if you’ve decided to get rid of it or move towards better alternatives. Below, we’ve discussed different ways you can uninstall Java on Windows 11 and clean your system from its traces.

So what’s the wait for? Let’s get started right away!

1. Uninstall Java From Windows Settings.

One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to remove Java from your computer is through the Windows Settings app. This is how you would remove most of your installed applications.

Let’s take a quick look at the steps for this method:

  1. Press Win + i keys to open Settings. Alternatively, click on the Start menu and choose Settings
  2. From the left pane, click on Apps
  3. Then, choose Apps & features from your screen’s right side. 
Windows 11 Apps settings
  1. Look for the Java app from the list and click on the three horizontal dots next to it. 
  2. Now, select Uninstall from the pop-up options. 
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. Lastly, reboot your computer and check whether the Java app is uninstalled successfully or not.

2. Use the Control Panel to Uninstall Java.

Another way to uninstall Java on Windows 11 is from the Control Panel. It has a dedicated tool for uninstalling any third-party program in your computer. Before Windows 10, this is how users would remove programs from their system since the Settings app offered no such feature.

Use the steps below to do it:

  1. Head over to the Start menu and click on the search bar. 
  2. Type in ‘control’ in the search bar and select Control Panel from the search results. 
  3. The Control Panel window will appear. Now, choose Uninstall a program under Programs
uninstall a program
  1. Now, find the Java app from the list of installed apps and right-click on it. 
  2. Click on Uninstall
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. From the User Account Control prompt that appears, click Yes to continue uninstalling Java from your PC.

3. Uninstall Outdated Java Versions With Uninstaller Tool.

Java also offers a dedicated tool to uninstall the outdated versions and provides links to get the latest version available. The tool will automatically scan for the outdated version and remove the program completely with no traces left behind.

Here’s how you can utilize it:

  1. Start by going to the Java official website and select the I Agree to the Terms and Want to Continue button to install the tool on your PC. 
Java Uninstall Tool
  1. Next, click on the JavaUninstallTool.exe file to launch it. 
  2. From the new window that opens, click on Agree to continue. 
Java Uninstall tool wizard
  1. The next screen will show you the available Java versions on your PC. Check the box next to the one you wish to uninstall and choose Next
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. Wait for the uninstalling process to complete and click on Close once the Java is successfully uninstalled on your PC.

4. Uninstall Java Development Kit.

If you have a Java Development Kit like OpenJDK or Oracle JDK installed, you can use any of the above-explained methods to remove it from your computer. But if you remember downloading OpenJDK from an archive file, you can simply delete the extracted folder, which will automatically remove OpenJDK from your system.

5. Clear Java Path From Environmental Variables.

Like any other program, Java also leaves behind its traces if not properly uninstalled. This is because when you install Java, your computer creates a new path and stores it in the environmental variables.

So, when you wish to uninstall Java on Windows 11 for whatever reason, be sure to remove these paths as well so that there are no leftovers of the program to cause installation conflict in the future.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to Settings from your PC by pressing Win + i keys
  2. From the System tab, choose About
System About
  1. Next, click on Advanced system settings
Advanced system settings
  1. The System Properties window will open. From there, choose the Environmental Variables button. 
Advanced system properties
  1. From the System Variables section, click on the Path variable, and choose the Edit button. 
Environmental Variables Windows 11
  1. Click on the paths you want to delete and choose Delete
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. Lastly, select OK to confirm. 

6. Delete Java Directories.

If you’ve been unable to uninstall Java yet because it does not appear in the Settings or you don’t have the uninstaller program, you can manually delete the Java directories to resolve the issue.

Navigate to these directories and delete them to remove Java from your system:

  • JDK installation folder:
C:\Program Files\Java
  • Java cache folder: 
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\
  • Java path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java
  • Java update:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java
  • Java install cache:
C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java


7. Delete Java Leftover Registry Entries.

Uninstalling Java is not always a clean process, as it may leave its traces behind on your computer. Although harmful, they might interfere with the future installation if you ever decide to bring Java back into use. These leftovers include path variables, installation directories, cache data, registry entries, etc.

As we’ve already discussed the steps to delete path variables and directories, let’s now look at how you can take care of the leftover registry entries. Use the instructions below to do so:

  1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R keys from your keyboard. 
  2. Type in ‘regedit’ in the field box and click on OK
  3. Now, head to the following path: 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
  1. The Registry Editor window will appear. Click on Edit from the top bar and choose Find
Registry Editor Windows 11
  1. Then, type in the Java version number you wish to delete and choose the Find Next button. 
  2. The registry key will be highlighted. Now, right-click on it and choose Delete
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. Finally, click on Yes to confirm it. 

8. Use Third-Party Uninstaller Software.

If you prefer a third-party uninstaller app, just ensure it is reliable before going ahead with this method. Some programs include CCleaner, Revo Uninstaller, IObit Uninstaller, and Wise Program Uninstaller. These programs will automatically uninstall Java on Windows 11 along with the program leftovers.

Below, we’ve used Revo Uninstaller to show you the steps:

  1. Start by downloading and installing the uninstaller on your computer. 
  2. After that, open the app and click on the Java app that you want to uninstall. 
  3. Then, click on Uninstall from the top bar.
Uninstall Java on Windows 11
  1. Click on Continue to proceed. 
  2. Then, select Yes
  3. Once Java is uninstalled, click on Scan to look for any remaining files. 
  4. Click on all the residual files and choose the Delete button from the bottom. 
  5. At last, click on Finish

This brings us to the end of our guide on how to uninstall Java on Windows 11. We’ve discussed several different ways you can do so and hope you find them useful. Let us know your feedback in the comment section below. We’ll be happy to hear back from you.

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Author

  • Aimen Choudhry

    Aimen Choudhry is an architecture student who has always been fascinated by science. She now finds her therapy researching and writing about the latest technology and the issues that come alongside. Otherwise, you’ll find her playing video games, listening to music, or watching fantasy/sci-fi movies.

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