How To Install and Use Java On Chromebook [October 2019]

Java is a powerful programming language and operating environment that runs on a wide variety of hardware, including your Chromebook. One of the coolest things about Java is that a program can run using the same code on a lot of different machines.

You’ll need Java if you want to play Minecraft and some other cool games on your Chromebook.

Installing Java on your Chromebook so that you can use Java applications is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to be in developer mode to install Java on your Chromebook, and you’ll have to use the Crosh (command-line shell) to download Java and get it installed.

It will take some setup time, but it’s not complicated and this tutorial will walk you through it. You can also just enable Javascript to run on your Chromebook; that’s even easier, and I’ll show you how to do that as well.

I’ll start with the simplest option: allowing Javascript to run on your Chromebook. This is done simply by adjusting the settings on your Chromebook.

Enable Javascript on your Chromebook

The easiest way to let Javascript run on your Chromebook device is as follows in these instructions:

• Go to your profile picture in the lower right-hand side of your Chromebook and then click on it.
• Then, click on the gear icon, which brings you to your Chromebook settings.            
• Scroll down to the Show Advanced Settings link, which is highlighted in blue. Click on Advanced Settings. 
• Then, go down to Privacy Settings and click the gray Content Settings button.          
• You’ll see Javascript listed as the third item down in the pop-up window that appears.  Check off the circle next to ‘Allow all sites to run Javascript (recommended),’ if it isn’t already selected.                                

You’ve now enabled Javascript to run on your Chromebook. Any site you visit which requires Javascript should now run correctly within the Chrome browser on your Chromebook device. And it was no more difficult than adjusting your settings at any other time for any other purpose.

If you want to put a full-fledged Java installation on your Chromebook, however, then there are some additional steps to take. You should also keep in mind that your Java installation may be unstable, or it may not work at all; Chromebooks are designed for people who only need access to the basics, so they’re relatively simple and pared-down when compared to other operating systems.

But if you decide that you still want to try installing Java itself, proceed with caution.

Installing Java on Your Chromebook

After putting your Chromebook device in developer mode and logging in to your device, you’ll proceed to open the command shell; it’s similar to the Terminal you would use with Windows or Mac.  Press the Ctrl + Alt + T keys on the keyboard, to open the Crosh shell.

Then, type ‘shell,’ which opens the full Bash shell.  (Don’t worry if you don’t know the difference between these shells; it isn’t important for this tutorial.) Now you’ll be able to run commands with sudo, which enables you to run commands as “root” from your ordinary user account.

• Type “sudo su” (no quotes) and press Enter on your Chromebook’s keyboard.
• You’ll be prompted for a password. Depending on the Chrome OS build you are using, the password could be “chronos”, “chrome”, “facepunch”, or “password”. If you’ve set your own shell password previously, it may be that password.

Next, you’ll need to make the system file writable.

• Type  “mount -o remount, exec, rw/” then press the Enter key on your keyboard.
• Type “cd /home” and press Enter again.

You’ll download the Java 8 application from Oracles website.  If you have a 32-bit device:

• Type “wget http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/downlo…undleId=106238 -Ojre.tar.gz” then press Enter.

If you’ve got a 64-bit Chromebook device:

• Type “wget http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/downlo…undleId=106240 -Ojre.tar.gz” then press Enter.

The next step is to extract the file you’ve just downloaded.  To do that:

• Type “tar zxvf jre.tar.gz” and then press Enter on the keyboard.
• Type “mv jre1.8* /bin” and press Enter.
• Type “cd/bin” and press Enter; that will open the executable folder on your device.
• Type “1n -s/bin/jre1.8.0_45/bin/java/bin/java” and press Enter (but replace the number 45 with the number of the Java version found on the Java website).

If everything has gone according to plan you should now be able to run Java on your Chromebook device. Keep in mind, that’s if everything has gone according to plan. Of course, something can go wrong during this process.

Type “java-version” in the shell to write the version of Java you’ve just installed into the Chrome operating system.

Please note that installing Java may not work on all Chromebooks because of compatibility issues.  Your system could freeze and become unresponsive. If this happens, reboot your device; it’s probably not compatible with Java.

You now know how to enable Javascript on your Chromebook device, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can do an actual install of the Java application to your Chromebook.

Keep in mind that enabling Javascript through your Chromebook is the safer alternative of the two, and it’s more stable and more reliable than trying to install the Java application. Should you decide to install Java through developer mode in the command shell, please do so with extreme caution.  Do so at your own risk.

If your system freezes, reboot and abort the mission to install Java, as you’re not going to get anything but a headache out of any further attempts. It’s not worth crashing your Chromebook repeatedly to install Java.

If you are a Chromebook user, you might find other TechJunkie articles useful, including these:

Chromebook Won’t Connect to Printer—How to Fix

How to Use Split Screen on a Chromebook

How to Turn Closed Captioning On or Off on Chromebook

Chromebook Won’t Boot – What To Do

Have you installed Java on your Chromebook? If so, do you have any advice for Chromebook users trying to install Java? Please leave us a comment below!