MacOS – Can’t uninstall Java under El Capitan

javamacos

Since installing El Capitan, I am not able to run Adobe Photoshop or Dreamweaver (old versions).

I get the message "You need to install the legacy Java SE runtime"

I am trying to uninstall Java and reinstall the Java SE 6 runtime I downloaded from Apple, but even though I am sure all traces of Java are gone, I am still not able to install. Every time I try to install the runtime, I get a message that says: "Java for OS X 2014-001 can't be installed on this disk. A newer version of this package is already installed."

I already removed /Library/Java and everything under it. I also checked /etc/paths and Java is removed.

Not sure whatever vestiges of Java remain, but I am still getting the message.

Best Answer

This link solved the problem for me: Java for OS X 2014-001: How to re-enable the Apple-provided Java SE 6 web plug-in and Web Start features

Learn how to re-enable the Apple-provided Java SE 6 Java SE 6 web plug-in and Web Start features in OS X Lion and later.

If, after installing Java for OS X 2014-001 and the latest version of Java 7 from Oracle, you want to disable Java 7 and re-enable the Apple-provided Java SE 6 web plug-in and Web Start functionality, follow these steps.

Note: You must be logged in as an administrator. If prompted for your administrator password after a command, enter it and then press the Return or Enter key.

  1. Open Terminal, located in the Utilities folder.

  2. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key: 

    sudo mkdir -p /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/disabled

  3. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:

    sudo mv /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/disabled

  4. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:

    sudo ln -sf /System/Library/Java/Support/Deploy.bundle/Contents/Resources/JavaPlugin2_NPAPI.plugin /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

  5. To re-enable Java SE 6 Web Start, enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:

    sudo ln -sf /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Commands/javaws /usr/bin/javaws

Learn more

The following steps will undo the above commands and restore Java 7 in OS X Lion and later.

  1. Disable Java SE 6 Web Start opening:

    • Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:

      sudo ln -sf /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/Current/Commands/javaws /usr/bin/javaws
    • When prompted, enter your administrator password, then press the Return or Enter key.

  2. Re-enable the Java 7 applet plug-in by downloading and reinstalling the latest version of Oracle Java 7 JRE.

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