How to Add Java to Your System Path

Windows

Once Java is installed, locate the installation directory, such as:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21

Next, we have to add the sub-directory \bin to the system’s environment variables. Right-click My Computer, then click Properties, then Advanced System Settings, then Environment Variables. Go to the Path system variable entry, and press Edit. You may see a rather long list here. At the very end, add the following:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21\bin

If this is not the location of the \bin directory in your Java installation directory, you may change it to your actual path. Press OK. Next, look for the JAVA_HOME system variable in the same Environment Variables list. If it is not there, press New. Name the variable JAVA_HOME, and as the variable value, add:

C: \Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21

This is the Java installation directory. Again, if this is not correct, you will need to use the appropriate path. Press OK. Now, from a command line, type one of the following:

java
javac

At this point, you should see the help information for both commands, instead of:

‘java’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Linux

Upon gaining access to the command line interface (CLI), locate the installation directory of Java. Once this is done, type the following:

vi ~/.bashrc

Then, once the .bashrc configuration file is open, press i

This will bring you into insert mode. Once you are in it, move the arrows around until you get to the end of the file. Then, type the following:

PATH=$PATH:/path/to/Java/installation/bin
JAVA_HOME=/path/to/java/jre/bin
export PATH
export JAVA_HOME

The first directory should be the path to the bin directory in the jdk. The second path should be the bin directory in the jre. Then, type the “escape” button, followed by:

:wq

Upon restart, you will have Java in your path, set by your environment variables.