Minecraft is one of those sandbox games that allows players to produce and explore virtual worlds.
However, sometimes players encounter issues on Minecraft such as the “Unable to Locate Java Runtime” error when trying to launch the game on their PC. This error is commonly caused by Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installation or configuration issues.
This article will discuss various methods to fix this Minecraft error and get the game running smoothly on your PC.
What is Java Runtime Environment (JRE)?
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is a software package offering the needed components for running Java applications. Being developed in Java, Minecraft requires the JRE to be installed on your PC to function properly.
When you encounter the “Unable to Locate Java Runtime” error, Minecraft cannot find the necessary JRE files.
Ways to Troubleshoot Unable to Locate Java Runtime Error on Minecraft for PC
Check Java Installation on your Windows PC
The initial step you must do in resolving this issue is verifying that Java is installed correctly on your PC. Follow these steps to check your Java installation:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Java.”
- Select “Configure Java” from the search results.
- In the Java Control Panel, go to the “Java” tab.
- Click the “View” button under the “Java Runtime Environment” section.
- Ensure that a valid JRE is listed. If not, you need to install Java.
Update Java on your Windows PC
If you already have Java installed but are still experiencing the error, updating to the latest version is recommended. Follow these steps to update Java:
- Visit the official Java website (https://www.java.com) and download the latest version of Java.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to update Java on your PC.
- Once the update is complete, restart your computer and check if the error persists.
Set Java Path
Sometimes, the “Unable to Locate Java Runtime” error occurs because Minecraft cannot locate the Java installation path. To fix this, you can manually set the Java path by following these steps:
- Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer” on your desktop and select “Properties.”
- Click “Advanced system settings” on the left side of the window.
- In the System Properties window, click the “Environment Variables” button.
- Under the “System variables” section, find the “Path” variable and click on “Edit.”
- Add the path to your Java installation directory at the end of the “Variable value” field. Separate it from the existing paths using a semicolon (;).
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
- Restart your computer and launch Minecraft to check if the error is resolved.
Reinstall Java on Windows PC
If none of the above methods work, it might be necessary to uninstall and reinstall Java on your PC. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the Control Panel on your PC.
- Go to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
- Find Java in the list of installed programs and select it.
- Click the “Uninstall” button and follow the on-screen instructions to remove Java from your system.
- Once Java is uninstalled, visit the official Java website and download the latest version.
- Install Java by running the downloaded installer and following the prompts.
- Restart your computer and try launching Minecraft again.
Following these steps, you should be able to fix the error and enjoy playing Minecraft without any issues on your PC.
