W3docs
en
Log in

eclipse won't start - no java virtual machine was found

There are a few possible reasons why Eclipse might not be able to find a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Tags

There are a few possible reasons why Eclipse might not be able to find a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Here are a few things you can try:

  1. Make sure that you have a compatible JDK installed on your machine. OpenJDK is fully compatible and often preferred. You can download it from the official website: https://adoptium.net/ or https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase-downloads.html. Note: Ensure the JDK architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) matches your Eclipse installation.
  2. Check your Eclipse configuration to make sure that it is pointing to the correct location of the JVM. In Eclipse, go to "Window > Preferences > Java > Installed JREs" and make sure that the correct JVM is listed. If it is not, you can add it by clicking the "Add" button and specifying the location of the JVM.
  3. Make sure that the JAVA_HOME environment variable is set correctly. This variable should point to the location of the JVM on your machine. You can check the value of this variable by running the following command: echo %JAVA_HOME% (Windows) or echo $JAVA_HOME (Linux/Mac). If the value is not set or is set to the wrong location, you can set it by following these steps:

  • On Windows:

    1. Right-click on "This PC" and select "Properties".
    2. Click on the "Advanced" tab.
    3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button.
    4. Under "System Variables", scroll down to JAVA_HOME and click "Edit".
    5. Enter the path to the JVM installation directory in the "Variable value" field and click "OK".

  • On Linux or Mac:

    1. Open the .bashrc file in a text editor. This file is usually located in your home directory.
    2. Add the following line to the file, replacing /path/to/jvm with the actual path to the JVM installation directory:
    export JAVA_HOME="/path/to/jvm"
  1. Save the file and close the text editor.
  2. Run the following command to apply the changes:
    source ~/.bashrc
  1. If Eclipse still fails to start, specify the JVM path directly in the eclipse.ini file. Add the -vm argument on one line, and the full path to the javaw.exe (Windows) or java (Linux/Mac) executable on the exact next line (without extra spaces or arguments). Then save the file and restart Eclipse.

I hope these suggestions help! Let me know if you have any further questions.