Unable to locate tools.jar

Question

I am building a project in Java.

I have this error:

Unable to locate tools.jar. Expected to find it in C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\tools.jar

I have installed a JDK and the folder: C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib is in my system but the file tools.jar is not there.

I think tools belongs to the JDK not to the JRE. Isn´t so? C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_24\lib — Edwin Dalorzo, Apr 20 '11 at 13:10
As an aside, what I find astonishing is that the program actually said where it looked. So few programs provide this useful clue. — Peter Flynn, Nov 26 '13 at 08:38
Also see the duplicate question: http://stackoverflow.com/q/9119479/3328979 Answers there are somehow better than here. — Arashsoft, Apr 27 '16 at 20:19
In my case problem was in a path. I was trying to use script that was in the folder with a `space` in a name. I was trying to run `./bin/kafka-console-consumer.sh` from the binaries kafka folder. when i was asked to build project first with `./gradlew jar -PscalaVersion=2.13.6`. This build command actually generated such error for me. — stopanko, Mar 25 '22 at 21:41

score 202 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:10

202

Yes, you've downloaded and installed the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) instead of the Java Development Kit (JDK). The latter has the tools.jar, java.exe, javac.exe, etc.

answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:10

duffymo

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@olidev checking this now but still can't stop pointing out the issue!! How can this be your answer? You have already mentioned that you have installed jdk and jre. I'm actually facing a similar problem and it still continues :-( . Need to know how you got it working?? – Mercenary Jul 23 '13 at 12:30
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Add JAVA_HOME and the /bin directory to your path. You realize that this answer is two years old, right? – duffymo Jul 23 '13 at 12:52
18

In ubuntu: `# apt-get install default-jdk` and the error disappears. – Xavi Montero Feb 19 '15 at 19:23
2

The key? JDK. That's what has the tools. JRE does not. – duffymo Feb 19 '15 at 21:23
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Not necessarily. It looks to me like they might have `JAVA_HOME` set to the `jre` inside of the `jdk` instead of to the `jdk` itself. – ArtOfWarfare Feb 24 '16 at 19:42
This answer was given and accepted almost five years ago. You should use your time more wisely than trolling old answers. – duffymo Feb 24 '16 at 20:18
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`apt-get install default-jdk` did the trick, thanks @Xavi Montero – Ahmed Ismail May 10 '18 at 15:08
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I was missing `JAVA_HOME` in my configuration. I resolved this error by adding `JAVA_HOME` to environment variables and `%JAVA_HOME%\bin` to `Path`. – bobasti Apr 16 '19 at 12:35
i have copied from jdk/lib/tools.jar to jre/lib/ folder , it started working after that. – Mithun Kumar Sep 10 '19 at 08:52

score 91 · Answer 2 · answered May 09 '12 at 16:00

91

In case this is still an issue for anyone, I have a bit of clarification on the previous answers. I was running into this same issue using ant with only a JDK installed. Although, the JDK installer gave me a directory structure like this:

 Directory of C:\Program Files\Java

05/08/2012  09:43 AM    <DIR>          .
05/08/2012  09:43 AM    <DIR>          ..
05/08/2012  09:46 AM    <DIR>          jdk1.7.0_04
05/08/2012  09:19 AM    <DIR>          jre6
05/08/2012  09:44 AM    <DIR>          jre7
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

and when I ran ant, it complained about not finding tools.jar under the jre7 subdirectory. It wasn't until I set "JAVA_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_04" that the error went away.

answered May 09 '12 at 16:00

Blake Mitchell

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this. thanks! (for those of us who have various jre/jdk versions installed) – Daren Thomas Nov 14 '12 at 15:06
it worked for me..earlier i gave the path with \bin also..that was the issue – John Aug 26 '13 at 05:56
Thanks, I wish I could give you 2 ups! – Luke Nov 13 '13 at 23:59

score 42 · Answer 3 · answered May 21 '13 at 17:57

42

Install the Java SDK.
Add a System Environment Variable called JAVA_HOME with the value of JDK location.
Go to Control Panel\System and Security\System. Advanced System Settings, Environment Variables, System Variables, New... Example:
Variable Name:JAVA_HOME
Variable Value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_21
Close/reopen your CMD window so that the new variable takes effect before attempting to re-run the ant command.

answered May 21 '13 at 17:57

James Lawruk

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JAVA_HOME variable fixed everything, thanks a lot :) – krinn Jan 16 '14 at 18:10
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`PATH` **with** `/bin`, `JAVA_HOME` **without** `/bin` – Daniel W. Feb 08 '14 at 18:55
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Thanks, I was loooking for this for hours!! – kcho0 Feb 08 '15 at 10:51
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Work like charm on Windows8.1 – Umar Abbas Mar 10 '17 at 23:49
WORK LIKE A CHARM!! THANKS – Heidi Mar 21 '17 at 17:00

score 32 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 18 '13 at 07:40

32

I had the same problem and copying C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_26\lib\tools.jar to C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\ext worked for me

edited Mar 18 '13 at 07:40

Ankur

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answered Mar 18 '13 at 07:21

Kamlesh Pant

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Polluting local installations with classes which clearly don't belong there can lead to the Works on my machine syndrome. That is even if a formal build process is in place. [tools.jar, which contains non-core classes for support of the tools and utilities in the JDK](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/tools/windows/jdkfiles.html) – real_paul Feb 02 '16 at 14:56
Thanks for this workaround! In my case I copied `corretto-1.8.0_282\lib\tools.jar` to `corretto-1.8.0_282\jre\lib\ext\tools.jar`, and it resolved unstoppable stream of `ClassNotFound` exceptions – Roman Golyshev Mar 24 '21 at 11:37

score 22 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 27 '17 at 20:03

22

If you have installed JDK 9.0.1 you will also have this problem as the tools.jar has been deprecated. See migration document.

answered Dec 27 '17 at 20:03

Graham Chiu

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This answer is more relevant today than the earlier upvoted answers – deepak Jan 27 '21 at 04:04
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Adding information on how to migrate maven builds still expecting tools.jar would be great. – Ryan Leach Jan 15 '22 at 21:28

score 10 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 25 '13 at 01:33

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Set your JAVA_HOME environmental variable to point to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02.

answered Jan 25 '13 at 01:33

Zorayr

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score 10 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 30 '14 at 22:52

10

If you are in Linux you can solve this by installing java on the system:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jdk openjdk-7-jre

answered Sep 30 '14 at 22:52

mimoralea

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Obviously, you can use 'sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jdk openjdk-8-jre' for Java 8 – schlenger Jun 01 '18 at 10:39

score 7 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:09

7

No, according to your directory structure, you have installed a JRE, not a JDK. There's a difference.

C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib
                      ^^^^

It should be something like:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_24

answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:09

Sean Patrick Floyd

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yes, you are right! but how can I uninstall jre? thanks in advance – olidev Apr 20 '11 at 13:35
Start > Control Panel > Software (or similar, depending on Win* version) – Sean Patrick Floyd Apr 20 '11 at 13:37
but there is no option like that to remove jre. I just checked! – olidev Apr 20 '11 at 13:48
@Joesy OK, if you can't find it, just leave it, there's no need to deinstall it (except to recover disk space). You can have many JDKs and / or JREs installed in parallel – Sean Patrick Floyd Apr 20 '11 at 13:51

score 5 · Answer 9 · edited May 26 '17 at 06:51

5

Don't spend too much time looking for tools.jar. If you get an error like that, don't be upset.

If you already have java JDK 1.5, go to your lib folder, and the tools.jar should be available there. Copy and paste it in your ant bin folder, then try to use the command ant -version.

You should see the expected result.

edited May 26 '17 at 06:51

Jeffmagma

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answered Sep 29 '12 at 10:22

sathiya

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is this approach recommendable? – S_M Feb 12 '15 at 09:16

Ivaylo Slavov · Answer 10 · 2022-02-23T16:01:42.193

I had the same issue on a linux machine. I was quite frustrated at first, because I have installed both the JDK and JRE. I am using version 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8 simultaneously, and I have played a lot with the alternatives to have everything set properly.

The problem was quite stupid to solve, yet counter-intuitive. While I was using the correct JDK, I paid attention to the path of the tools jar maven complained about - it was expecting it to be

$JAVA_HOME\..\lib\tools.jar

The $JAVA_HOME variable pointed directly to my jdk folder (/usr/local/java which was also the correct $PATH entry and alternative sym link). It actually searches for the lib folder outside the java directory, because:

$JAVA_HOME\..\lib\tools.jar

will resolve to

/usr/local/lib/tools.jar

and that is not a valid location.

To solve this, the $JAVA_HOME variable should instead point to this location /usr/local/java/jre (assuming the JDK path is /usr/local/java) -- there is actually jre folder inside the JDK installation directory, that comes with each JDK. This new setup will cause maven to look at the JRE directory, that is part of the JDK:

$JAVA_HOME\..\lib\tools

which now resolves to

/usr/local/java/jre/../lib/tools.jar

and finally to

/usr/local/java/lib/tools.jar

which is where the tools.jar really resides.

So, even if you are indeed using the JDK instead of the JRE, the $JAVA_HOME has to point to the JRE. Remember, the OS alternative should still refer to the JDK.

I got the same issue with windows, use you way solved my problem. — Yigang Wu, Dec 03 '15 at 02:30
i've tried all this & still get the issue with tools.jar. Is Randoop worth the effort? Meaning does it generate decent unit tests? The frustrating part of this is that EVERY other java program on my Windows box works fine. — Mr Smith, Apr 11 '19 at 16:53
@MrSmith , What is the path that Randoop looks for when you receive the error. Maybe Randoop has its own env setting that tells it where the JRE is? Also, did you reopen your shell windows (if running from shell) after changing your env variables? — Ivaylo Slavov, Apr 12 '19 at 08:16

score 3 · Answer 11 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 05:53

go to your jdk path where you installed your java

For e.g In my PC JDK installed in the following path

"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_17\";

After go to the lib folder e.g "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_17\lib"

in the lib directory there is tool.jar file

Copy this file and past it in the lib forlder of jre7 directory for e.g

"C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib"

score 3 · Answer 12 · answered Jun 26 '16 at 20:24

You may face similar problem on Ubuntu:

Embedded error: tools.jar not found: /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-amd64/jre/../lib/tools.jar

The problem is with JAVA_HOME that is not set properly.

So, on Ubuntu 14.04 x64 using Java8:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jdk openjdk-8-jre
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64

score 3 · Answer 13 · answered Apr 02 '19 at 20:51

As many people mentioned, it looks like you are looking in your JRE instead of the JDK for the tools.jar file.

I would also like to mention that on recent versions of the JDK, there is no more tools.jar file. I downloaded the most recent JDK as of today (JDK version 12) and I could not find any tools.jar. I had to download JDK version 8 (1.8.0) here https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html to get the tools.jar file. I downloaded that version, took the tools.jar file and put it into my recent version's lib folder.

score 3 · Answer 14 · answered Jul 09 '21 at 19:52

It's worth observing that tools.jar has been removed from the JDK since Java 9. https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/migrate/toc.htm#JSMIG-GUID-055EA9F4-835E-463F-B9E1-9081B3D9E55D

If people are facing this issue compiling a Java program with JDK 9+, you may need to review the dependencies of your projects.

In my case, I was trying to compile a project using AspectJ and the Maven plugin org.codehaus.mojo:aspectj-maven-plugin:1.11. After searching online, I found an alternative that supports Java 9+: dev.aspectj:aspectj-maven-plugin:1.13.M3.

score 2 · Answer 15 · edited Jan 28 '14 at 05:38

2

I had the same problem even after installing Java JDK and set JAVA_HOME to ..\jdk1.6.0_45\bin folder.

Ant is still trying to find tools.jar in C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib folder.
I've fixed it by adding JAVACMD environment variable and set path for it to java.exe in the jdk folder.
In my case it was C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_45\bin\java.exe

edited Jan 28 '14 at 05:38

Avi Turner

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answered Jan 28 '14 at 05:20

user3243105

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score 2 · Answer 16 · answered May 17 '17 at 11:16

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it has been solved with me in windows os by setting the JAVA_HOME variable before running as follows:

set JAVA_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_111

answered May 17 '17 at 11:16

Ramy Feteha

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I had to force this. Ant 10+ is looking for the JDK in an unknown variable. I could not find where it was getting the JDK, but when I can in command line and forced JAVA HOME it worked. – Cummings Oct 23 '19 at 18:20

score 1 · Answer 17 · answered Oct 06 '13 at 22:09

Make sure that both the %JAVA_HOME% and %JAVA_HOME%/bin paths are added to your PATH variable.

All the answers about copying tools.jar into the correct position is a poor idea at best.

Make sure that your IDE can find these jars the way it was designed and intended for.

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered May 02 '15 at 18:09

1

In eclipse window> preferences>Java> Installed JRE, I pointed the directory to the jre directory in the jdk 1.7 and i worked file for me e.g C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_71\jre

answered May 02 '15 at 18:09

Manish Basdeo

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score 1 · Answer 19 · answered Apr 27 '16 at 20:11

I had my JDK_path (C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_79) in my JAVA_HOME and also the JDK_path\bin in my PATH. But, still my ant was using the JRE instead of JDK.

The issue was I had C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapathbefore my JDK_path in PATH variable. I simply moved my JDK_path before the oracle one and the issue solved.

score 1 · Answer 20 · answered Feb 01 '17 at 09:53

1

solving this problem I have simply copied the tools.jar file from C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_112\lib to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_112\lib so that I have two tools.jar files instead of one and problem disappeared.

answered Feb 01 '17 at 09:53

estudiante

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score 0 · Answer 21 · answered Dec 28 '13 at 07:29

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maven-compiler-plugin use jdk ,not jre, tools.jar is in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\lib\tools.jar you must config project JRE System Libary with jdk,not jar. This is the simplest solution.

answered Dec 28 '13 at 07:29

living.li

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score 0 · Answer 22 · answered Sep 30 '16 at 10:03

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Right click on your ant file
Go to "Run as" then click on "Ant Build..."
Go to the "JRE" tab
Select a JDK and not a JRE

answered Sep 30 '16 at 10:03

RotS

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score 0 · Answer 23 · edited May 28 '17 at 19:29

0

For me what's working: I downloaded an old version of Java 1.7

I actually set my JAVA_HOME from C:/program files X86/Java BUT after I installed the 1.7 version I had another Java in program files/Java. And at this moment I found the tools.jar here. Then I changed for this new path and it's working

edited May 28 '17 at 19:29

answered May 28 '17 at 19:13

Florent Giraud

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score 0 · Answer 24 · answered Sep 07 '17 at 12:40

I was also facing the same error. This was removed after setting Java_Home path to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_121. Please ensure bin is not included in the path and no slash is there after jdk1.8.0_121 after you have defined %JAVA_HOME%\bin in the system path variable.

score 0 · Answer 25 · answered Jul 24 '18 at 15:01

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If you're in a RHEL environment the package name containing tools.jar would end with "openjdk-devel".

answered Jul 24 '18 at 15:01

TastyWheat

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score 0 · Answer 26 · answered Aug 05 '18 at 12:52

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This is the solution for Windows: in Computer > Advanced system settings > Advanced > Environment variables..., add this in System variables:

answered Aug 05 '18 at 12:52

Basj

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score 0 · Answer 27 · answered Dec 04 '18 at 07:39

I have downloaded tools.jar and after that I copied it into path in error message.

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.1\bin > paste here tools.jar

After that I have restarted Spring Tool Suit 4 and everything was working. When I was trying to fix that problem I have made new environmental variable: Control Panel / System / Advenced / Environmental variables / new Name : JAVA_HOME Value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.1 But I do not know is it necessary.

score 0 · Answer 28 · answered Jan 31 '19 at 15:14

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maybe you have updated the JREs in the OS, and the addition has added in the "path" of the environment variables an entry ".../Oracle/jer" that overwrites your JAVA_HOME. try to remove it from the "path" by leaving JAVA_HOME.

answered Jan 31 '19 at 15:14

pagurix

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score 0 · Answer 29 · answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:14

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Expected to find it in C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\tools.jar

if you have installed jdk then

..Java/jdkx.x.x

folder must exist there so in stall it and give full path like

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\lib\tools.jar

answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:14

Nirmal- thInk beYond

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score 0 · Answer 30 · answered Apr 20 '11 at 13:14

Make sure that your classpath is set correctly and pointing to the correct version of the JDK that you have installed. Also, are you using Open JDK? I have had this issue before after I tried to move from open JDK to Suns JDK. This is an example of how that issue could be fixed.

score 0 · Answer 31 · answered Dec 12 '19 at 11:41

Incase it helps, the problem for me was that I had 2 entries in my PATH environment variable which pointed to a location containing the javaw executable.

I cleaned up the variable to make sure that "%JAVA_HOME%\bin" was the only entry referencing a location containing my java executables.

score 0 · Answer 32 · answered Aug 16 '20 at 15:45

This happens when the Environment Variable JAVA_HOME is not set, or points to the wrong directory. You can see the value that Ant has by running the command:

ant -diagnostics

And looking for the line that shows java.home. If you have grep installed then you can simple run:

ant -diagnostics | grep java.home

To fix the issue, set the JAVA_HOME Environment Variable to the JDK directory. While setting the variable differs slightly between *nix and Windows, the rest works the same on all operating systems. So it doesn't matter if you use the GUI that Windows provides, or the set or setx commands, as long as the value is set prior to calling ant (if you've set it globally then it must exist before you open the shell/terminal window).

After setting JAVA_HOME you can run ant -version, for example, and get the result, e.g.

Apache Ant(TM) version 1.10.8 compiled on May 10 2020

score 0 · Answer 33 · answered Oct 25 '20 at 11:58

0

Step1 Check your jdk is installed. and variable path is setted. Step2 unistall your eclipes and reinstall it. other wise It will continue to be a problem

answered Oct 25 '20 at 11:58

Arslan ahsan

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score 0 · Answer 34 · answered Dec 03 '22 at 23:43

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The latest versions of Java do not have tools.jar in the lib folder. Remove tools.jar entry in environment variables and retry it.

answered Dec 03 '22 at 23:43

ramakrishna reddy kamasani

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score 0 · Answer 35 · answered Jun 27 '23 at 16:34

I am using java openjdk 12 with Eclipse IDE (Version: 2022-06 (4.24.0) Build id: 20220609-1112) and I placed the tools.jar under the lib folder (C:\Program Files\OpenJDK\jdk-12.0.2\lib) and pom.xml file had it as a dependency for sun tools:

<!-- https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.sun/tools -->
    <dependency>
       <groupId>com.sun</groupId>
       <artifactId>tools</artifactId>
       <version>1.5.0</version>
       <scope>system</scope>
       <systemPath>C:\Program Files\OpenJDK\jdk-12.0.2\lib\tools.jar</systemPath>
    </dependency>

This works in jdk 8 and 12, but I will recreate the project without this dependency in my next release version since this maven project was created back in 2018.

score -1 · Answer 36 · edited Dec 05 '19 at 09:20

I have resolved tool.jar file error recently. I am using eclipse oxygen ide. It works perfectly and easy. Repeat these steps on your system as

Download tool.jar file according to your jre jdk version. Lets suppose tool.jar file is 1.8.0.tool.jar
After donwload 1.8 .0 tool.jar file rename is as as tool.jar
Then go to your jdk installation folder
Then go to lib folder open it
And paste here
You will make this type path. E:\jdk 8\lib\tools.jar

Unable to locate tools.jar

36 Answers36

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