An error “you need to install the legacy Java SE 6 runtime”, is encountered when you open any Adobe application.

With Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and later, the Java runtime is no longer installed automatically as part of the OS installation. Follow any of the methods below to install Java runtime.

You can download and install the latest Java runtime from the Java website - Download Free Java Software.

Download Java for OS X 2017-001 Java for macOS 2017-001 installs the legacy Java 6 runtime for macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.12 Sierra, macOS 10.11 El Capitan, macOS 10.10 Yosemite, macOS 10.9 Mavericks, macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion, and macOS 10.7 Lion. Java SE 6 Update 39 (1.6.039), which Apple has included in an update titled “Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 12,” fixes many of the same vulnerabilities that were patched in version 7u13 on other platforms earlier this week. The update is available now via Software Update. Java is a free software currently developed by Oracle Corporation. Apple provided its own implementation of Java for Mac OS X until October, 2012. At that time, the Apple verison of Java 6 was removed during an OS X update, and replaced with the Oracle-supplied version of Java 7.

Note:

On Mac OS 10.10 (Yosemite), when you launch any Adobe product, you might receive a warning 'The Application has been moved and its path has been changed..'.

Click Repair Now or Update button to update the location and resolve the issue. When prompted for password, enter your system password to complete.

Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +.

If Java runtime is not installed, you are prompted to install when you first launch any Adobe product. Follow the onscreen instructions in the Java required notification dialog box to install.

Use the following method to initiate the Java runtime installation or confirm if it is installed.

Download Apple Java 6 For Mac Os

Go to Applications > Utilities > Java Preferences.

If Java is not installed, you receive the following message: “To open “Java Preferences,' you need a Java runtime. Would you like to install one now?”

Click Install and accept the license agreement. The Java runtime is downloaded and installed.

Many Adobe applications depend on the Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for some features to work. Apple recently changed the way it includes Java in Mac OS, and with Lion, Java is no longer preinstalled. It is now an optional install that you must select.

Download Apple Java 6 For Mac Download

Since current Adobe installers and applications were built before these changes by Apple, Adobe software anticipates that Java is installed. Adobe and Apple have worked together to ensure that you can install Java at OS install time. Or it can be installed later before you install Adobe applications. At runtime, when you launch an Adobe application, you are prompted to install Java if it is not already installed. If you do not install Java before running an Adobe application, there can be missing or improperly behaving features. If you encounter any issues, install Java to correct the problems. Adobe recommends that corporate IT organizations pre install Java (or make sure that Java can be installed through their firewalls/security) to avoid conflicts with Adobe applications.

If the Java runtime is not installed, some issues that are known to occur include -

Failure to launch.
Install Java runtime prompts when you attempt to use the applications.
Applications hang or quit.

The following are the system requirements for installing the JDK and the JRE on macOS:

Install Java On Mac

Any Intel-based computer running macOS.
Administrator privileges.
You cannot install Java for a single user. Installing the JDK and JRE on macOS is performed on a systemwide basis for all users. Administrator privileges are required to install the JDK and JRE on macOS.
When you install the JDK, it also installs the JRE. However, the system will not replace the current JRE with a lower version.
To determine the current JRE version installed on your system, see Determining the JRE Version Installed on macOS. To install an earlier version of the JRE, you must first uninstall the current version. See Uninstalling the JRE on macOS.
When you install the JRE, you can install only one JRE on your system at a time. The system will not install a JRE that has an earlier version than the current version.
To determine the current JRE version installed on your system, see Determining the JRE Version Installed on macOS. To install an earlier version of the JRE, you must first uninstall the current version. See Uninstalling the JRE on macOS.
Note:
Installing a JRE from Oracle will not update java -version symlinks or add java to your path. To do this, you must install the JDK.