How to Install Java 23 on Debian-Based Systems (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian & More)

Anastasios Antoniadis

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Tutorials

If you’re using a Debian-based system (such as Debian 10, 11, or 12 or Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04) and need to install the latest Java Development Kit (JDK 23), this guide will walk you through the process step by step.

Installing Java 23 on Debian

To install JDK 23 on your Debian-based system, follow these instructions carefully.

Step 1: Download the JDK 23 Package

Oracle provides the latest Java Development Kit (JDK) as a .deb package. Use the wget command to download it directly from the official Oracle website:

wget https://download.oracle.com/java/23/latest/jdk-23_linux-x64_bin.deb

Step 2: Install the JDK 23 Package

Once the download is complete, install the package using the dpkg command:

sudo dpkg -i jdk-23_linux-x64_bin.deb

If you encounter dependency errors, resolve them by running:

sudo apt-get -f install

Step 3: Clean Up the Installation Files

After installation, you can remove the downloaded .deb package to free up space:

rm jdk-23_linux-x64_bin.deb

Step 4: Verify the Installation

Check if Java is installed correctly by running:

java -version

Expected output (version may vary):

java version "23.0.2" 2025-01-21
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 23.0.2+7-58)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0.2+7-58, mixed mode, sharing)

If you see output similar to this, your JDK 23 installation is successful, and you’re ready to start developing Java applications.

Managing Multiple Java Versions on Debian

If you have multiple versions of Java installed (e.g., Java 11, 12, 13, and 23), you may need to switch between them depending on project requirements. Debian allows you to manage Java versions easily using update-alternatives.

Step 1: Check Installed Java Versions

To see a list of all installed Java versions, run:

sudo update-alternatives --config java

Example output:

There are 8 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

  Selection    Path                                            Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk-23.0.2-oracle-x64/bin/java      385892352 auto mode
  1            /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      1111      manual mode
  2            /usr/lib/jvm/java-15-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      1511      manual mode
  3            /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      1711      manual mode
  4            /usr/lib/jvm/java-18-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      1811      manual mode
  5            /usr/lib/jvm/java-19-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      1911      manual mode
  6            /usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk-amd64/bin/java      2111      manual mode
  7            /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java   1081      manual mode
* 8            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk-23.0.2-oracle-x64/bin/java      385892352 manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:

Step 2: Switch to Java 23

To switch to Java 23, enter the corresponding selection number (e.g., 3 in this example):

sudo update-alternatives --config java

Select the desired version and press Enter. In my case it was 8.

Step 3: Verify the Change

After switching versions, verify that the correct Java version is active:

java -version

Expected output:

java version "23.0.2" 2025-01-21
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 23.0.2+7-58)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0.2+7-58, mixed mode, sharing)

Switching the Java Compiler (javac)

If you also need to switch the Java compiler (javac), use:

sudo update-alternatives --config javac

This allows you to manage multiple Java versions efficiently, ensuring you use the right one for your projects.

There are 8 choices for the alternative javac (providing /usr/bin/javac).

  Selection    Path                                          Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk-23.0.2-oracle-x64/bin/javac   385892352 auto mode
  1            /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   1101      manual mode
  2            /usr/lib/jvm/java-15-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   1511      manual mode
  3            /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   1711      manual mode
  4            /usr/lib/jvm/java-18-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   1811      manual mode
  5            /usr/lib/jvm/java-19-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   1911      manual mode
  6            /usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac   2111      manual mode
  7            /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac    1081      manual mode
* 8            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk-23.0.2-oracle-x64/bin/javac   385892352 manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:

You can also check your JAVA_HOME to ensure everything is in order:

echo $JAVA_HOME                                                                                                                 
#Output should be: /usr/lib/jvm/jdk-23.0.2-oracle-x64

Conclusion

You have now successfully installed Java 23 on your Debian-based system and learned how to switch between different Java versions. This setup gives you flexibility when working on multiple Java projects that require different environments.

Start coding with the latest Java tools and enjoy enhanced performance and new features!

Anastasios Antoniadis
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