docker-minecraft-server/docs/versions/java.md

Running Minecraft server on different Java version

!!! note

For Forge versions less than 1.18, you _must_ use the `java8-multiarch` (or other java8) image tag.

In general, if you see the following line in a server startup failure, then it means you need to be using Java 8 instead of the latest image Java version:

```
Caused by: java.lang.ClassCastException: class jdk.internal.loader.ClassLoaders$AppClassLoader 
   cannot be cast to class java.net.URLClassLoader
```

When using the image itzg/minecraft-server without a tag, the latest image tag is implied from the table below. To use a different version of Java, please use an alternate tag to run your Minecraft server container. The stable tag is similar to latest; however, it tracks the most recent repository release/tag.

Tag name	Java version	Linux	JVM Type	Architecture
latest	17	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64,armv7
stable	17	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64,armv7
java8	8	Alpine	Hotspot	amd64
java8-jdk	8	Ubuntu	Hotspot+JDK	amd64
java8-multiarch	8	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64,armv7
java8-openj9	8	Debian	OpenJ9	amd64
java8-graalvm-ce	8	Oracle	GraalVM CE	amd64
java11	11	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64,armv7
java11-jdk	11	Ubuntu	Hotspot+JDK	amd64,arm64,armv7
java11-openj9	11	Debian	OpenJ9	amd64
java17	17	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64,armv7
java17-jdk	17	Ubuntu	Hotspot+JDK	amd64,arm64,armv7
java17-openj9	17	Debian	OpenJ9	amd64
java17-graalvm	17	Oracle	Oracle GraalVM	amd64,arm64
java17-alpine	17	Alpine	Hotspot	amd64
java21-alpine	21	Alpine	Hotspot	amd64
java21	21	Ubuntu	Hotspot	amd64,arm64
java21-graalvm	21	Oracle	Oracle GraalVM	amd64,arm64

For example, to use Java version 8 on any supported architecture:

docker run --name mc itzg/minecraft-server:java8-multiarch

!!! note

Keep in mind that some versions of Minecraft server, such as Forge before 1.17, can't work on the newest versions of Java. Instead, one of the Java 8 images should be used. Also, FORGE doesn't support openj9 JVM implementation.

Some versions of vanilla Minecraft, such as 1.10, also do not run correctly with Java 17. If in doubt, use `java8-multiarch` for any version less than 1.17.

Deprecated Image Tags

The following image tags have been deprecated and are no longer receiving updates:

• java19
• adopt13
• adopt14
• adopt15
• openj9-nightly
• multiarch-latest
• java16/java16-openj9
• java17-graalvm-ce
• java20-graalvm, java20, java20-alpine