Troubleshoot Mac: Eclipse Installation Asks for Java 1.6

**Problem: ** I was trying to install Eclipse, but my machine didn’t have Java installed so, naturally, I was prompted to install Java. However, in the popup window, it suggested I install Java 1.6 when I knew that (at the time) the current version was 1.8. So smart-me went to Oracle’s site and downloaded and installed the latest version of Java.

After completing the installation and attempting to install Eclipse once more, I got the same pop up saying I needed to install Java 1.6. What’s the deal here? I already have Java installed at a version higher than the requested version, shouldn’t that mean Eclipse will just work?

**Solution: **It seems Macs are weird. In order to make the later versions of Java work, it looks like you may have to first install a deprecated version. Here’s how I finally got Eclipse installed:

• I followed the link to the Java 1.6 download in the help pop-up  that appeared when trying to install Eclipse
• I then installed the downloaded Java configuration.
• After installation, I attempted to install Eclipse. When I did that, it said Eclipse required Java 1.7 or higher – which I thought was odd considering it didn’t work when I had 1.8 installed.
• So I went to Oracle’s site and found the latest Java download, downloaded it, and installed it.
• After the installation of the latest Java download, I once again opened the Eclipse install and… Voila! Eclipse is installed.