The error message “unsupported major.minor version (number)” usually occurs when trying to run a Java program that was compiled using a higher version of Java than the one currently installed on the system. This error message indicates that the version of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) running the program is not compatible with the version of the class file generated by the compiler.
To fix this error, you need to ensure that you have the correct version of Java installed and that the program is compiled with the correct version of the Java Development Kit (JDK).
Here are some steps to help you fix this error:
1. Check the version of Java installed on your system
To check the version of Java installed on your system, open a command prompt or terminal and type the following command:
java -version
This will display the version of Java installed on your system. Make sure that the version matches the version required by the program you are trying to run.
2. Check the version of the Java compiler used to compile the program
If you are compiling the program yourself, make sure that you are using the correct version of the Java compiler (JDK) for the version of Java installed on your system. You can check the version of the compiler by typing the following command:
Make sure that the version of the compiler matches the version of Java installed on your system.
3. Upgrade or downgrade Java version
If the version of Java installed on your system is not compatible with the program, you may need to upgrade or downgrade your Java version. You can download the latest version of Java from the official Java website or install an older version if required. Make sure to select the correct version of Java for your operating system.
4. Set the correct Java version in the environment
You may need to set the correct version of Java in the environment to ensure that the program uses the correct version of Java. You can do this by setting the JAVA_HOME environment variable to the location of the Java installation directory. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Control Panel on Windows or System Preferences on Mac.
- Go to System and Security > System > Advanced system settings (on Windows) or select Advanced tab > Environment Variables (on Mac)
- Click on “Environment Variables”
- Under “System Variables”, click “New”
- Set the variable name as JAVA_HOME
- Set the variable value to the location of the Java installation directory (e.g. C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_281)
5. Recompile the program
Once you have made the necessary changes to your system, recompile the program using the correct version of the Java compiler. This should generate a class file that is compatible with the version of Java installed on your system.
6. Run the program
Finally, run the program again to ensure that it is now working as expected.
In conclusion, the “unsupported major.minor version (number)” error message is usually caused by a version incompatibility between the Java Virtual Machine and the class file generated by the compiler. To fix this error, you need to ensure that you have the correct version of Java installed, set the correct Java version in the environment, and recompile the program using the correct version of the Java compiler.
