Should I remove old versions of Java from my computer?

We generally recommend you run the latest and only the latest version of Java available, as it delivers optimal performance, vulnerability fixes, and the newest features.

Running older versions of Java poses a significant security risk to your computer. To avoid these risks, Oracle suggests you remove all older versions of Java using the official Java removal tool.

But what if I need an older version of Java?

When you update Java on a computer, it is installed as a separate copy rather than upgrading, updating, or overwriting existing versions. It maintains previous major versions of the Java runtime because Java programs are dependent on one particular version of Java. We recommend you only install older versions of Java if they are required by other software that you'd like to use.