How to Uninstall Java

The best and easiest way to uninstall Java from a Windows system is through the Windows built-in uninstaller, Add or Remove Programs.

How to uninstall Java

For Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Control Panel to open its corresponding window.
  4. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
  5. Locate and select Java in the currently installed programs list.
  6. Click Remove.

For Windows 2007 and Windows Vista

  1. Click the Windows logo in your taskbar.
  2. Click the Start Search box, type Add or Remove Programs, and then press Enter.
  3. Locate and select Java in the currently installed programs list.
  4. Click Uninstall.
  5. Click Yes if a User Account Dialog box appears.

Java uninstall problems

Issue

After you uninstall Java from your computer, the Java icon still appears in the currently installed programs list in the Add or Remove Programs window. This issue applies to:

Java: 1.4.2_xx, 1.3.0_xx, 1.3.1_xx, 1.4.0_xx, 1.4.1_xx
Platform(s): Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows ME, Windows 98
Browser(s): All browsers

Cause

The issue occurs because some registry entries related to java 1.4.x still stay put in the registry even after the program is uninstalled.

Solution

You can resolve the issue by using either of the following methods:

Method 1 – Run a registry scan using a reliable registry cleaning software

Download and install RegGenie, which is a top-rated registry cleaner. Run a registry scan using RegGenie after you uninstall Java. RegGenie uses advanced algorithms to remove all the redundant entries, including those that belong to Java, from your registry.

After the scan is complete, restart your computer. Open Add or Remove Programs; the Java icon should no longer be there.

Method 2 – Manually delete the Java registry entry

Note: The steps illustrated below require you to edit the registry. Please proceed only if you are comfortable with editing the registry and perform the steps exactly as they are described here. Back up the registry before editing it and use the File>Export command to perform a registry backup.

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press Enter.
  3. Navigate to the following registry entry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/
    Windows/CurrentVersion/Uninstall 
  4. Under Uninstall entry, click all the registry sub-entries one by one till you find DisplayName under the Value Name field with Value Data as Java 2. e.g. Java 2 SDK, SE v1.4.1_02 in the right-pane.
  5. Right-click this registry entry and click Delete.
  6. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.
  7. Close the Registry Editor window.
  8. Restart your computer.

In some cases, you may find that Java is installed on your computer, but that its icon does not appear in the Add or Remove Programs window, or that after you select Java in Add or Remove Programs and click Remove or Uninstall, nothing happens. In such cases, you may use a reliable uninstaller program such as Perfect Uninstaller to forcefully uninstall Java from your computer.