How to install OpenJDK on Red Hat, CentOS, and Fedora

InstallingOpenJDKfrom the Red Hat-⁠family repositories gives a server or workstation theJDKtools needed to compile and runJavacode without a manual archive install. The package-⁠manager path keeps the compiler, runtime, security updates, and system-⁠wide defaults under the operating systems control.The currentOpenJDK 21development package is java-⁠21-⁠openjdk-⁠devel onRHELand compatiblednfbased distributions. It installs javac, java, and supporting development tools under/usr/lib/jvmwhile leaving package updates to the enabledAppStreamor distribution repositories.Choose theJDKwhen the host builds code, runs build tools that need javac, or needs development utilities such as jar and javadoc. Runtime-⁠only hosts can use the matchingJREpackage instead, and hosts with more than one majorJavarelease should usealternativesonly after the required packages are installed.Related: How to install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on Red Hat, CentOS Stream, and FedoraRelated: How to set JAVA_HOME on LinuxRelated: How to check the installed Java version on LinuxSteps to install OpenJDK on Red Hat, CentOS, and Fedora:Open a terminal with sudo privileges.Confirm that theOpenJDK 21development package is available from the enabled repositories.$ dnf search --all java-21-openjdk-devel Name Exactly Matched: java-21-openjdk-devel java-21-openjdk-devel.x86_64 : OpenJDK 21 Development EnvironmentOn subscribedRHELhosts, make sure the standardAppStreamrepository is enabled before installing packages.CentOS Stream,Rocky Linux,AlmaLinux, andFedorause their equivalent enableddnfrepositories.Install theOpenJDK 21 JDKpackage.$ sudo dnf install --assumeyes java-21-openjdk-devel Dependencies resolved. Package Arch Version Repository Size Installing: java-21-openjdk-devel x86_64 1:21.0.11.0.10-2.el9 appstream 5.0 M Installing dependencies: java-21-openjdk x86_64 1:21.0.11.0.10-2.el9 appstream 401 k java-21-openjdk-headless x86_64 1:21.0.11.0.10-2.el9 appstream 49 M Transaction Summary Install 3 Packages ##### snipped ##### Complete!Usejava-⁠17-⁠openjdk-⁠devel,java-⁠11-⁠openjdk-⁠devel, orjava-⁠1.8.0-⁠openjdk-⁠develonly when an application specifically requires that major version. NewerFedorareleases can also provide newer non-⁠LTS packages.Verify that the compiler is installed.$ javac -version javac 21.0.11Verify that the runtime uses the installedOpenJDKbuild.$ java -version openjdk version 21.0.11 2026-04-21 LTS OpenJDK Runtime Environment (Red_Hat-21.0.11.0.10-1) (build 21.0.1110-LTS) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (Red_Hat-21.0.11.0.10-1) (build 21.0.1110-LTS, mixed mode, sharing)Check the installed package records if the binary versions do not match what you expected.$ dnf list installed java-21-openjdk-devel java-21-openjdk Installed Packages java-21-openjdk.x86_64 1:21.0.11.0.10-2.el9 appstream java-21-openjdk-devel.x86_64 1:21.0.11.0.10-2.el9 appstreamSelect the defaultJavaruntime when multiple major versions are installed.$ sudo alternatives --config javaThealternativesprompt appears only when more than one provider is installed. Repeat withsudo alternatives --config javacif the compiler default also needs to change.