Java – How to Fix java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError Error?

November 12, 2016 by Ajitesh Kumar · Leave a comment
This article represents tips on how to fix Java error such as UnsupportedClassVersionError. Please feel free to comment/suggest if I missed to mention one or more important points. Also, sorry for the typos.
How to Reproduce the Error?
  • Set the JAVA_HOME with one version of Java. And, include “bin” of different Java version in PATH variable.
  • Compile the class, say, HelloWorld.java with “javac” command
  • Start the JVM with following class: “java HelloWorld”

With above, you could see error such as following:

java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: HelloWorld : Unsupported major.minor ver
sion 52.0
        at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
        at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
        at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
        at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
        at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(Unknown Source)
        at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
        at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
        at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
        at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
        at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
        at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
        at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
        at sun.launcher.LauncherHelper.checkAndLoadMain(Unknown Source)

I set the JAVA_HOME for jdk 8.* and set the jdk7.* in PATH.

How to Fix the java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError?

Make sure that same version is set as JAVA_HOME as included in PATH variable (%JAVA_HOME%/bin)

 

Ajitesh Kumar
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Ajitesh Kumar

I have been recently working in the area of Data analytics including Data Science and Machine Learning / Deep Learning. I am also passionate about different technologies including programming languages such as Java/JEE, Javascript, Python, R, Julia, etc, and technologies such as Blockchain, mobile computing, cloud-native technologies, application security, cloud computing platforms, big data, etc. I would love to connect with you on Linkedin. Check out my latest book titled as First Principles Thinking: Building winning products using first principles thinking.
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