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javajarjavaw

Unable to run .jar files by double-clicking them on Windows 7

Running a .jar file in the command line works fine, but I am unable to execute .jar files on my PC by double-clicking them. What is interesting, the same .jar files successfully execute on my laptop with a double-click.

I included %JAVA_HOME\bin and JDK_HOME\bin in the PATH variable.
I have JAVA_HOME set to C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_121.
I have JDK_HOME   set to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_121.

For some period of time, the Java(TM) Platform SE binary disappeared from the Open with list, and I could not add it until I changed the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jar_auto_file\shell\open\command key in regedit.exe to the appropriate version:

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_121\bin\javaw.exe" "%1".


Here is a snapshot of Windows CMD with java -version entered on my PC:
java -version in Windows CMD


I tried the following methods, with no success:

  • reinstalling both JRE and JDK,
  • associating .jar files with C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_121\bin\javaw.exe,
  • using assoc .jar=jarfile and ftype jarfile="C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_121\bin\javaw.exe" -jar "%1" %* in command line,
  • creating a new system Environment Variable OPENDS_JAVA_ARGS and setting it to -jar.


Additional information:

  • I am using Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (Service Pack 1) with latest updates installed both on my PC and laptop.
  • Running .jar files by double-clicking them used to work on my PC, but suddently stopped working some time ago. I did not modify anything related to Java.
  • I have the newest version of both JRE and JDK (Java 8 version 121).
  • Of the .jar files I am trying to run, some are GUI Swing applications and some open the system console (if not already open) using Runtime.getRuntime().exec(String[]).


I have already tried fixing this problem with solutions on the following links (without success):


Notes:

  • I do not want to open .jar files with WinRAR.
  • I do not want to open .jar files by running java -jar jarfile.jar in cmd.exe.
  • I am not looking for a 3rd party application to run .jar files.


For now, I am using C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /k "java -jar C:\path\to\jarfile\Program.jar" as a shortcut location to run jar files, but I am not satisfied with this solution as this opens the console to run even Swing applications.

Solution

  • I managed to get Java(TM) Platform SE binary (javaw.exe) in the Open with list by matching paths in HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry entries:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\jar_auto_file\shell\open\command

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\jarfile\shell\open\command

    Seems like one of the entries pointed to an older version of Java. Now .jar files are finally showing icons, but still do not work on double-click.

    UPDATE: SOLUTION

    Delete the .jar and jar_auto_file entries from HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Classes and it should work. .jar files should open on double-click again.
    Make sure to backup these entries first by right-clicking the entry and choosing Export.

    Additional information can be found on superuser.