How to Add File/Folder Access Permissions for Java in macOS Catalina

2020-01-19 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Apple, Apple macOS, Apple macOS Catalina, command line, How-To, Java, security, Terminal.app

See also How to Add File/Folder Access Permissions in macOS Catalina.

With macOS, Java can be in various places.

When installing a JDK*, it goes into /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines. For example, here are two JDKs installed:

diglloyd-MacPro:MPG lloyd$ ls -1 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
jdk-13.0.2.jdk
openjdk-13.0.2.jdk

* Using a JDK is prefered, because separate Java runtimes are poorly supported, and are generally old, like Java 8

Adding permissions for Java in macOS Catalina

Adding permissions for Java (e.g., the 'java' executable) is done the same way as for any other application. The only confusing thing is what to add, where.

For a JDK installed in /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines, the actual binary 'java' application is found several levels down:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-13.0.2.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java

So that’s what needs to be added, as shown below.

Location of java executable on macOS for installed JDK

Giving full disk access to an application in System Preferences => Security & Privacy