Minecraft displays “A JNI error has occurred” when your computer has an outdated Java version or an incorrect Java system path variable. To fix it, download and install the latest version of Java and ensure that your Java system path variable is correct.
Minecraft was released over a decade ago and took the entire gaming community by storm. Hundreds and thousands of players enjoy the blocky worlds of Minecraft every day.
Like many other video game titles, Minecraft has its fair share of bugs and glitches. In this article, we talk about “A JNI error has occurred“, an error text that has been haunting many Minecrafters.
At first, the JNI error might seem intimidating to players unaware of this error and why it is happening. But do not worry as this error is pretty easy to fix.
In just a few steps, players will be able to fix their game or server and bypass the error “A JNI error has occurred, please check your installation and try again.”
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What is “A JNI error has occurred” in Minecraft
JNI error happens only in the Java Edition of Minecraft, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. This error occurs to players when opening the Minecraft launcher or joining a server. Due to this error, many players fail to play in their cherished Minecraft worlds.
Minecraft fails to launch when a JNI error occurs, forcing the game to crash and close. Let us understand why JNI error occurs in Minecraft, specifically when starting a server.
Why does Minecraft display the JNI error when setting up a server?
When a major Minecraft update comes, the game requires players to use the latest version or a version higher than the currently installed. Having an older version of Java or missing Java libraries can trigger Java Native Interface (JNI) errors. The JNI error can also occur if Java’s path variable is incorrect and files.
Minecraft servers moving from version 1.17 to a higher version can face the JNI error as Mojang started using Java 16 from the version 1.18 update.
Because of the JNI error, the server won’t start, and therefore server members won’t be able to join. For hosts, they will see the JNI error when creating a Minecraft server.
Updating Java to the latest version on the server host system will most probably fix the JNI error.
“A JNI error has occurred” in Minecraft usually happens because of one of these either two reasons:
- Outdated Java version: Minecraft Java Edition is entirely based on Java programming language and requires Java to run properly. PCs with an outdated version of Java might be facing the JNI error.
- Wrong path variable: During the installation of Java, the installer automatically created a system path variable. If the path is set to the wrong location, players will begin to face errors like JNI error.
How to Fix the Minecraft JNI error bug
1. Update Java
In most cases, installing the latest version of Java fixes JNI errors. It is the simplest and easiest way to fix Minecraft JNI errors.
Follow these steps to install the latest Java version on your PC:
1. Download the latest version of Java from Oracle’s website
Click here to visit the official download page of Java. Players can download the latest version of Java for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
This tutorial is for Windows, but players can follow similar steps for macOS and Linux. Be sure to download the correct installation file based on your architecture.
2. Open the installer and go through the installation process.
After downloading the Java installer, please open it and go through the steps to install the latest version of Java. The installation process is pretty simple and straightforward. Players are recommended to install Java in the default directory.
Once the installation process is over, close the installer and cheers! You have successfully installed the latest Java version. Try opening the Minecraft launcher and playing the game to see if the JNI error still happens or not.
2. Make sure the Java system path variable is correct
If you are already on the latest version of Java and still facing the JNI error, the reason might be a corrupted path variable.
Follow these steps to delete the corrupted variable:
- Press Win + R and enter “sysdm.cpl” to open system properties (without quotes).
- Go to the Advanced tab and click on the Environmental Variables button.
- Under System variables, click on the path and then the Edit button.
- Delete the path with the Java variable.
After deleting the Java path variable, install the latest version of Java and use the default folder locations during the installation process.
With a completely new installation, the Java system path variable will now be functional again. Now, you can enjoy Minecraft once again without any annoying JNI errors.
