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Install Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK

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Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK (Azul Zulu) are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, Solaris, and containers. This page helps you pick the guide that matches your operating system and preferred package format.

Two distributions exist, and the installation steps differ between them:

Community Availability (CA) distributions are Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK that are free to download and use.

Subscriber Availability (SA) builds are tested, certified, and commercially supported Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK. These builds are exclusively available for Azul customers and provide additional benefits like security updates beyond community releases, extended platform and configuration support, priority access to critical patches, etc.

SA builds are available in two update types:

  • CPU (Critical Patch Updates): Contain fixes to security vulnerabilities and critical bug fixes only. CPU releases are based on prior-cycle PSU releases with security fixes applied, providing a low-risk deployment option for urgent security updates.

  • PSU (Patch Set Updates): Include all CPU fixes plus additional non-security bug fixes. PSU releases align with OpenJDK quarterly releases, incorporating both security fixes and general improvements.

Check the Release Notes for the latest version numbers of each type.

Choose an Installation Guide

Before you start, check Supported Platforms to confirm that your combination of operating system, CPU architecture, and Java version is supported.

Operating system Format Free distribution (Zulu CA) Supported distribution (Zulu SA)

Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives

DEB

Install Zulu CA DEB packages

Install Zulu SA DEB packages

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, and derivatives

RPM

Install Zulu CA RPM packages

Install Zulu SA RPM packages

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE

RPM

Install Zulu CA RPM packages

Install Zulu SA RPM packages

Alpine Linux

APK

Install Zulu CA APK packages

Install Zulu SA APK packages

Any Linux distribution

TAR.GZ

Install Zulu CA from TAR.GZ

Download with the Azul Metadata API

Windows

MSI, ZIP

Install Zulu on Windows

macOS

DMG, ZIP, TAR.GZ

Install Zulu on macOS

Containers

Docker image

Run Zulu CA in Docker

Run Zulu SA in Docker, or Run Zulu SA in a Chainguard container

Solaris

ZIP

Install Zulu on Solaris

Command line alternatives are also available:

  • SDKMAN! installs and switches between Azul Zulu versions on Linux and macOS.

  • Azul Metadata API returns download URLs for scripts and build pipelines.

  • Paketo Buildpacks add Azul Zulu to container images without a Dockerfile.

Install from the Azul Package Repositories

The most maintainable way to install Azul Zulu on Linux is the Azul package repository for your package manager. Add the repository once, and apt, yum, dnf, zypper, or apk handles Azul Zulu from then on. Every later update arrives together with the rest of your system packages.

Which repository you use depends on the distribution you run:

Package manager Distributions Free distribution (Zulu CA) Supported distribution (Zulu SA)

apt, apt-get

Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives

Zulu CA DEB packages

Zulu SA DEB packages

yum, dnf

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, CentOS Stream, Amazon Linux

Zulu CA RPM packages

Zulu SA RPM packages

zypper

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, openSUSE

Zulu CA RPM packages

Zulu SA RPM packages

apk

Alpine Linux

Zulu CA APK packages

Zulu SA APK packages

Each of those guides has the complete steps for its package format: the signing key, the repository definition, the package names, and the verification command.

Difference Between the CA and SA Repositories

The free and the supported distributions are served from different hosts, and the packages are named differently.

Free distribution (Zulu CA) Supported distribution (Zulu SA)

Repository host

repos.azul.com

sa.repos.azul.com

Access

Public, no credentials

Restricted, basic authentication with your FTP username and an access token

Package name

zulu21-jdk, zulu21-jre

zulu21

Guides

DEB, RPM, APK

DEB, RPM, APK

Signing keys are on repos.azul.com for DEB and RPM, and on cdn.azul.com for APK. Those hosts need to be reachable from the machine you install on. Create and revoke SA access tokens on access.azul.com, as described in the SA installation guides.

Architectures Covered by the Repositories

The Azul package repositories carry x86-64 and ARM64 packages. For any other architecture, such as ARM 32-bit, install a TAR.GZ package instead. Supported Platforms lists the architectures available per Java version.

Debian Derivatives: Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, Raspberry Pi OS, and Others

Distributions built on Debian or Ubuntu use the same Azul APT repository and the same DEB packages as their upstream distribution. Follow Installing Azul Zulu CA DEB-Packages on Linux, or Installing Azul Zulu SA DEB-Packages on Linux if you have an Azul subscription. No step changes. This includes Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, elementary OS, Zorin OS, Linux Lite, MX Linux, Kali Linux, Deepin, Raspberry Pi OS, and Devuan.

The Azul APT repository is not pinned to a distribution codename. A derivative that reports its own codename still resolves the stable main component correctly.

Note

Supported Platforms lists Debian, Ubuntu, and Raspberry Pi OS by name. Derivatives are not certified individually. The packages install and run on them, but an Azul support contract covers the upstream distribution.

On a 32-bit ARM board such as an older Raspberry Pi, the APT repository has no matching packages. Install a TAR.GZ package for the ARM 32-bit hard-float architecture instead.

Red Hat Derivatives: Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, and Amazon Linux

Distributions built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux use the same Azul RPM repository and the same RPM packages as Red Hat Enterprise Linux itself. Follow Installing Azul Zulu CA RPM-Packages on Linux, or Installing Azul Zulu SA RPM-Packages on Linux if you have an Azul subscription. This includes Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, CentOS Stream, Amazon Linux, and Fedora.

On Fedora and on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and later, replace yum with dnf in the commands. Both commands accept the same arguments.

Install Azul Zulu on ChromeOS

ChromeOS itself does not run Java applications, but the Linux development environment on ChromeOS does. That environment is a Debian container, so the Zulu CA DEB guide and the Zulu SA DEB guide both apply inside it.

  1. In ChromeOS, open Settings, go to Advanced > Developers, and turn on Linux development environment.

  2. Open the Terminal app that the setup adds to the launcher.

  3. Follow the DEB installation guide in that terminal.

  4. Run java -version to confirm the installation.

An ARM-based Chromebook needs the ARM64 packages, which the Azul APT repository provides. ChromeOS is not listed in Supported Platforms, so treat this combination as a development setup rather than a supported production platform.

Common Installation Questions

Every answer below points at the guide that has the full steps. Pick the CA guide for the free distribution, or the SA guide if you have an Azul subscription.

How do I install Java on Ubuntu?

Add the Azul APT repository and install the DEB package. See Zulu CA DEB packages or Zulu SA DEB packages.

How do I install the Zulu JDK on Debian?

The steps are the same as on Ubuntu. See Zulu CA DEB packages or Zulu SA DEB packages.

How do I install Azul Zulu on Linux Mint?

Use the DEB packages for the upstream Ubuntu or Debian release, as explained in Debian Derivatives.

How do I install OpenJDK on Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Add the Azul RPM repository and install the RPM package. See Zulu CA RPM packages or Zulu SA RPM packages.

How do I install Java on Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or Amazon Linux?

Use the RPM packages, as explained in Red Hat Derivatives.

How do I install Java on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server or openSUSE?

Use the RPM packages with zypper. See Zulu CA RPM packages or Zulu SA RPM packages.

How do I install Java on Alpine Linux in Docker?

Use the APK packages or an Alpine-based image. See Zulu CA APK packages, Zulu SA APK packages, or Running Azul Zulu CA in a Docker Container.

How do I install Azul Zulu on ChromeOS?

Turn on the Linux development environment and use the DEB packages, as explained in Install Azul Zulu on ChromeOS.

How do I install Java on Windows?

Run the MSI installer or unpack the ZIP archive. See Installing Azul Zulu on Windows.

How do I install the JDK on a Mac?

Run the DMG installer, or unpack the ZIP or TAR.GZ archive. Apple silicon and Intel builds are both available. See Installing Azul Zulu on macOS.

How do I install a specific Java version, such as Java 6, 7, 8, 11, 17, 21, 25, or 26?

Package names contain the major version. Replace the number in the package name that your guide uses, as listed in Product Names and Package Names. Azul Zulu is available for Java 6, 7, 8, 11, 17, 21, 25, and 26.

How do I install the JRE instead of the JDK?

In the free distribution, replace the -jdk suffix with -jre, for example zulu21-jre. See Product Names and Package Names.

How do I switch between installed Java versions?

See Managing Multiple Azul Zulu Versions on Linux, or use SDKMAN!.

How do I update Azul Zulu to the latest security release?

See Updating Azul Zulu.

How do I remove Azul Zulu?

See Uninstalling Azul Zulu on Linux.

Product Names and Package Names

The full product name is Azul Zulu Builds of OpenJDK. Shorter names refer to the same product: Azul Zulu, Zulu JDK, Zulu OpenJDK, Azul JDK, Azul OpenJDK, and Azul Core. The distribution is a certified, TCK-verified build of OpenJDK and a drop-in replacement for any other OpenJDK build.

Package and image names use a compact form of the product name:

Name Where it is used

zulu21-jdk, zulu21-jre

Free distribution (Zulu CA) package names in DEB, RPM, and APK, where 21 is the Java major version

zulu21

Supported distribution (Zulu SA) package name in DEB, RPM, and APK

zulu-repo

The RPM package that adds the Azul YUM repository for the free distribution

azul-zulu

Docker Official Images on Docker Hub

azul/zulu-openjdk

The Azul namespace on Docker Hub

zulu

The SDKMAN! vendor suffix, as in sdk install java <openjdk_version>-zulu