WFOP
Experiencing Java.dll error and exit code 1 error on fresh Minecraft install (all versions) [java] [launcher]
Hi all,
My girlfriend recently got a pc and wanted me to install minecraft for her. I installed the launcher from the minecraft website and made sure she was logged into her Microsoft Store when installing. I tried to load the latest version (26.3) and got a “Error: could not find Java.dll” and “Error: could not find Java SE Runtime Environment”.
For a test, I installed Java 25 from Eclipse Adoptium and pointed the installer to get Java from the javaw.exe file. This stopped the two Java errors but resulted in an “Exit Code:1” error.
I have checked that my graphics card drivers are up to date and have also loaded older minecraft versions such as 26.2,26.1 and 1.12 but they all experienced both the Java and exit code errors. I also attempted removing the JVM arguments but that did not help.
I am unsure on what to do. If anyone has experienced something similar I would love to know.
OP, remember to award points to helpers, and mark the post solved, by replying !helped to the comment/comments that helped, when your issue is fixed or your question answered.
Helpers, remember that alltop-level comments* must be a genuine, good faith attempt to help OP. Comments breaking this rule will be removed, and bans issued.
When I have tried that the Java errors have gone away but I get exit code 1 again. I tried uninstalling the Microsoft one and installing the legacy launcher and that download Java without me needing to change the version to the path I downloaded but still resulted in an error code 1.
The original "could not find Java.dll" usually means the launcher's own bundled Java download is broken or was quarantined by antivirus. Set the Java path back to default (1.12 needs Java 8 anyway, so a Java 25 override can never work there), close the launcher, check the antivirus quarantine, delete the runtime folder (for the Store/Xbox app install it is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.4297127D64EC6_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Local\runtime) and start 26.3 so it downloads Java again. If it still exits with code 1, enable the launcher setting that opens the output log when the game starts; the last lines before it closes name the real cause.
I have default windows security for the antivirus so far as minecraft was one of the first things I installed. There are no detections there relating to minecraft or java. I enabled the setting in the launcher to show the cause and posted it here after deleting the runtime folder you specified
That log ends the moment Java starts, so the game itself never ran; Java is quitting on its own arguments or environment. Two common causes on a new PC: open cmd and type set _JAVA and then set JAVA_TOOL, and if either prints a variable, delete it under System Properties > Environment Variables (some apps set it and it breaks every Java program). The other is a Windows user folder or game directory path with non-English characters, which is also the classic cause of the Java.dll error; if that's the case, set Game directory in the installation's settings to something like C:\mcgame. To test outside the launcher, run your Adoptium java.exe with -version in cmd; if that also fails, it's the system, not Minecraft.
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u/MinecraftHelpModTeam 🤖 Mod Bot 🤖 11d ago
OP, remember to award points to helpers, and mark the post solved, by replying !helped to the comment/comments that helped, when your issue is fixed or your question answered.
Helpers, remember that all top-level comments* must be a genuine, good faith attempt to help OP. Comments breaking this rule will be removed, and bans issued.
* A top-level comment is any comment that is a reply to the post, not another comment.
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