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We’ll show you how to Run JAR File on Windows 11/10 in this post. JAR files are similar to EXE files, except that they can’t run without a Java framework. Think of them as Windows EXE files that you can double-click to start the app. Windows OS support is used when you run an EXE file. In the same way, you need Java Framework to open JAVA or JAR files when you want to run them.
Java runtimes can put a whole program, including all of its classes and resources, in a single file called a JAR file. Also, the parts of a JAR file can be compressed, which means they can be downloaded faster and take up less room on your drive. A JAR is a package file format that is usually used to put together many Java class files and their related metadata and resources, such as text, images, etc., into one file for distribution.
JAR files are collections of files that include a description file that is specific to Java. Most of the time, they have the.jar file name and are built on the ZIP format. Windows 11 can run a wide range of file types, with or without the help of third-party programs. It not only lets you do a lot of things from your PC, but it also makes sure that you can use the full power of your PC. here are mentioned below are the ways how to Run JAR File on Windows.
Install Java on Your PC

Installing the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your computer is the easiest ways how to Open JAR File on Windows. Not only will you be able to open.jar files, but your machine will also be able to run Java apps.
- Download the latest JRE version, head to Oracle’s official download page.
- Scroll down to find the right installation package for your operating system. There are both online and offline installers. The online setup will simply download the necessary files during the installation while the offline version downloads all necessary files first and then will start the installation.
- Run the downloaded file to begin the installation of JRE on your computer. Accept the license agreement to get the setup underway. Usually, the installer will automatically remove older versions of JRE, though you can do that manually if needed.
- A completed installation allows you to run any Java app on your PC, including JAR files.
Open From Command Prompt
To be clear, this is not at all a different way to do things. To read JAR files from the command prompt, you still need Java to be installed on your computer, so this step comes first. Using the steps in the last part, you can install Java on your computer and then use the command prompt to open JAR files.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Type cmd in the search bar to locate the application.
- Enter the command java -jar C:pathtofile.jar , where “pathtofile” is the path of the file in question. You can copy the file to the C drive itself to make it easier, allowing you to enter just the file name.
- Upon execution of the command, Windows will use the JRE to interpret the JAR file. You should now see the Java application running.
- Unless the application you want is distributed as an executable Java file, you’ll need to execute all these steps each time you run a JAR file.
Extract as an Archive
JAR files are a fancy name for data archives. Even though.jar files are made for Java applications, all they do is compress and bundle them into a single package. This means that you can extract JAR files with any top file extraction tool, such as WinRAR or 7-Zip. This will let you see what’s inside the package, but if you want to run the program, you’ll still need the JRE.
- Download the 7-Zip installer to extract .jar files.
- Run the downloaded .exe file to install 7-Zip on your computer.
- Navigate to the directory containing the JAR file you wish to extract.
- Right-click on the file, select 7-Zip, and then select Extract All.
- The JAR file will be extracted into the directory.
Add a Third-Party JAR Executor
You can use a third-party JAR executor to run JAR files, and there are many other JAR executors on the market. So, you can download a third-party JAR processor to run the JAR file. After that, you’ll be able to open the JAR file.
What is JAR file?
Java Archive files are what JAR stands for. It is an archive file, as the name suggests. The archive file is a single file that has other files packed together to save room and reduce the chance of making a mistake, among other things. They are similar to ZIP files, but the only difference is that the Java Runtime Environment uses them. The manifest is what makes JAR files special.
A manifest is a special metafile that controls how JAR works and tells you about the files inside the file, such as compiled Java code, also called CLASS files, security certificates, picture files, audio files, etc. The JAR file can be read and run by the Runtime Environment as a single request. It could be a computer add-on, a game, a theme for an app, or something else. It can be used for a lot of different things on both mobile and PC. It also has thousands of files that are compressed so they are easy to move and share.