# Can I delete JDKs in ~/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/jvm-jdks
- Item: Java JDKs (user)
- Location: `~/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines` (items inside)
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: yes
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

JDKs downloaded from inside IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio (Project Structure › SDKs › Download JDK) are installed per user in `~/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines`. JDKs installed with an official installer go to `/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines` instead. Each one typically takes 200 to 400 MB.

## What happens if you delete it?

The IDE can download the same JDK again in a minute, but nothing does it automatically. Projects configured to use a removed JDK show an error until you pick another one.

## How to remove it properly

Run `/usr/libexec/java_home -V` in Terminal to list the installed JDKs, check which ones your projects use (Project Structure › SDKs in the IDE), then quit the IDE and move the unused `.jdk` folders to the Trash.