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There is no worldwide date when Java 11 replaced Java 8 as the default. In New Relic’s production-application data, Java 11 overtook Java 8 by 2022. But New Relic’s 2024 snapshot showed Java 17 ahead of both, while Java 8 remained in use. “Default” depends on whether you mean the most commonly observed runtime, a vendor’s recommended release, or the version an organization supports.
When did Java 11 overtake Java 8?
Java 11 first moved ahead of Java 8 in New Relic’s reported production applications in its 2022 data. Its lead grew in the 2023 report. The 2024 snapshot then showed Java 17 as the most-used of the three versions shown.
| New Relic data year | Java 8 | Java 11 | Java 17 | What the figures show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 baseline, recounted in New Relic’s 2022 report | 84.48% | 11.11% | Not stated | Java 8 was far more common than Java 11 in this baseline. |
| 2022 | 46.45% | 48.44% | Not stated | Java 11 edged past Java 8. |
| 2023 | 32.99% | 56.06% | Not stated | Java 11’s lead over Java 8 widened. |
| 2024 snapshot | 28.8% | 32.9% | 35.4% | Java 17 led the three versions shown. |
These percentages describe applications reporting to New Relic, not a census of all Java deployments or a global market-share measurement. They show a change in that observed population, not a date on which every company—or Java ecosystem—switched runtimes.
What does “the default Java” mean?
The phrase can refer to several different things, and they do not necessarily point to the same version:
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Most common in production: New Relic’s figures indicate that Java 11 passed Java 8 in its reporting population by 2022, while its 2024 snapshot put Java 17 ahead.
- Recommended by a vendor: Vendors publish support and licensing terms for their own distributions. Those terms do not set a universal date when users must stop running Java 8.
- Required by a framework or platform: An application’s minimum runtime may depend on the framework, libraries, build tools, or hosting environment it uses.
- Standardized by an organization: A company may select a version for its own supported builds and deployments even while other versions remain common elsewhere.
New Relic characterized Java 11 as “the new standard” in 2022. That is a description of its observed adoption trend, not an official Java-wide change in default or a mandatory upgrade deadline.
Is Java 8 still in use?
Yes. In New Relic’s 2024 snapshot, Java 8 accounted for 28.8% of the versions listed, alongside Java 11 at 32.9% and Java 17 at 35.4%. That is evidence of continued use in the applications reporting to New Relic; it does not establish the status of every Java 8 deployment.
Rank #2
Whether a particular Java 8 installation can continue safely and acceptably depends on its distribution, support arrangement, security-update access, and application environment. Oracle publishes support and licensing terms rather than a single date that forces all Java users off version 8. Check the terms that apply to the exact JDK distribution and use case before making a lifecycle decision.
Should you migrate to Java 11, 17, or 21?
Do not pick Java 11 simply because it was the first version in New Relic’s data to pass Java 8. The 2024 snapshot showed Java 17 ahead of Java 11, so Java 11 is not necessarily the right endpoint for a new migration. Compare the target versions your vendor, framework, dependencies, and deployment platform actually support.
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- Vendor and license: Confirm the distribution you plan to run, its applicable licensing terms, and whether your organization will need paid support or updates.
- Support and security updates: Establish how long the chosen vendor will provide updates under the terms that apply to you.
- Compatibility: Check framework, library, build-tool, and runtime support for the target. Oracle’s migration guide documents removals and behavior changes, including Java deployment technologies deprecated in JDK 9 and removed in JDK 11.
- Migration effort: Microsoft’s OpenJDK guidance warns that moving a non-trivial application from Java 8 to Java 11 can require significant work.
- Upgrade path: Compare the effort of going through Java 11 with moving directly to a newer supported LTS release. A direct move can avoid scheduling two migrations, but only if the application and its dependencies are compatible and the required changes can be tested.
- Operations: Include build images, CI pipelines, deployment configuration, monitoring, and rollback plans in the decision—not just whether the source code compiles.
What can make a Java 8-to-11 migration difficult?
A version change can affect more than the language syntax. Oracle’s JDK migration documentation records removed tools and components, changes to deployment technology, security-update considerations, and behavior changes across releases. Microsoft’s warning about non-trivial applications is a useful reminder that migration scope depends on the application, not just the version numbers.
Inventory the application and its dependencies
Identify the JDK distribution and version used in development, CI, test, and production. List frameworks, libraries, build tools, application servers, and external components; verify their supported runtime ranges before choosing a target.
Rank #4
Check for removed features and runtime assumptions
Review Oracle’s migration guide for removed tools and components and changes that affect the application. In particular, account for deployment technology that was deprecated in JDK 9 and removed in JDK 11. Test code that relies on internal APIs or reflective access rather than assuming it will behave unchanged.
Update the build and deployment path
Update compiler and build-tool configuration, CI workers, container or machine images, and production launch settings as needed. Make sure test and production environments use the intended JDK rather than silently picking up an older installed runtime.
Best Value
Test and roll out deliberately
Run automated tests on the target JDK, add checks for the application’s important production behavior, and compare operational signals during a controlled rollout. Keep a rollback path until the new runtime has proved stable in the environments that matter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide whether Java 11 is the right target
Java 11 can be a sensible target when the application and its dependencies support it and the team’s chosen vendor offers suitable lifecycle terms. It is not automatically the best destination for every Java 8 application: if a newer LTS release is supported by the full stack, skipping an intermediate migration may be worth evaluating. Conversely, the possibility of skipping a version does not remove the need to check compatibility or budget for testing.
Make the decision against the organization’s actual deployment and support requirements. Adoption figures can provide context, but they cannot establish which JDK a specific application should run.
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