[java] Eclipse does not start when I run the exe?

When I run the Eclipse.exe within the given folder, it will not start. The Eclipse splash screen will appear for a split second then close. There are no errors.

I've tried practically everything. Updating JDK and JRE: I installed JRE 7 and JDK 1.7.0_40. Both 64 bit, and they are both in the (x86) folder. I've tried re-installing them. And re-downloading Eclipse. Same result every time. I've added the VM to the config, still nothing.

I use Windows 7 and the standard Eclipse for Java IDE.

This question is related to java eclipse

The answer is


Kindly check the following:

1) Your eclipse version,whether it is compatible with what version of java. Have that.

2)Check the operating system specific BIT requirements either 32/64 with eclipse version.

3)Usually java will be installed in ProgramFiles for Java if both OS & Java are 64 bit else it will be in ProgramFiles(x86) if java is 32bit and OS is 64Bit.

4)Last but not least check the environment variables for Java whether it meets the requirements of your eclipse version.

Hope this Helps you!


In my case the problem was not having a proper javabin folder in the PATH variable.

Open the PATH variable and make sure it points to a proper JRE bin folder.


did not have to uninstall Java JDK - just ran installer over my existing install. Not sure what was wrong but this fixed my issue with Eclipse not starting.


Same problem happened with me . I started eclipse after many days , but it was not starting.just eclipse window flashing , no error nothing. After many trials , i just re-installed my jdk . It worked for me, i think some of my java files were missing or damaged . Try by reinstalling your jdk version it may work as it worked for me.


What system you have - 32-bit or 64-bit? You say it was installed into (x86) folder. But normally (x86) is a default for the 32-bit JDK, not for 64-bit JDK. If you used defaults, then it seems that you installed 32-bit JDK instead of 64-bit.


Just simply uninstall java 8 update 45, it worked for me. Also you might need to delete the metadata of your workspace as I have first deleted the metadata and then uninstalled java 8 update 45.


In my case I did see the splash screen hanging at

loading org.eclipse.egit.ui

So I deleted everything starting with org.eclipse.egit within the eclipse\plugin folder

Eclipse splash screen hanging


I had a similar problem with Eclipse mars. It suddenly over the weekend stopped working and if you ran it from a command window (Windows x64) it would flash up a line or two and then stop.

I installed Eclipse neon yesterday and it worked, but today it stopped working and went wrong in the same way.

Just now I installed the JDK from here: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

I installed version 8u101 and then neon started. I have not changed eclipse.ini (although I had a look at it) nor have I deleted the plugins (I renamed the folder and found that this had no effect).

Hence I think this difficult to work out problem relates to the JDK/JRE. It would be nice if Eclipse gave a bit more information to go on, but such is life.


Reinstalling eclipse (newer version) did the trick for me.


The same thing was happening for me. All I had to do was uninstalled Java Update 8


go to : "C:\workspace.metadata.plugins\org.eclipse.e4.workbench"

if already you save backup file "workbench.xmi" replace it else delete this.


Try to install Eclipse into a folder without spaces.


I tried everything except this. After rigorous trials,Uninstalling java 8 update 25 helped me.


I have fixed it by deleting the .metadata/.lock file.


I looked online and found a person who had a similar problem.

It says on the forum

"You might need to download JRE 64 bit version"

But again, it depends on what OS you're using as well.


Go to your Workspace folder then go to Metadata > plugins. Delete everything from this folder. Then It will work.


The actual issue should be with the OS architecture, the JDK (32bit or 64 bit) installed and the eclipse type u installed.

Bring them in sync, things would work completely fine.

Just have a check at the Eventlog as mentioned by @Viji Ideally u should encounter error like RADAR_PRE_LEAK_64


Same thing happened to me.

I was using dual monitor and eclipse opened on my other screen, behind a full-screen window.


eclipse.exe -clean -clearPersistedState

All you have to do is go the dir where your eclipse.exe is there and run the above command


  1. Press Win key + X
  2. click 'System' link from popup menu
  3. click advance setting link (Left panel) in opened 'System setting' window (Control Panel\System and Security\System)
  4. Now a window named 'System property' will be open, select 'advance' tab and click on environmental variables
  5. Select path variable from 'System Variable' list section. and click edit
  6. click new button on newly opened window and paste your Jre folder link(Jre in JDK) click okey , okey , okey
  7. re run your program :p

This also happened to me. I tried some of the solutions above but couldn't get it done. What i have to do was reinstall the JRE/JDK again and it worked!

When i executed the command "java-version" in cmd, i was getting an error trying to load a class and then when i reinstalled JRE/JDK, it worked all good!


re install your java. First check your OS version.


In System Environment variables , add jdk path in the BEGINNING of the Path

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I just had this issue in Eclipse Neon. After trying all these suggestions, it turned out that in my case the problem was improperly configured path variables.

There is a pretty good answer already posted here which explains it, but I'll summarize it in this answer for convenience.

You will need to go into your User Environment Variables panel and modify the following values:

  • JAVA_HOME : C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_102
  • JDK_HOME : %JAVA_HOME%
  • JRE_HOME : %JAVA_HOME%\jre
  • CLASSPATH : .;%JAVA_HOME%\lib;%JAVA_HOME%\jre\lib
  • PATH : your-unique-entries;%JAVA_HOME%\bin (make sure that the longish your-unique-entries does not contain any other references to another Java installation folder.

If its a Java version problem, you can edit the eclipse.ini file and assign the compatible version to the application through adding these lines:

windows example:

-vm
C:\jdk1.7.0_21\bin\javaw.exe 

for more information: https://wiki.eclipse.org/Eclipse.ini


If eclipse (none of them) doesn't launch at all and there's not even an error message, uninstall Java 8 Updater and reinstall Java 8 from scratch, this should work. Have luck!