Error:java: invalid source release: 8 in Intellij. What does it mean?

Question

I'm trying to compile some code that I have in IntelliJ Ultimate 13.1.4, but I get the following error, and I have no idea what it means:

Information:Using javac 1.7.0_55 to compile java sources
Information:java: Errors occurred while compiling module 'Example'
Information:Compilation completed with 1 error and 0 warnings in 3 sec
Information:1 error
Information:0 warnings
Error:java: invalid source release: 8

My guess is that it's something related to Java 8 vs Java 7, but I have no idea what specifically. I've tried to Google around for this message, but they either talk about javac or target release, so it doesn't exactly seem to apply.

What version of Java is installed? What JRE/JDK did you point intellij to, in the IDE settings? — nanofarad
– nanofarad, Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 20:41
Probably project settings. Check the JDK you're pointing to and the language level you asked for. — duffymo
– duffymo, Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 20:43
@duffymo you were right, it was pointing to 8. I didnt realize that was a setting. — David says Reinstate Monica
– David says Reinstate Monica, Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 21:02
possible duplicate of Unable to compile using Java 1.7 in Jetbrains Intellij after moving from 1.6 to 1.7 (maven based project) — Victor Sergienko
– Victor Sergienko, Commented Dec 28, 2014 at 10:38

patstuart · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-27 20:21:30Z

944

+50

I had the same issue when "downgrading" a project from Java 8 to Java 6. The reason was that it was not changed at all places in IntelliJ.

In IntelliJ 13.1.4 I had to change Java and SDK version on the following places not to get this error:

File -> Project Structure -> Project Settings
File -> Project Structure -> Module Settings -> Tab: Sources: Language Level
File -> Project Structure -> Module Settings -> Tab: Dependencies: Module SDK
File -> Settings -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler -> Target bytecode version

The last bullet was the one that was not updated in my case. Once I changed this, the error disappeared.

edited Apr 27, 2023 at 20:21

patstuart

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answered Sep 24, 2014 at 6:02

Andreas Lundgren

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16 Comments

bitoiu Over a year ago

the one killing me was this one: File -> Settings -> Compiler -> Java Compiler -> Target bytecode version . Thanks.

Emil Over a year ago

I was running into this issue as well, but none of the above worked. I had to do IntelliJ IDEA -> Preferences... -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Build Tools -> Gradle -> Gradle JVM, in case anyone is running into this issue whilst using Gradle.

Mia Over a year ago

Source: Language Level change to 7 - Diamonds, ARM, multi-catch etc. for IDEA 15

iusting Over a year ago

This should be the accepted answer. As a small heads-up, in IntelliJ IDEA 15, point 4 has moved to Preferences -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler.

jordanpg Over a year ago

There is also a JRE selection in some run/debug configurations. For example, Tomcat run/debug configs have a "JRE" selector that can cause this error.

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Newd · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-06 13:35:37Z

19

Check your pom.xml first (if you have one)
Check your module's JDK dependancy. Make sure that it is 1.8
To do this,go to Project Structure -> SDK's
Add the path to where you have stored 1.8 (jdk1.8.0_45.jdk in my case)
Apply the changes
Now, go to Project Structure ->Modules
Change the Module SDK to 1.8
Apply the changes

Voila! You're done

edited Jul 6, 2015 at 13:35

Newd

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answered Jul 6, 2015 at 12:32

Yash Bajaj

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Comments

Java_Waldi · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-05 07:50:03Z

10

For Gradle users having this issues, if nothing above helps this is what solved my problem - apply this declarations in your build.gradle files:

targetCompatibility = 1.6 //or 1.7;1.8 and so on
sourceCompatibility = 1.6 //or 1.7;1.8 and so on

Problem solved!

answered Apr 5, 2016 at 7:50

Java_Waldi

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Comments

Haroldo Gondim · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-08 13:03:46Z

8

Change in pom.xml 1.6 to 1.8

<plugin>
    <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
    <configuration>
        <source>1.8</source>
        <target>1.8</target>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

edited Jan 8, 2016 at 13:03

Haroldo Gondim

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answered Jan 8, 2016 at 12:21

Aziz Mamoyan

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Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:26:35Z

6

If you are using Gradle as a build tool and you get this error when executing a Gradle task i.e TomcatRun take a look to my other answer to the same question

javac: invalid target release: 1.8

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:26

CommunityBot

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answered Aug 24, 2015 at 20:36

juliangonzalez

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1 Comment

chazzlabs Over a year ago

Thanks! This resolved my issue after the above answers didn't.

Soner from The Ottoman Empire · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-30 13:06:03Z

5

It can be simply overcome by setting on Project Structure. You just need to select the right path for related version of JDK. Select new on dependencies tab, and choose the path. It's done!

answered Jun 30, 2017 at 13:06

Soner from The Ottoman Empire

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Comments

Raj Kushwaha · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-12 15:03:21Z

If You Get This ERROR: Error:java: invalid source release: 12 Information:java: Errors occurred while compiling module 'IdeaProjects' Information:javac 1.8.0_211 was used to compile java sources Information:Module "IdeaProjects" was fully rebuilt due to project configuration/dependencies changes Information:7/12/2021 8:21 PM - Build completed with 1 error and 0 warnings in 6 s 323 ms Error:java: invalid source release: 12

THEN

Select Your Previous Version Project

In My side :

FINISHED

If you Get SOlution of Your IDE then Message Me www.betechnical.tech or [email protected]

jilbot · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-28 14:50:44Z

2

Andreas Lundgren's answer worked and I was able to compile and run my app.

However, when I tried to run the project's associated JUnit tests I received the same error. Running

gradle -version

from Windows command prompt showed that gradle was still picking up the incorrect jdk. To fix it I had to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to the correct jdk and restart IntelliJ.

answered Aug 28, 2015 at 14:50

jilbot

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Comments

ArifMustafa · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-22 12:47:43Z

I checked all above said project version, module version, project bytecode version, target bytecode version settings in IntelliJ Idea, but all were the same as I scratched.

I face this error Error:java: invalid source release: 1.8 in IntelliJ Idea 2017.2.6 because I upgraded the dependency version Maven pom file, which(dependency) were supposed to build for JDK 1.8 application and I were building my application on and with maven compiler source and target JDK 1.7.

Hence I again downgrade the dependency version to earlier one in Maven pom, and the error gone after project Rebuild Module 'xyz_project'.

B5A7 · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-06 22:46:17Z

0

For Grails users, apply these declarations in your BuildConfig.groovy file:

grails.project.target.level = 1.6 //or 1.7;1.8 and so on
grails.project.source.level = 1.6 //or 1.7;1.8 and so on

answered Oct 6, 2016 at 22:46

B5A7

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Comments

Katherine Nicol · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-01 15:10:30Z

0

You need to click to the project Open Module Settings and change the path of your JDK, if in the file POM you use jdk 1.8, configure jdk 1.8 with correct path.

answered Aug 1, 2017 at 15:10

Katherine Nicol

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Comments

Oleg Ushakov · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-16 18:25:26Z

0

I add one more path unmentioned in this answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/26009627/4609353

but very important is Edit Configurations

answered Jul 16, 2019 at 18:25

Oleg Ushakov

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Comments

cresclux · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-24 01:44:44Z

I tried out all the steps mentioned in here https://stackoverflow.com/a/26009627/2058104, but the 4th point has now changed. You need to go to Preferences -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler

In there, as shown in below figure, you need to change the "Target bytecode version". Although, I changed it to 8 (since I needed to downgrade to Java 8), it was giving the same error, over and over. Therefore, try to remove the existing entry (in this table) and add it again. This worked for me.

On the other hand, clean the project and try to run again.

Derek MC · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-31 15:28:50Z

0

I had the same issue the solution for me was to change my java version in the pom.xml file.

I changed it from 11 to 8.

answered Aug 31, 2020 at 15:28

Derek MC

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Comments

Beezer · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-05 16:31:31Z

Lots of good answers. For those using the (almost) latest version of Intellij, at the time of writing, what can be said, is that the project JDK can be at a higher level, than that of the module. In fact without it, Maven will have to be rolled back to an older version. Therefore with the following version of Intellij:

One should not change the project level JDK and therefore be able to leverage the Maven or Gradle settings when building, but when running Maven or running Gradle using a more modern version of the JDK. If you lower your project level JDK from say JKD8 to JDK6, Maven or Gradle will not run.

Keeping your module at a lower level JDK-wise will enable you to build it to that version, if you use the Module rebuild or build options; using the menu options for rebuilding the project will complain wit "Invalid source release:8...".

Daniel Manta · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-12 01:30:46Z

As Andreas mentioned all about:

Error:java: invalid source release: 8 in IntelliJ
Error:java: invalid source release: 13 in IntelliJ
Error:java: invalid source release: 14 in IntelliJ...

OR whatever version you are using in Java...

The problem will exist if you do not have it matching inside the below code:

<properties>
    <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>

This 1.8 in my case, must be matching on your device through MAVEN project library, settings, preferences, project setting and SDK.

Uzair · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-25 16:10:40Z

0

I was recently facing the same problem. This Error was showing on my screen after running my project main file. Error:java: invalid source release: 11 Follow the steps to resolve this error

File->Project Structure -> Project
Click New button under Project SDK: Add the latest SDK and Click OK.

After running You will see error is resolved..

answered Oct 25, 2020 at 16:10

Uzair

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1 Comment

Uzair Over a year ago

If you don't SDK 12. Just add the latest one

veritas · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-21 05:39:33Z

In my case the nuance was that I got a invalid source release 11 (instead of OP's 8). I tried all the solutions above

gradle jvm version , java compilter bytecode version, module language.

I set all the above to java 8 (or 1.8) as that is the library I have on my machine.

The issue was that the build.gradle file had

sourceCompatibility = '11'

Changed this to 8 and it stopped throwing 'compile failed invalid release 11' error

solution reference: github forum

N. I. Md. Ashafuddula · Accepted Answer · 2023-02-28 05:32:13Z

0

I am using JDK 1.8.0_131 and for my case the issue was Error:java: invalid source release: 12, I solved this by changing the version code <version>2.7.5</version> in pom.xml and module -> language level 8.

    <parent>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
        <version>2.7.5</version>
        <relativePath/>
    </parent>

answered Feb 28, 2023 at 5:32

N. I. Md. Ashafuddula

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