UnsupportedClassVersionError Java Origin: Application & API Last updated 14 Oct 2026

java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: class file version 61.0, this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes up to 55.0

Code compiled for a newer Java version is running on an older JVM.

Exact message you may see class file versionhas been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime
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Seen on: Java Docker

Meaning

Class file versions map to Java releases: 52 = 8, 55 = 11, 61 = 17, 65 = 21. The runtime must be at least the compile target. Mismatched JAVA_HOME, Docker base images and IDE settings are the usual causes.

Common causes

  • App built with JDK 17/21 but run on Java 8/11
  • Dependency compiled for a newer Java (e.g. Spring Boot 3 requires 17)
  • Different JAVA_HOME for build and run
  • Old JRE base image in Docker

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Run on a JVM ≥ the class version (61 → Java 17)
  2. Or compile with --release 11 for older runtimes
  3. Update the Docker base image (eclipse-temurin:17-jre)

Detailed fix by platform

Java

  1. Set the compile target (Maven):
    xml
    <properties>
  <maven.compiler.release>17</maven.compiler.release>
</properties>

How to diagnose

  1. Versions — Class version in the message → Java release
  2. Runtime — java -version where it runs
  3. Dependencies — Which library requires newer Java?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

ClassNotFoundException — java.lang.ClassNotFoundException / NoClassDefFoundError (Java)ClassNotFoundExceptionInconsistent JVM-target compatibility — Inconsistent JVM-target compatibility detected for tasks 'compileDebugJavaWithJavac' (17) and 'compileDebugKotlin' (1.8) (Android)Inconsistent JVM-targ…JAVA_HOME not set — ERROR: JAVA_HOME is not set and no 'java' command could be found in your PATH. (Java)JAVA_HOME not setrelease version not supported — [ERROR] Fatal error compiling: error: release version 17 not supported (Java)release version not s…Unsupported class file major version — Gradle: Unsupported class file major version / Android Gradle plugin requires Java 17 to run (Android)Unsupported class fil…You must install or update .NET to run this application — The framework 'Microsoft.NETCore.App', version '8.0.0' (x64) was not found. You must install or update .NET to run this application (.NET)You must install or u…Unsupport…

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