This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

In my Add-ons list I see Java Console with every version from 6.0.03 to 6.0.21. Why so many?

  • 4 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

Kenpoweringon
Kenpoweringon
more options

When FireFox notifies me to update an add-on I usually do as I am told. Java Console comes up with updates so I update it. With other add-ons the item in the add-on list is changed giving its version number but with Java Console the list simply grows with yet another Java Console listed.

It's not a problem, I suppose, but I wonder why it works this way and if it should.

When FireFox notifies me to update an add-on I usually do as I am told. Java Console comes up with updates so I update it. With other add-ons the item in the add-on list is changed giving its version number but with Java Console the list simply grows with yet another Java Console listed. It's not a problem, I suppose, but I wonder why it works this way and if it should.

All Replies (4)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

Java doesn't clean up after itself when doing a program update. I handle that issue by un-installing the old Java installation before install a new version. That way only the latest Java extension and plugin is in Firefox, the older ones were un-installed.

kenjoyce
kenjoyce
more options

Thanks. Should have worked it out for myself but wasn't sure whether deleting the list of Java Consoles would disable it altogether and cripple FireFox

John99
John99
more options

I have noticed this. One reason for software changes is often to fix security problems. I would guess with Java Console they leave older versions available for the sake of backwards compatability with older applets.

I understand that only the latest JRE needs to be kept, if compatability issues arise I believe any other versions are downloaded as required.

see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_applet

and for long details about Java Consoles, in various versions of Firefox, including mention of uninstalling problems look at http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions

Of course any discussion of Java Consoles probably needs the reminder that JavaScript and Java are not the same thing.

JavaScript does not need the Java Console or any Java Runtime Environment. see

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You can uninstall (remove) the Java Console extensions and disable the Java Quick Starter extension, you do not need them to run Java applets.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions

Disable the Java Quick Starter extension: Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions

  • Control Panel -> Java -> Advanced tab -> Miscellaneous -> Java Quick Starter (disable)

See http://www.java.com/en/download/help/quickstarter.xml - What is Java Quick Starter (JQS)? What is the benefit of running JQS? - 6.0