DocumentationExperience Cloud KCS

AEM SDK compatibility with Java 26 and supported Java versions

Last update: August 31, 2026

This article explains Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) SDK compatibility with Java 26 and outlines the supported Java versions for successful SDK operation.

Description description

Environment

  • Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) SDK
  • Java 26

Issue/Symptoms

  • The AEM SDK JAR does not start or run successfully on a machine with Java 26.
  • The application fails to launch after upgrading to Java 26.

Cause

AEM SDK is not compatible with Java 26, according to the current documentation. Running the SDK on an unsupported Java version causes startup failure.

Resolution resolution

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Use Oracle JDK 21 with the latest AEM as a Cloud Service SDK.
  2. Ensure that both the active java executable and the JAVA_HOME environment variable point to JDK 21.
  3. Refer to the requirements for your specific SDK version, as older AEM SDK versions may require Java 11.
  4. Monitor Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service Release Notes for updates regarding future Java version support.

Note: Do not attempt to run AEM SDK on Java 26, as it is not supported and may result in startup failures or instability.

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