Unsupported Class File Major Version 61: A Comprehensive Overview
When you encounter the error message “Unsupported class file major version 61,” it can be quite perplexing. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of this issue, providing you with a detailed and multi-dimensional understanding. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle this problem effectively.
Understanding the Error
The “Unsupported class file major version 61” error typically occurs when you try to run a Java application on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that does not support the specified class file version. The class file version is a part of the Java class file format and indicates the version of the Java Virtual Machine that can execute the class file.
Java Class File Format
The Java class file format is a binary format that contains the compiled code of a Java program. It consists of various components, including the magic number, version number, constant pool, fields, methods, attributes, and the code attribute. The version number is a 16-bit value that specifies the major and minor version of the class file format.
| Version | Major Version | Minor Version |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0000 | 45 | 3 |
| 0x0001 | 46 | 0 |
| 0x0002 | 47 | 0 |
| 0x0003 | 48 | 0 |
| 0x0004 | 49 | 0 |
| 0x0005 | 50 | 0 |
| 0x0006 | 51 | 0 |
| 0x0007 | 52 | 0 |
| 0x0008 | 53 | 0 |
| 0x0009 | 54 | 0 |
| 0x000a | 55 | 0 |
| 0x000b | 56 | 0 |
| 0x000c | 57 | 0 |
| 0x000d | 58 | 0 |
| 0x000e | 59 | 0 |
| 0x000f | 60 | 0 |
| 0x0010 | 61 | 0 |
As you can see from the table, the major version 61 corresponds to the Java 17 release. If you encounter the “Unsupported class file major version 61” error, it means that the class file you are trying to run was compiled with Java 17, but the JVM you are using does not support Java 17.
Resolving the Issue
There are several ways to resolve the “Unsupported class file major version 61” error:
