Cannot install plugin due to Java error: has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime
Platform notice: Server and Data Center only. This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Server and Data Center platforms.
Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.
*Except Fisheye and Crucible
Summary
You may suffer from installing plugins in Jira instance which will never be installed due to Java's version incompatibility.
Environment
Jira Server / Data Center
Diagnosis
While installing 3rd party plugins in a Jira Server / DC instance, it hung on the the installation process in the Manage Apps page, or it can even lead Jira to crash.
Cause
The root cause is due to the Java's version incompatibility error below. As an example, the error is related to Power Custom Fields plugin which was compiled against Java 11 and Jira was using a Java 8:
- has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 55.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0
Caused by: Java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: com/keplerrominfo/refapp/ui/users/UserAutocompleteRestService has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 55.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0Solution
Basically class 52 = Java 8 and class 55 = Java 11.
So it tells us the Power Custom Fields plugin code was compiled against Java 11 and the system is running on Java 8. The options you have to keep using this plugin would be:
- Update your Java to be running Java 11 ( you may also check How to change the Java version used by Jira )
- Upload an older version of the plugin which uses Java 8
- Contact the vendor to get help regarding the lack of Java 8 support.