Generally you should use Java with the same architecture as your CPU. There are different version requirements for different Minecraft versions.
If you don’t know which one and how to get it, read on. After you installed the correct version make sure to select it.

Minecraft 1.17 and newer

Use of Java 17 is recommended and encouraged for best compatibility.

Windows

Pick the JRE versions and make sure to match the architecture with your system, usually x64 (64-bit)

Azul: https://www.azul.com/downloads/?version=java-17-lts&os=windows&architecture=x86-64-bit&package=jre

Other Distributions

• Eclipse Temurin: https://adoptium.net/temurin/releases/?version=17
  • Select in the dropdowns “Windows” “x64” “JRE” and “17”
• Microsoft OpenJDK: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/java/openjdk/download
• Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/#java17

Linux

Install the right package

• Ubuntu/Debian derivatives: openjdk-17-jre
• Arch jre17-openjdk
• Fedora java-17-openjdk
• OpenSUSE: java-17-openjdk

Common issue is that people install only the headless version, and then it doesn’t work. Make sure you have the full desktop version. Headless is for servers.

macOS

Azul: https://www.azul.com/downloads/?version=java-17-lts&os=macos&architecture=x86-64-bit&package=jre
For least amount of issues, choose .dmg download.

Native ARM Java is currently not supported on MultiMC.

Alternatively the Windows links above usually also provide macOS and Linux versions. On M1 Macs you need to make sure to get the x64 packages, native Arm Java is currently not supported!

Minecraft 1.16 and older

The right Java version to use is Java 8

Windows

Pick the JRE versions and make sure to match the architecture with your system, usually x64 (64-bit)

Note: There is an exception when using some poorly supported/unsupported old integrated GPUs from Intel. See Unsupported-Intel-GPUs for details.

Azul: https://www.azul.com/downloads/?version=java-8-lts&os=windows&architecture=x86-64-bit&package=jre

Other Distributions

• Eclipse Temurin: https://adoptium.net/temurin/releases/?version=8
  • Select in the dropdowns “Windows” “x64” “JRE” and “8”
• Java.com: https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
  • Make sure to download only the “Windows Offline (x64)” installer as Online can cause installation issues.
    

Linux

Install the right package

• Ubuntu/Debian derivatives: openjdk-8-jre
• Arch jre8-openjdk
• Fedora java-1.8.0-openjdk
• OpenSUSE: java-1.8.0-openjdk

Common issue is that people install only the headless version, and then it doesn’t work. Make sure you have the full desktop version. Headless is for servers.

macOS

• Go to https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
• Download the Mac OS X package.
• Install it.

Setting up Java in MultiMC

• In MultiMC, set it up using the Auto detect feature in the main settings – see Java-settings for details.
• See Increasing Java’s memory allocation for more details about Java memory settings.

Set Instance Java Installation

Go to Edit Instance -> Settings -> Java -> Java Installation.

My Java Installation doesn’t appear on the list, what do I do?

Try refreshing the list. If that fails, you’ll need to locate the Java executable yourself – within the root Java directory this is ./bin/java on Unix systems, and .\bin\javaw.exe on Windows.