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Installation

Windows Setup​

If you got the setup (installer) for Windows, you only have to run the installer and follow the installation steps in the setup.
If you're already familiar with Windows setup files then this should be simple.

The installation steps within the installer are:

  1. Select Start Menu Folder: This is optional, you have the option to choose a different path. This only changes the path of the shortcuts, not the actual launcher.
  2. Ready To Install: Click on Install, unless you want to change your shorcut path, which in that case, click on Back.
  3. Installing SKlauncher: On this screen you only have to wait for the install to finish, once it's done, you'll go to the last step.
  4. Completing the SKlauncher 3.2 Setup Wizard: Once you're here, just click on Finish.

Java Requirements​

For a long time, SKlauncher required Java 8 with JavaFX, but this is no longer the case. Now you can use the latest LTS (Long-term support), which is currently Java 21.

danger

Support for Java 8 with JavaFX will be removed in the future. We recommend using Java 21.
Java is only necessary if you are going to use the portable .exe, .jar, .dmg or .app files (in case of Windows Setup, it's already included and you don't have to do anything).

Installing Java​

  1. Go to Adoptium and click on the Latest LTS Release button.
  2. Run the installer and follow the instructions.
  3. In the Custom Setup screen, make sure to select the following options:
    • Add to PATH
    • Associate .jar
    • Set JAVA_HOME variable
    • JavaSoft (Oracle) registry key
  4. Click Next, then Install.
  5. Wait for the installation to finish, then click Finish.

Java 8 with JavaFX​

caution

Sometimes your Java 8 may be too old to run SKlauncher. In this case, you need to update it.

  1. Go to Liberica, scroll down until you see the different options and look for Windows. You have to click on Package and select Full JDK, then you can download the one that says MSI.
  2. Run the installer and follow the instructions.
  3. In the Custom Setup screen, make sure to select the following options (should be selected by default):
    • Add to PATH
    • Associate .jar
    • Set JAVA_HOME variable
    • JavaSoft (Oracle) registry key
  4. Click Next, then Install.
  5. Wait for the installation to finish, then click Finish.

Running SKlauncher​

You don't need to register to try it, but when you see the "log in" screen we recommend you read the Log in guide to avoid headaches.

  • Setup case:
    • A shortcut has been created on your desktop named SKlauncher, so just start it.
  • Other cases:
    • If you didn't skip the Custom Setup screen, you can run the SKlauncher file you downloaded.

Common questions​

What is the difference between Setup and Portable?​

Before Setup existed, here's what you had to do in a nutshell:

  • Download and Install Java
  • Download and Start SKlauncher (exe / jar)

Now with the Setup, the same thing still happens but:

  • Java is downloaded (not installed)
  • JavaFX is downloaded (not installed)
  • It creates a shortcut, which if you check it says something like: %APPDATA%\sklauncher\jre\bin\javaw.exe -Xmx512M -jar %APPDATA%\sklauncher\SKlauncher.jar

Is it a virus?

  • Since Setup is open source and compiled from the same GitHub Actions, everything the documentation says about it still applies in the same way.
  • Did you know that for a simple change like this, VirusTotal went from 6 to 2 detections? So please, let's not have this talk every time the .exe (in this case Setup) is updated.

I have Java X, but the game requires Java Y, will it work?​

Yes, it will work. SKlauncher downloads the game's version of Java, so you can use any version of Java on your computer. *

* - And if you want to use another Java when playing (like using Java 21 when the game would use Java 17), you can do it! But the explanation is here.

Why do I need Java 8 with JavaFX?​

SKlauncher is built with JavaFX, which may not be included in Java 8 by default. So you need to install Java 8 with JavaFX or Java 21.

Can I NOT install Java?​

Yes, but this requires:

  1. Using a portable Java distribution:
    • Windows: .zip format
    • Linux / macOS: .tar.gz format
  2. Running SKlauncher via command line: java -jar SKlauncher.jar
note

This approach requires basic knowledge of:

  • Working directories.
  • Relative / absolute paths.
  • Using "quotes" for paths with spaces.

For example, this is what it would be like to run SKlauncher via CMD commands in Windows when my working directory is the Downloads folder:
"jdk-21.0.5+11\bin\java.exe" -jar SKlauncher.jar

Can I install SKlauncher in another folder?​

Of course! But the full answer on how to do it is here.

Common issues​

tip

Did you already have Java before and you installed the one in the guide?
Did you uninstall every Java you had and are about to install the one in the guide?

It may be a good idea to restart the PC.

I have Temurin 21 installed, but it still says that I don't have Java installed​

In this situation you probably skipped the Custom Setup screen. To fix this, you need to reinstall Java 21, and make sure to follow the instructions (Windows tab) in the Custom Setup screen.

I have Liberica 8 installed, but it still says that I don't have Java 8 with JavaFX​

In this situation you probably have Liberica 8 Standard Edition installed. To fix this, you need to install Liberica 8 Full JDK. You need to download it from here, but make sure to select Full JDK.