How to fix Unable to access jarfile error on Windows 10

How can I get rid of Unable to access jar file error on Windows 10?

1. Use the File Viewer Plus 4 tool

The easiest way is to use software that can open multiple file formats. File Viewer is the best universal file opener you can download to open all file types.

Usually,  file types are associated with a certain program so you can use them. For instance, pdf files are associated with Adobe Acrobat Reader, so you can open and manage them.

File Viewer can open files of different content types. Moreover, it is capable of opening files of over 400 formats, including audio, video, images, text, and source code.

File Viewer Plus 4

Browser, open, view and edit any file format. This software can open even your Jar files.

2. Update your Java version

1. Press the Win key + R keyboard shortcut to open Run.
2. Enter appwiz.cpl in the Run text box, and click the OK button.
3. Enter Java in the Search Programs search box as shown in the snapshot below.
4. The version is listed in the Version column. In the above picture, is listed Java version 8 update 251.
5. To see what is the latest Java version, open this webpage in your browser.
6. Look at the version listed here and compare it with the one you have installed.
7. If your Java version is older then go back to Control panel.
8. Right-click on Java and select Uninstall.
9. Select Yes to uninstall.
10. From the Java website press the Agree and Start Free Java Download button to save the JRE setup wizard.
11. Open the folder where you saved the setup wizard, right-click the Java install wizard and select Run as administrator.
12. Press the Install button on the setup wizard’s window to install Java.

3. Select Java as the default program for Jar files

1. Open File Explorer and the folder that includes your Jar file.
2. Right-click the Jar file and select Open with then Choose another app.
3. Select Java if it’s listed among the default programs.
4. If Java isn’t listed among the programs, select the Look for another app on this PC option.
5. Then browse to the Java bin folder, select  Java and press the Open button.
6. Press the OK button on the Open with window.
7. Click the Jar to launch its program.

Note: Jarfile error messages usually pop up when Java isn’t configured as the default software for a Jar file. So selecting Java as the default program for a Jar file might kick-start its program.

The path to the Java bin folder might be different depending on the Java bit version you have. Usually, you can find it in Program File (x86) -> Java -> Java version ->bin, as in the picture above. 

4. Select the Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives Option

1. To select that option, open File Explorer.
2. Click the View tab and press the Options button to open the window directly below.
3. Select the View tab shown directly below.
4. Select the Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives Files and Folders option.
5. Press the Apply button.
6. Press the OK button to close the window.

Note: The unable to access jar file error message can also pop up when the Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives option isn’t selected.

5. Open the Jarfix Software

Jarfix is a lightweight program designed to fix Java programs that aren’t starting. The program fixes Jar filetype associations.

Click jarfix.exe on this webpage to save the software to a folder. Then you can click the jarfix.exe to open the window below and fix the Jar association. That’s all there is to it, and there are no further options to select on the Jarfix window.

Those are a few resolutions that might fix the unable to access jarfile error and kick-start your Jar software. For further details on how to launch Jar files in Windows, check out this article.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.