How to configure Chrome's Java plugin so it uses an existing JDK in the machine

Apparently, Chrome addresses a key in Windows registry when it looks for a Java Environment. Since the plugin installs the JRE, this key is set to a JRE path and therefore needs to be edited if you want Chrome to work with the JDK.

1. Run the plugin installer anyways.
2. Start -> Run (Winkey+R) and then type in regedit to edit the registry.
3. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\MozillaPlugins\@java.com/JavaPlugin.
4. Export it as a reg file to say, your desktop (right-click and select Export).
5. Uninstall the JRE (Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs). This should delete the key above, explaining the need to export it in the first place.
6. Open the reg file exported to your desktop with a text editor (such as Notepad++).

7. Edit "Path" so that it matches the corresponding dll inside your JDK installation:

   REGEDIT 4[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\MozillaPlugins\@java.com/JavaPlugin]"Description"="Oracle® Next Generation Java™ Plug-In""GeckoVersion"="1.9""Path"="C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_29\jre\bin\new_plugin\npjp2.dll""ProductName"="Oracle® Java™ Plug-In""Vendor"="Oracle Corp.""Version"="160_29"

8. Save file.

9. Double click modified reg file to add keys to your registry.

The REGEDIT 4 prefix at the top of the file might only be required for Windows 7 64-bit.

On Ubuntu, You can follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Create a directory named plugins inside $HOME/.mozilla, if it doesn't exist already

2. Create a symlink to libnpjp2.so inside this directory using this command:

   ln -s $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so $MOZILLA_HOME/plugins

   -or-

   ln -s $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so $MOZILLA_HOME/plugins

   depending on whether you're using a 32 or 64 bit JVM installation. Moreover, $JAVA_HOME is the location of your JVM installation.

More detailed instructions can be found here.

I use Windows 7 Professional 64-bit and have both the 32-bit and 64-bit Java 7u9 jre's installed. Chrome refused to work until I deleted the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/MozillaPlugins/@java.com/DTPlugin,version=10.9.2

Then I refreshed Chrome and the Applet loaded with a Warning that the plugin was out of date. I seleted "Run this time" and everything worked as expected.

There are two bugs related to this: 7118859 & 7133818