How to Convert a Java Program to an .exe File

If you’re a Java developer looking to make your applications easier to run on Windows, converting your Java program into an EXE file is a great option. In this guide, you’ll learn how to convert Java to EXE by first creating a JAR file and then using tools like Launch4J, JSmooth, or Jar2Exe to generate a Windows executable. These tools allow users to run their Java applications without needing to install Java separately. In this blog, we are going to understand how you can convert a Java program to a JAR and then to an .exe file with a detailed explanation and steps.

Table of Contents:

• What is an .exe file?
• What is a JAR file?
• Convert Java Program to JAR
• Convert JAR to EXE
• Comparison of Tools: Launch4J vs JSmooth vs Jar2Exe vs jpackage
• Bundling JRE with Executable for True Portability
• Comparison Table: Java to EXE Converter Tools
• Installer Creation Tools (After Java to EXE Conversion)
• Advantages of Converting Java Program to an Executable File
• Disadvantages of Converting Java Program to an Executable File
• Conclusion

What is an .exe file?

An .exe is a file format specific to Microsoft Windows for running programs directly. It is a program stored in a binary form that could be loaded and run by the operating system itself. Double-clicking on an .exe file makes it easy for end-users to run a program without the installation of Java or the command line.

What is a JAR file?

A (JAR) Java Archive file is a compressed package that contains Java class files, resources such as images and configuration files, and metadata in a single file. It is based on the format of a ZIP file and has the .jar extension. These files reduce the size of the application and are highly secure.

The type of executable file that is produced when you convert your Java code depends on the platform that you are using. For example, in Windows, it is .exe while in Mac OS, it is .app. On Linux, it can be an RPM package or a shell script.

Note: Java programs are platform-independent and typically run using the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). But .class or .jar files are not directly run by Windows like an .exe file is run. To run a Java program as a natively run Windows application, we transform it into a JAR file, and from there, that JAR is converted into an EXE.

1. Convert Java Program to JAR

You can create a JAR file using different methods and tools. Some of them are as follows:

a. Convert a Java Program to a JAR file using the Eclipse IDE

You should follow these steps to convert a Java program to a JAR file.

Step 1: Ensure Your Java Project is Ready

Load your Java project in Eclipse and make sure your project compiles without giving any errors.

Step 2: Configure the Entry Point (if needed)

If your program has a main method, you need to define the entry point for the execution of the program.

• Right-click on your project -> Properties.

• Navigate to Run/Debug Settings -> Click New -> Choose Java Application.
• Select the main class and click OK.

Step 3: Export as a JAR File

• Right-click on your project in the Package Explorer.
• Select Export -> Expand Java -> Choose Runnable JAR file -> Click Next.

• Select the files you want to include (usually, the src or bin folder).
• Choose the export destination (e.g., C:your_projectyourfile.jar).
• Click Next, then Next again (skip optional options like source file inclusion).

Step 4: Create a Manifest File (for Executable JAR)

If your program has a main method and you want an executable JAR:

• On the JAR Export wizard, check Generate the manifest file.
• Select the main class (browse and choose the correct class containing public static void main(String[] args)).
• Click Finish.

Step 5: Run the JAR File

• Open the terminal (Command Prompt or Terminal).
• Navigate to the directory containing the JAR file.
• Run the command:

java -jar yourfile.jar

Source code of the Main.java:

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b. Convert a Java program to a JAR file using NetBeans IDE

If you’re using NetBeans, you can easily create a JAR file for your Java application by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Your Project in NetBeans

• Launch NetBeans and open your Java project.
• Make sure your project includes a class with a main method.

Step 2: Set the Main Class

• Right-click on your project in the Projects window.
• Select Properties.

• In the Project Properties window, click on Run.
• In the Main Class field, select or enter the class containing public static void main(String[] args).
• Click OK.

Step 3: Build the Project

• Click Run -> Clean and Build Project (or press Shift + F11).

• NetBeans will compile your project and generate a JAR file automatically.

Step 4: Locate the JAR File

• Go to your project folder on your computer.
• Go to dist/ inside your project folder.
• You should see your JAR file (e.g., MyProject.jar).

Step 5: Run the JAR File

To test if the JAR file works, open the Command Prompt and go to the dist folder

Then run the following command:

java -jar MyProject.jar

Note: If your project is using the external libraries, NetBeans will automatically include them in the lib/ folder inside dist/. To run the JAR properly, make sure all required libraries are present in that folder.

c. Convert a Java program to a JAR file using a Command Prompt (CMD)

Step 1: Write Your Java Program

Open Notepad and type your Java code.

Example:

Save it as My.java.

Step 2: Compile the Java File

Open the Command Prompt (CMD). Go to the folder where your Java file is saved.

Compile the Java program using:

javac My.java

It will generate a My.class file in the folder.

Step 3: Create a Manifest File

To specify the main class, you need to create a manifest file.

Open Notepad and type:

Main-Class: My 

Save it as a MANIFEST.MF in the same folder.

Note: Make sure there is an empty line at the end of the file.

Step 4: Create the JAR File

Run the following command in cmd:

jar cfm My.jar MANIFEST.MF My.class 

where,

• c: Create a new JAR file
• f: Specify the filename
• m: Include a manifest file
• My.jar: Output JAR filename
• MANIFEST.MF: Manifest file for specifying the main class
• My.class: Compiled Java file

 Step 5: Run the JAR File

To test the newly created JAR file, use:

java -jar MyProgram.jar

It will give the output as follows:

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2. Convert JAR to EXE

a. Convert a JAR file to .exe using Launch4J

Launch4J is a popular tool for converting a Java JAR file into a Windows executable (.exe). Follow these steps to convert your Java program into an executable file.

Step 1: Create a JAR File

Before using Launch4J, you need to have a JAR file of your Java application. If you don’t have one, create one.

Step 2: Download and Install Launch4J.

• Go to the Launch4 Jofficial website.
• Download and install Launch4J on your computer.

Step 3: Open Launch4J

In the Basic tab:

• Click on Browse and select your .jar file.
• Choose the Output file name, e.g., Intellipaat.exe.
• Set the Icon File if you want an icon.

1. In the JRE tab:

• Set the Minimum JRE version (e.g., 1.8 for Java 8 or later).
• You can also select a Bundled JRE Path if you want to include Java in it.

2. In the Splash tab:

• You can add a splash screen to show while your program loads.

3. Click on Save Configuration to keep settings for future use.

Step 4: Generate the Executable (.exe)

• Click on Build Wrapper.
• Launch4J will create an EXE file in the chosen output directory.

Step 5: Test Your Executable

• Go to the folder where the .exe file is saved.
• Double-click on the .exe to run it.

b. Convert a JAR file to .exe Using JSmooth

JSmooth is a tool that converts Java JAR files into Windows executables (.exe), allowing users to run your program without needing to install Java separately. Follow these steps to create an .exe file using JSmooth.

Step 1: Create a JAR File (if not already done)

You can use Eclipse or NetBeans, as shown above, to create a JAR file.

Step 2: Download and Install JSmooth

• Go to the JSmooth official website.
• Download and install JSmooth on your computer.

Step 3: Configure JSmooth to Create an .exe File

1. Open JSmooth.

2. Click New to create a new project.

3. In the Skeleton tab, choose Windowed Wrapper (for GUI apps) or Console Wrapper (for terminal-based apps).

4. In the Executable Tab, set:

• Executable Name: Choose the name for your .exe file (e.g., My.exe).
• Jar File: Click Browse and select your My.jar.
• Main Class: Enter the main class name (My).

5. In the JVM Selection tab, specify the minimum Java version required (e.g., 1.8 for Java 8).

6. Click Save, then Compile to generate the .exe file.

Step 4: Test the .exe File

• Go to the folder where the .exe was generated.
• Double-click the .exe file to run it.

c. Convert a JAR file to .exe Using Jar2Exe

Follow these steps to convert your Java program into an executable file.

Step 1: Create a JAR File

Before using Jar2Exe, you need to have a JAR file of your Java application. If you don’t have one, create one.

Step 2: Download and Install Jar2Exe.

• Go to the Jar2Exe official website.
• Download and install Jar2Exe on your computer.

Step 3: Select Your JAR File

• Click Next, and browse to select the JAR file you want to convert.

Step 4: Choose Output Type Between the following:

• Console application
• Windows GUI application
• Windows Service

Step 5: Specify Application Settings:

• Choose Main Class (Jar2Exe auto-detects it or lets you specify manually).

Step 6: Set Target EXE Path:

• Specify the name and location for the output .exe file.

Step 7: Build the EXE:

• Click Finish or Build to generate the .exe file.

d. Convert a JAR file to .exe Using Maven

By using Maven, you can create an .exe file. The following steps you can follow to create an .exe file.

Step 1: Create a Maven Project

Step 2: Add the Maven Shade Plugin to pom.xml

<build>
  <plugins>
    <plugin>
      <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
      <artifactId>maven-shade-plugin</artifactId>
      <version>3.2.4</version>
      <executions>
        <execution>
          <phase>package</phase>
          <goals><goal>shade</goal></goals>
          <configuration>
            <transformers>
<transformer implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ManifestResourceTransformer">
                <mainClass>com.example.Main</mainClass> <!--  your main class -->
              </transformer>
            </transformers>
          </configuration>
        </execution>
      </executions>
    </plugin>
  </plugins>
</build>

Step 3: Build the JAR File

Click on the Maven icon on the top right, and then run the Maven clean package to build a jar file.

Step 4: Now, to create an .exe file, you can use tools like JSmooth, Launch4J, or Jar2Exe.

Comparison of Tools: Launch4J vs JSmooth vs Jar2Exe vs JPackage

Bundling JRE with Executable for True Portability

One of the biggest challenges when distributing Java applications is ensuring they run seamlessly on systems without a pre-installed Java Runtime Environment (JRE). To make your application truly portable, you can bundle the JRE with your executable file during the process of converting Java to EXE.

• Launch4J: Use the “Bundled JRE Path” option to specify a local JRE directory. This ensures that your converted Java EXE runs independently of the system’s Java installation.
• JSmooth: Offers manual configuration for specifying required JRE paths, giving more control over where and how the runtime is loaded.
• Jar2Exe: Supports advanced native bundling, embedding the JRE directly within the output EXE, ideal for distributing Java desktop applications as standalone executables.
• jpackage (Java 14+): A modern solution from Oracle, jpackage creates native installers and executables that include the JRE and application resources. It’s excellent for fully self-contained packages.

By bundling the JRE with your executable, you eliminate external dependencies, improve user experience, and ensure that your Java code converted to an executable file will run smoothly on any Windows machine, even without Java pre-installed.

This is especially valuable when using Java EXE converters like Launch4J or jpackage, as it simplifies deployment and guarantees compatibility.

Comparison Table: Java to EXE Converter Tools

Installer Creation Tools (After Java to EXE Conversion)

Once you’ve completed your Java to EXE conversion, the next step is to create an installer that makes your application easy to distribute and install. Here are some popular installer creation tools you can use:

• Inno Setup
  A free and powerful Windows installer builder that is highly customizable. It’s commonly used after converting Java programs to EXE files to bundle executable files, resources, and even the JRE into a single installer package. Ideal for lightweight Java EXE converter deployments.
• NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System)
  A script-driven, open-source installer tool. It allows developers to create compact, fast installers for their EXE files generated from JARs. Suitable for both console and GUI Java applications after EXE conversion.
• Install4J
  A commercial, professional-grade installer builder specifically tailored for Java applications. It supports bundling the EXE, external libraries, and even the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), making it a full-featured solution for those looking to create an EXE from Java applications and distribute them with advanced UI and options.

These tools help you not only distribute the converted Java executable file, but also include things like license agreements, desktop shortcuts, and splash screens. Using them ensures your converted Java to EXE application feels like a native Windows program, improving usability and professionalism.

Advantages of Converting Java Program to an Executable File

• It is secure, as the source code is not visible to any of the users.
• It is easy to run, as there is no need for the command line or any command to run it. You can just double-click on it to run it.
• They are faster, as they don’t depend on the JVM to run the application.

Disadvantages of Converting Java Program to an Executable File

• JAR files take up more space as compared to the application.
• They are platform-dependent. The JAR file must be compiled separately on different platforms.
• If you change the code, you have to make a new jar file because the implementation of the code will not be passed to the jar file.
• Debugging is harder as debugging an executed file is harder than debugging an JAR file because it does not have access to the source code.

Advanced Techniques for Customizing Your Executable

After you successfully convert Java to EXE, there are several ways to enhance your application’s behavior and appearance to make it feel more like a native Windows program. These advanced customization techniques are especially useful when you want to deliver a polished, professional experience:

• Customize Appearance: Use tools like Launch4J to add custom icons, splash screens, and company branding. This helps your Java EXE converter output look professional and recognizable to users.
• Set Runtime Parameters: Configure startup parameters such as JVM arguments, initial/max heap size, and system properties. These settings improve performance and stability, especially when you create EXE from Java applications that require specific memory or system configurations.
• Enable Logging & Error Reporting: Configure log file generation and error-handling behavior within your EXE. This helps in debugging and improves maintainability for users and developers alike.
• Protect Your Code: For commercial or sensitive projects, consider adding obfuscation or encryption. This ensures that even after you convert Java code to an executable file, your source logic remains secure from reverse engineering.

These enhancements not only improve performance but also increase trust, usability, and overall quality, especially critical when distributing a Java to EXE program to end-users or clients.

Conclusion

Converting a Java program to an EXE file makes your application more accessible and professional, especially for Windows users. After creating a JAR file, you can use tools like Launch4J, Jar2Exe, or jpackage to create a standalone executable. This process not only hides your source code but also eliminates the need for end-users to install Java. With this complete guide on how to convert Java to EXE, you’re now equipped to distribute your Java applications more efficiently.

To learn more about this topic, check out our Java Course and also prepare for your interview with Java Interview questions prepared by industry experts.

How to Convert a Java Program to an .exe File – FAQs