How To Remove The Java Deployment Toolkit From Firefox

Martin Brinkmann
Apr 25, 2010
Updated • Sep 18, 2016
Firefox
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36

The Java Console extension is not the only add-on that Java adds to the Firefox web browser.

Users who open the Plugins tab of the Firefox Add-ons menu (by tapping on the Alt-key and selecting Tools > Add-ons, or by typing in about:addons in the browser's address bar and switching to the plugins section there) may notice at least one Java Deployment Toolkit plugin there. There is no way to uninstall or remove the plugins directly from within Firefox.

Plugins are automatically picked up by Firefox as outlined in the How To Stop Automatic Plugin Installations In Firefox.

This means that the plugin will be added to the web browser if the installation puts it into a directory or location that Firefox scans during startup to find plugins.

Remove Java Deployment Toolkit

java deployment toolkit
old Firefox interface
java deployment kit firefox
new Firefox interface

Removing the Java Deployment Toolkit

Lets begin with a description of what the Java Deployment Toolkit does:

The Java Deployment Toolkit takes the guess work out of determining what versions of the Java Platform end users have installed on their PCs. It supplies Java based web applet/application deployers with a simple JavaScript interface. This greatly increases the ease of detections of users' Java environment, as well as the ease of Java Platform deployment.

A plugin that many Firefox users are not likely to need. Much of the confusion in regards to the Java plugin comes from the fact that users may confuse it with JavaScript. The two are completely different technologies with the latter being heavily used by many websites and integrated natively in Firefox, while Java is not integrated and not used by a lot of sites anymore.

We start the removal process by entering about:config in the Firefox address bar. Filter for the term plugin.expose_full_path and set it to true. This will display the full path of each plugin in the about:plugins window that we open afterwards. Double-click the entry to set it to true.

about config

The instructions of the paragraph above are no longer required, as Firefox displays the full path automatically in newer versions.

Now open about:plugins by typing it in the browser's address bar. The screen lists the filenames of all plugins that are installed in the Firefox web browser.

In the case of the JDK, it is npdeployJava1.dll that is linked to the Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.200.2 and npdeploytk.dll that is linked to the Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.190.4.

java deployment toolkit

The Java Deployment Toolkit files are located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npdeployJava1.dll and C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\npdeploytk.dll in the example above.

Users of 32-bit editions of Windows need to remove the (x86) part of the url so that they end up with C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npdeployJava1.dll and C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\npdeploytk.dll.

It is now time to close the Firefox web browser and open the plugin locations in Windows Explorer. The plugins can simply be deleted in their folders which will also remove them from running as plugins in the Firefox web browser. Cautious users might want to back up the files first before they remove or delete them from the directories.

Update: Oracle has added another way to unlink Java (7) from the browser right into the control panel applet of the application. I can only speak for Windows but you can use it to deactivate Java in all browsers so that it does not get picked up automatically anymore.

Let me show you how this is done:

  1. Tap on the Windows-key, enter Java and select the Java Control Panel applet result from the list. You can alternatively click on Start > Control Panel > Programs > Java if you use Windows 7 or older.
  2. Switch to the Security tab in the menu and uncheck the "Enable Java content in the browser" box there.
  3. Click on ok and wait for the program to complete the blocking of Java from web browsers that you run on your system.

remove Java web browser

This is by far the easiest option to unlink Java from Firefox and any other browser that you are running on your system. Note that you need to restart your browser for this to take effect.

Update 2: Mozilla plans to remove support for so-called NPAPI plugins in Firefox. Java and the JDK are plugins that use this interface. When the change is done, Firefox won't pick up Java anymore in the web browser.

Now Read: Fix Java issues in Firefox

Summary
How To Remove The Java Deployment Toolkit From Firefox
Article Name
How To Remove The Java Deployment Toolkit From Firefox
Description
The guide explains how you can remove the Java Deployment Toolkit (JDK) and other plugins from the Firefox web browser.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Uzir said on November 26, 2016 at 3:00 am
    Reply

    Thanks! I found the Java folder in programfilesx86, renamed the subfolder .old, went into the .old folder and renamed the .dll files .bak.

    problem solved!

    There was no npdeploy .dll files anywhere in the windows folder, and the problem seems fixed, so I quit digging. If it shows up later, I’ll come crying back. =P

  2. Rob said on February 25, 2015 at 4:47 am
    Reply

    OOPS!
    The file that I deleted was called
    “npdeployJava1.dll” (not whatever gibberish I originally posted)
    in C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\dtplugin
    Regards,
    r

  3. Rob said on February 25, 2015 at 4:34 am
    Reply

    Hi Martin, (and everyone!)
    Firstly, to Martin, thanks VERY MUCH!
    While I had to… find my own way to achieve my desired end, your page was a HUGE help in pointing me in the right direction.
    Thanks again! :)
    The issue I was having may be related to semi-recent updates in FF or Java, (or the fact that the last message posted here in the comments section is from October of 2013) but, at any rate, I couldn’t find the described .dll file(s) anywhere.
    Neither my Mozilla Firefox nor my Java folder have a “plugins” sub-folder.
    (Running Win7-Ultimate-32-bit on an antique Vista-era HP Pavilion)
    Just digging around, I found “ndeolpyJava1.dll”
    in C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\dtplugin
    To be slightly cautious, I first cut-n-pasted it to a new folder on my desktop, rebooted, opened FF, and bam!
    The standard Java plugin is still there. and Java is functioning normally…
    http://i.imgur.com/DVoUEGn.png
    But no JDK! Or the accompanying warning pecking away at my OCD-like tendencies. http://i.imgur.com/4yrACKI.png
    The swelling of gratitude I’m experiencing can best be illustrated (like many things, it would seem. lol) thusly:
    http://i.imgur.com/6GryhVL.gifv
    Thanks YET AGAIN, to Martin, and everyone else!
    Regards,
    r

  4. TheDuke said on October 21, 2013 at 6:04 pm
    Reply

    ” In Windows 7 x64, you also need to check: C:WindowsSysWOW64npDeployJava1.dll and remove the DLL or place the.BAK after the DLL. ”

    works great thanks for the tip :)

  5. E. C. Grifin said on August 20, 2013 at 6:08 pm
    Reply

    In Windows 7 x64, you also need to check: C:WindowsSysWOW64npDeployJava1.dll and remove the DLL or place the.BAK after the DLL.
    In Windows 7 x32, navigate to C:WindowsSystem32npDeployJava1.dll and follow the above information.

    1. id_user said on September 20, 2013 at 9:34 pm
      Reply

      it’s work fine on my win7 x64 system, thank man…

  6. E. C. Griffin said on August 20, 2013 at 6:03 pm
    Reply

    I have found a real simple method that works very well. If you’re using Windows 7 x64/x32, you can navigate to C:\Windows\System32\npDeployJava1.dll. All I did was add .BAK after the DLL. After you run Firefox’s browser and check your Plugins status the warning reference to the “Java Deployment Toolkit” is gone. It’s been months now, and no warnings or problems…

  7. birdman said on August 5, 2013 at 9:59 am
    Reply

    about:addons
    Plugins
    Disable » Java Deployment Toolkit
    Done…

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 5, 2013 at 11:15 am
      Reply

      Right, that is a shortcut to disable the plugin. But that does not really remove it. It has happened in the past that add-ons get reactivated under certain circumstances.

  8. Seban said on February 4, 2013 at 11:32 pm
    Reply

    Followed your instructions, worked very well. Thanks a lot.

    Note: The plug-in has to be activated to be shown in about:plugins

    1. gil loyola said on July 30, 2013 at 11:21 pm
      Reply

      tried the steps and it works. thanks.

  9. Hahn said on October 15, 2012 at 6:19 pm
    Reply

    1. Close the application.

    2. Just modify the preference file (prefs.js) on your local firefox (thunderbird) folder:

    user_pref(“plugin.expose_full_path”, true);
    user_pref(“plugin.scan.SunJRE”, “1.7”);

    3. Launch the application again, old java has gone!

  10. JJ said on August 31, 2012 at 7:56 am
    Reply

    Java Deployment Toolkit 7.0.50.255

    Hey! What the sh**? npDeployJava1.dll! is in C:\Windows\system32!!! C:\Windows\system32\npDeployJava1.dll How can it be?

    Thanks a lot for this article.

    1. JJ said on August 31, 2012 at 8:26 am
      Reply

      I use Windows 7.

  11. Ruslan said on August 15, 2012 at 8:11 pm
    Reply

    Good job, thanks a lot!

  12. Diè said on August 15, 2012 at 2:11 pm
    Reply

    Flawless, thank you very much!

  13. RD said on October 27, 2011 at 5:11 pm
    Reply

    Hi Martin,

    Excellent tutorial, many thanks.

    RD.

  14. HendyVirgo said on May 21, 2010 at 11:26 pm
    Reply

    My situation is exactly same with Scott
    ‘Scott says:
    April 25, 2010 at 4:15 pm
    Deleting only from “\new_plugin” took care of it — thanks, Martin!’

    I did it and it works!
    Thanks Scott & Martin :-)

  15. Charlie Chan said on May 21, 2010 at 11:39 am
    Reply

    First I disabled JAVA Toolkit 6.0.190.4 (because it is known to cause problems) then followed your instructions. Deleted npdeploytk.dll. Bingo It’s GONE! Thanks so much! “plugin.expose_full_path” is set now to true. More easy next time I check “about:plugins”. Why is it not set to “true” by default in Firefox?

  16. DigDeep said on May 6, 2010 at 11:27 am
    Reply

    Delete npdeploytk.dll in:

    C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\
    C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\
    C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\

    And it will go away

  17. SuperNova said on May 5, 2010 at 9:38 am
    Reply

    Worked like a charm right away! Thanks for this tip!

  18. Taomyn said on April 26, 2010 at 10:11 am
    Reply

    I’m glad this has come up as it’s concerned me for the last few iterations of Java – I’m annoyed that again an application is installing things automatically without my consent and we’re having to hack around our file systems to be rid of these things.

    What does worry me is that with “C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\npdeployJava1.dll”, exactly how is Firefox picking this up? I dug around and it almost seemed like it was hardcoded into Firefox somehow to look in this folder, but perhaps someone can steer me in the right direction.

    Deleting the DLLs is not the answer and I’d rather find out where Firefox is told to pick these DLLs up from and simply disabled it there. The next time Java is updated, the current advice will be simply undone :-(

      1. Taomyn said on April 27, 2010 at 9:31 am
        Reply

        Wow, thanks

  19. Crodol said on April 26, 2010 at 5:07 am
    Reply

    Finally it’s gone…
    [.] Enabled the plugin in order to see the path in about:plugins
    [.] deleted all 3 npdeploytk.dll
    c:\Progs\Firefox\plugins\npdeploytk.dll
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\npdeploytk.dll
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\npdeploytk.dll

  20. DComedian said on April 26, 2010 at 4:27 am
    Reply

    I followed your advice and it seemed to work perfectly, thank you.

  21. Randall said on April 25, 2010 at 10:49 pm
    Reply

    Could not find C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npdeployJava1.dll

    Instead found C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npdeploytk.dll

    Deleted C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npdeploytk.dll

    Java Deployment toolkit is now gone

  22. Randall said on April 25, 2010 at 10:16 pm
    Reply

    I followed your instructions.

    Can’t even find Java Deployment Toolkit in about:plugins.

    Java Deployment Toolkit is still listed in addons plugins.

  23. Crodol said on April 25, 2010 at 5:47 pm
    Reply

    I deleted both “npdeploytk.dll”
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\npdeploytk.dll
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin\npdeploytk.dll

    It still shows up in Firefox under Plugins!
    [I have Windows 7 HP, Firefox 3.6.4, Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.180.7]

    Any ideas Martin?

    1. Martin said on April 25, 2010 at 5:53 pm
      Reply

      Have you closed the browser before deleting the files?

  24. Crodol said on April 25, 2010 at 3:44 pm
    Reply

    Strange… I did exactly as described above (deleted npdeploytk.dll) and the plugin still shows up in the list!

  25. scott said on April 25, 2010 at 3:32 pm
    Reply

    Thanks, Martin.

    I followed your instructions, but I’m not seeing everything you’re describing. I assume that’s because I only use Firefox Portable…

    I don’t have the java console extension described in another post (I do have the latest JRE installed), but I do see the Java Deployment Toolkit plugin. Since, as I said, I only use Firefox Portable, I don’t have a “C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox” folder, but I looked at every folder & subfolder in my Firefox Portable location, and I didn’t see anything with *npdeploy* anywhere.

    I also did not see any reference to Java Deployment Toolkit in about:plugins.

    However, I did find “npdeploytk.dll” in 2 locations on my C drive:

    C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\
    AND
    C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\new_plugin

    If I wanted to remove the Java Deployment Toolkit, should I backup & delete both of those files?

    As always, THANK YOU for your invaluable help!

    1. Martin said on April 25, 2010 at 3:46 pm
      Reply

      Scott I would start with the new plugin folder and see if that is enough.

      1. scott said on April 25, 2010 at 4:15 pm
        Reply

        Deleting only from “\new_plugin” took care of it — thanks, Martin!

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