---
title: How to Install JMeter on Windows
url: https://blog.octoperf.com/how-to-install-jmeter-on-windows/
date: '2018-04-16'
authors:
- jloisel
categories:
- JMeter
tags:
- JMeter
- Windows
description: Need help to get JMeter working on Windows? This guide learns you how to install JMeter on your PC running Windows 7, 8 or 10. in just a few minutes.
---

# How to Install JMeter on Windows

[JMeter](https://jmeter.apache.org) isn't particularly hard to install. But that's easy to say when you've done it many times.

Basically if you want to get started with JMeter on [Windows](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/). That's great because this guide is for you! Let's see how to **install JMeter on Windows**.

## Install Java

### Check Java Version

JMeter is a [Java](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)) program: the Java Virtual Machine must be installed prior to installing JMeter. 

To check if Java is installed properly:

- Open a **Command-Line console** by clicking on the start menu then type `cmd`,
- Enter the command: `java -version`.

![Java Version](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/java-version.png "Checking Installed Java Version")


It should display something like:

```
java version "1.8.0_144"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment <build 1.8.0_144-b01>
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM <build 25.144-b01, mixed mode, sharing>
```

### Java Setup

If it's not the case (like showing `java command not found`, then **Java must be installed**.

![Install Java](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/install-java.png "Java Installation Website")

To install Java:

- Open the [Open JDK](https://openjdk.org/install/) in your browser,
- Download the appropriate executable setup file,
- Run the executable setup file,
- And follow instructions.

Once Java is installed, make sure the `java -version` command works properly.

## JMeter Setup

Now that Java is installed, we're going to **install JMeter**:

### Unzip Archive

- First, [Download JMeter](https://jmeter.apache.org/download_jmeter.cgi): prefer **ZIP archive** format,
- Using the Explorer, Open the folder,
- Right-click on JMeter's ZIP archive and select  `Extract to apache-jmeter-xx\`.

![Extract JMeter Archive](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/extract-archive.png "Extract JMeter Archive")

### JMeter Directories

![JMeter Root Files](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/jmeter-root-files.png "JMeter Root Files")

Great! Now we have successfully downloaded and unzipped JMeter. You should see the following files within the `apache-jmeter-XX` folder:

- **backups**: contains the backups of **JMX files** (also known as JMeter projects) you edited within JMeter,
- **bin**: contains the executable files to launch JMeter, and configuration files to tweak JMeter settings,
- **docs**: JMeter's documentation in HTML format,
- **extras**: some useful side tools like excel sheets to compute graphs from JTL result files,
- **lib**: JMeter's libraries which are mostly Java JAR files,
- **printable_docs**: documentation in printable format.

It's now time to see how to launch JMeter.

### Run JMeter

The screenshot below shows what JMeter's `bin/` folder contains. It's a bunch of configuration and executable files.

![JMeter Bin Folder](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/jmeter-bin-files.png "JMeter bin/ folder")

to run JMeter:

- Browse to `bin/` folder by double-clicking on it,
- double-click on `jmeter.bat` to run it,
- It should open both a command-line terminal and JMeter's UI.

![JMeter UI](https://blog.octoperf.com/img/blog/how-to-install-jmeter-windows/jmeter-gui.png "Congratulations! JMeter is installed and running.")

The screenshot above shows JMeter 4.0 graphical interface with the **new dark theme**. As said before, it wasn't difficult at all, but sometimes it's always pleasant to have someone help you to **install and run JMeter**.

### Upgrading JMeter

When a new [JMeter](https://jmeter.apache.org) version is available, the **new JMeter version** must be installed in a **fresh new folder**.

> Please do not unzip a new JMeter version over a previous one. 

Simply **repeat the steps above** to install a new version.

### Removing JMeter

Simply delete the `apache-jmeter-XX` folder and you're done. Yes, it's that simple!