Installation of Apache Maven on Windows and MAC (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 30 Mar, 2026

Apache Maven is a build automation tool written in Java, developed by the Apache Software Foundation. It helps manage project builds and dependencies using a standardized approach.

• Uses a plugin-based architecture for flexible build management
• Automatically downloads required dependencies
• Simplifies project build, testing, and packaging
• Widely used for Java projects in enterprise development

Follow the steps below to install Apache Maven on Windows and MacOS:

Installing Apache Maven on Windows

**Step 1: Download Maven Zip File and Extract

**1. Click on the Download button.

**2. Click on the **apache-maven-3.8.4-bin.zip button.

**3. Now check for the executable file in downloads in your system

**4. Now right-click on the file and click on extract here to extract the file.

**5. After extracting, you get the extracted folder.

**6. Now copy the extracted folder.

**7. Now paste the copy folder in your windows drive in the Program files folder.

**8. Now the Permission Windows appears to paste the folder in program files then click on “Continue”.

**9. Now open the folder apache maven.

**10. Now after opening the folder then copy the address of the folder in program files.

Step 2: Add MAVEN_HOME System Variable

**1. Now click on Start Menu and search “Edit the system environment variables” and open it.

**2. After opening System, Variable New window appears, and click on “Environment Variables…”

**3. Now click on New under user variable.

**4. Now you can write any variable name and then paste the address we copy from program files in the variable value and then click on OK.

Step 3: Add MAVEN_HOME Directory in PATH Variable

**1. Now go to the “System variables” Path option and double click on Path or Click on the Edit button.

**2. Now click on New Button.

**3. After New Paste the address we copy from program files to new.

**4. After pasting the address add the \bin in the last and then click on OK.

**5. Now click on the OK button.

**6. Click on the OK button.

Step 4: Verify Maven Installation

1. Now your **Apache Maven is installed on your computer. You may check by going to the “Start” menu typing Command Prompt. Open it.

**2. When the Command Prompt opens, type **mvn -version and click the enter button on the keyboard.

**3. Now command prompt shows the version of **Apache Maven installed on your windows.

You have successfully installed **Apache Maven on your Windows system.

Installing Apache Maven on MacOS

Step 1: Download Maven

• File to download: **apache-maven-3.9.12-bin.zip (or the latest available version)

• Extract the ZIP file inside the **Users directory. Example path after extraction:

/Users/{userName}/apache-maven-3.9.12

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

• Edit the .zshrc file in your Mac. If .zshrc does not exist, create it:

touch ~/.zshrc

• Open the file:

nano ~/.zshrc

**Add the following content .zshrc file:

**# Java Home

export JAVA_HOME="/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-17.jdk/Contents/Home"

export PATH="${JAVA_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"

**# Maven Home

export M2_HOME="/Users/{userName}/apache-maven-3.9.12"

export PATH="${M2_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"

Step 4. Handle MacOS Security Prompt

If MacOS blocks the Maven execution:

• Try running mvn from Terminal
• Go to **System Settings → Privacy & Security
• Click **Open Anyway for Maven

Step 5. Restart Terminal

• Quit the Terminal completely
• Ensure .zshrc is saved

Step 6. Final Verification

Open a new Terminal session and run:

mvn -v

You should now see the Maven **3.9.12 version details along with Java information.