Install Apache Maven on Windows

Requirements

1. Maven runs on Java. Install a JDK and check it:

java --version

1. You need administrator rights to change the system environment variables.

Step 1: Download Maven

Open the Apache Maven download page and download the Binary zip archive (apache-maven-x.y.z-bin.zip).

Step 2: Extract it

Extract the zip file to a folder such as C:\Program Files\Apache\maven. Inside you will find a folder like apache-maven-3.9.6.

Step 3: Set the environment variables

1. Search for environment variables in the Start menu and open Edit the system environment variables. Click Environment Variables.

   

2. Under System variables, click New. Name: MAVEN_HOME (or M2_HOME). Value: the Maven folder, for example C:\Program Files\Apache\maven\apache-maven-3.9.6.

   

3. Check that JAVA_HOME is set to your JDK folder. If not, add it too.
4. Select Path, click Edit, click New and add %MAVEN_HOME%\bin.

   

5. Click OK in all windows.

Step 4: Check Maven

Open a new Command Prompt:

mvn -v

You see the Maven version, the Java version and your operating system.

Troubleshooting

1. If mvn -v is not found, check that %MAVEN_HOME%\bin is in the Path, and open a new window.
2. Make sure Java is installed and JAVA_HOME is right.
3. Use an administrator account to change system variables.

Why use Maven

• Project management. A standard folder layout for projects.
• Dependency management. Maven downloads the libraries your project needs. You do not have to copy JAR files.
• Build automation. Define build steps (compile, test, package) once.
• Reproducibility. Builds are the same on every computer.

Next steps

Create a project:

mvn archetype:generate -DgroupId=com.example -DartifactId=my-app -DarchetypeArtifactId=maven-archetype-quickstart -DinteractiveMode=false
cd my-app
mvn package

Quick recap

• Install a JDK, extract Maven, set MAVEN_HOME and the Path.
• Check with mvn -v.
• Use mvn package to build a project.