Can not run Java Applets in Internet Explorer 11 u

Question

Today I updated my Java version to 7u51. After the installation, I cleared Java Cache, browser's Cache, and logged into a secure website that uses an Applet to provide certain additional services to the user.

The applet is not working anymore. I accessed http://www.java.com to check the Java version detected in Internet Explorer, and the java website says:

We are unable to verify if Java is currently installed and enabled in your browser.

Other browsers can check Java, and the mentioned applet works as expected:

As the applet works as expected in other browsers, I can assume the problem is not the Applet nor its deployment files/processes, but the compatibility of JRE 7u51 with IE 11. I would like to know if there is any workaround for this.

As additional measure, I used the java.com tool to uninstall any previous and unsecure JRE version (using Google Chrome). After double checking IE 11, I can see the Java Addons enabled and versioned to 7u51:

I know IE has been improved; even so, we recommend to our customers to use Google Chrome or Firefox as these browsers have proven to be more compatible with our web applications. Unfortunatelly, we can not force our customers to use certain browser due to the common organizational restrictions about programs usage, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help.

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Update (01/20/2014):

The following screenshot shows Internet Explorer 11 with Compatibility View configured for "java.com". It doesn't fix the problem in this case.

Answer 1

The behavior of applets changes significantly with update 51. It's going to be a confusing couple of weeks for RIA developers. Recommended reading: https://blogs.oracle.com/java-platform-group/entry/new_security_requirements_for_rias

Answer 2

Had the same problem recently on IE11 with Windows 7. Applets worked fine before but they stop working from one day to another. I solved it adding the applet sites to trusted sites and config this with low security level.

Answer 3

1. Go to Control panel.
2. Double click on Java.
3. Go to Security tab.
4. Change security from high to medium.

Your applets will run.

If they are still not running then you have to add that website name in exception site list of Security tab of Java in Control panel.

Answer 4

I know Mickey S. solved his issue with Java 8, but Pavel S. was on to something. If you're working locally with an applet, setting your Intranet Zone to Low security and then setting Java security in Control Panel -> Java -> Security setting to Medium from High does solve the problem of running local applets with Java 7u51 (and u55) on Win 7 with IE 11.

(Specifically, I have a little test tool for barcode generation from IDAutomation that is crafted as an applet which wouldn't work on the above config, until I performed the listed steps.)

Answer 5

This type of issue is cropping up again using the Windows 8 / IE 11 combination with the new version of Java (1.8.0_31). The installation seems to work, but after installing Java via the Java Control Panel Update tab, every time you run a Java applet you are told your version of Java is outdated, but when you follow the prompts to again update, you are told your version of Java is newer than the one on the web.

As with a previous iteration of such problems, what worked for me was, after installation, unchecking "Internet Options | Security | Enable Protected Mode", running a Java applet and then re-checking it and everything is fine.

Do people at Oracle not test on Windows 8 with IE or does this only happen for people with particular extensions enabled?

As before, this problem didn't happen on Windows 7, but there I noticed that the SSLv3 changes now prevent you from running a local applet in Internet Explorer unless you remove that line from the java.security file. But this problem doesn't happen on Windows 8, so it is not clear what is actually happening.

If Oracle doesn't make the update process less rocky, people won't update. I've seen many people lately using 2009 versions of JRE 1.6. That is the sort of situation that often doesn't end well.

Answer 6

I've just resolved the problem on two PCs (Win 8 64-bit with IE10; Win 8.1 32-bit with IE11). With Java 7 Update 67 both cases (same with update 65 and, probably, others).

In my case, it was caused by java ssv, which first requested admin rights, then Java stopped working because it messed something using them.

So, my resolution was:

1. Reinstall java. No reboot required, but close browsers beforehand. Also, it's not required to uninstall it before running installer (I didn't).
2. On 1st (or 2nd) launch of IE, privilege elevation will be prompted for Java SSV. If denied, it will pop up again. Multiple times. Important here is to deny them all.
3. To stop these prompts, disable Java SSV helpers (both of them) in Add-Ons or when IE prompts about startup times.

After that, http://www.java.com/verify/ prompts to run Java (twice, 1st time IE, 2nd time Java itself) and, when allowed, says everything is OK.

(will give more screenshots if anyone will ask)