# JabRef on Ubuntu not opening

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [April 4, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591 "2019-04-04T19:29:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gavagai-53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9bd4f/32.png) [@gavagai-53](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/gavagai-53)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591/1 "2019-04-04T19:29:35Z")

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Hi! JabRef stopped opening on Ubuntu, giving me:

> Error occurred during initialization of boot layer  
> java.lang.module.FindException: Module java.se.ee not found

java --version shows:

> openjdk 11.0.1 2018-10-16  
> OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.1+13-Ubuntu-3ubuntu3.18.10.1)  
> OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0.1+13-Ubuntu-3ubuntu3.18.10.1, mixed mode, sharing)

How should I fix this?

Thanks for the help!

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591/2 "2019-04-05T14:03:16Z")

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You have java 11 installed.

JabRef requires java 8:  
[http://help.jabref.org/en/FAQlinux](http://help.jabref.org/en/FAQlinux)

The current 5.x development version is also avaiable as snap. However, the snap version does not work with libre office

> <https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/3121>

Regards  
Christoph

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**Author:** ![kaktux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kaktux](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/kaktux)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:12am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591/3 "2019-04-16T07:12:58Z")

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as i also use (k)ubuntu here my quick install info.

Open terminal and enter (add sudo if needed):

your java-version:  
java -version

Install java:  
apt install openjdk-8-jre  
apt install openjfx

Download jabref from [jabref.org](http://jabref.org)

Create Install directory:  
mkdir /opt/jabref

mv downloaded jabref to install directory:

mv /home/yourusername/Downloads/JabRefdownloadname.jar /opt/jabref/jabref.jar

Create starter by openeing editor - e.g. kate:  
SUDO\_EDITOR=kate sudoedit /opt/jabref/jabref.sh

File Content:  
#!/bin/bash  
java -jar /opt/jabref/jabref.jar &

Terminal again:  
make executable:  
chmod +x /opt/jabref/jabref.sh

Start with:  
java -jar /opt/jabref/jabref.jar

and/or create Symlink:  
ln -s /opt/jabref/jabref.sh /usr/local/bin/jabref

this worked for me.

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**Author:** ![mlep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/mlep/32/387_2.png) [@mlep](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mlep)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-on-ubuntu-not-opening/1591/4 "2019-04-17T16:39:52Z")

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A fix is provided here: [https://github.com/JabRef/help.jabref.org/issues/204](https://github.com/JabRef/help.jabref.org/issues/204)