You may get a message similar to the one below indicating that you need to install the legacy Java SE 6 runtime.
If you click the OK button, the message will go away. If you click the More Info button, you’ll be taken to this page:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572
Here is the information provided on that page.
Java for OS X 2015-001
Java for OS X 2015-001 installs the legacy Java 6 runtime for OS X 10.11 El Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and OS X 10.7 Lion.
This package is exclusively intended for support of legacy software and installs the same deprecated version of Java 6 included in the 2014-001 and 2013-005 releases.
Quit any Java applications before installing this update.
See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6133 for more details about this update.
See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 for information about the security content of this update.
Keep your software up to date. If you need Java, download the latest version of Java for OS X directly from Oracle https://www.java.com
NOTE: Older versions may be found at: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1829
Post Date: Jul 22, 2015
File Size: 63.98 MB
Installation
If you download the Java file and install it, you’ll get this message during installation:
Java for OS X 2015-001 installs the legacy Java SE 6 runtime.
This package is exclusively intended for support of legacy software, and installs the same deprecated version of Java SE 6 included in the 2013-005 release. If you require Java for applets or other non-legacy uses it is recommended you download the latest version of Java from https://java.com.
Please quit any Java applications before installing this update.
See https://support.apple.com/kb/HT6133 for more details about this update.
See https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 for information about the security content of this update.
Page Visitors
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Iowa City Technology Services 
And what exactly does all of that mean, to users? You’ve just regurgitated what I read on the Apple website for the download. You’ve explained nothing, added no understanding…
I want to install DrJava and it seems to need this. My son wants minecraft to work, and it seems to need this. The current version of Java appears to be 8.73 now (in Feb 2016). What are we giving up to install this version 6 and what new, different problems will we have once we can run the stuff that needs Java 6?
Sorry you didn’t find the page helpful. As is stated at the top of the page, “This page was initially posted on October 18, 2014. After a few months, Apple and Sun/Java finally worked out the problems with these updates (described further down the page).”
The point of the article was to inform people of problems with the Java update not working, document it, and offer a few alternatives. Many people have found the page to be helpful.
What is your question at this point? I’m happy to help by updating the page with what you think is missing.
From what you state, you’ve been to Apple’s website and followed their instructions. Apparently things still aren’t working. Correct?
Here’s the discrepancy that comes up… There’s a new Apple update to Java. That sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t work. There’s an older legacy update. There are also updates directly available from the Java site. In summary, people need to try all three of these.
So actually I have not installed the 2015-001 Java 6 SE update because I cannot tell whether I will experience other much newer Java code that will fail to execute because it requires code releases after Java 6. And that is the real problem with all of the info at the apple site. It all says you can install version 6 by downloading and installing this, but there’s no context for understanding whether one is truly going “back” to Java 6 or just forcing some kind of compatibility with current Java and there are no additional consequences. And I’m sorry that I vented here, but I find the Apple site inexcusably vague about that update, and one cannot effectively vent at Apple because they bog you down in a zillion threads of similar problems at their site, and there’s so many people as confused or more confused than me!
Thanks. Yes, I definitely understand your frustration. Mostly on this site I offer solutions to problems, but sometimes I will document problems that don’t yet have a solution because the vendor isn’t addressing the solution. As you pointed out, the Apple Discussion forum is a mix of repeated posts, and various threads. This post here attempts to clearly explain the problem and document that it’s not been fixed by Apple to let people know. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find the visitor map, that shows the people around the world, who have landed on this page, and are just as frustrated as you are. I first wrote about this issue in October 2014. Since then, there have been thousands of people with the same problem and, as far as I know, Apple hasn’t corrected the problem. One would think there might be a simple update Apple could offer that would fix the problem. To answer your question about installing an older version of Java… For a long time it was common on Windows computers to have older versions of Java installed along side newer versions. If a program required the older version, it would run on that, if it required the newer version it would run on that. So, basically, while there are no guarantees, I’d think that installing the older version should be fine. I never had a problem with my computer after installing multiple times. The only frustration was that the warning message kept popping up despite me doing everything Apple’s website said to. Here’s a link to the other article I wrote about this issue in October 2014 https://iowacitytechnologyservices.com/2014/10/18/java-8-update-25-for-apple-max-osx-10-10-yosemite/
Don’t be defensive and treat the request with contempt. They are right, you didn’t provide a solution and your post is as useless as Apple’s post. Get off your f—ing high horse.
I have OS Sierra and that is why I am getting the legacy Java SE6 runtime window. However, the post at the top of this page states that the Java update is only for OS X 10.11 El Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and OS X 10.7 Lion.
I am not going to download/install it. In addition, I don’t think I use Java, the software is not installed and I use FLASH.
I have been working on Blurb booksmart and updated my system to Sierra on Mac. Now I am unable to access it without downloading Java SE 6 runtime. Is that correct? Am I going to have to install anything in addition?
Hi LeeAnn, I’m not sure what the requirements would be for that software. You may want to contact the vendor directly.