How do I delete Java application preferences?

Solution 1:

From Apple Developer Connection:

The preferences files generated by the Preferences API are named com.apple.java.util.prefs. The user’s preferences file is stored in their home directory (~/Library/Preferences/). The system preferences are stored in /Library/Preferences/ and are only persisted to disk if the user is an administrator.

I do not know if you can simply delete them though.

Solution 2:

This problem hit me recently so I thought I'd post the answer here belatedly.

When you delete the preferences on a Mac (plist file) make sure you clear the cached preferences otherwise Java programs can keep working with the cached settings. You can:

1. Delete the plist file

2. killall -u <your-user-name> cfprefsd

   OR

3. reboot

Items 2. and 3. will cause the cache to be cleared and then your preferences will be reloaded as cfprefsd restarts automatically.

I hope that helps.