After Installing Java JDK 7 For Mac OS X - mvn -version still shows java version 1.6.0_31

Question

Finally found the answer here:

http://www.adam-bien.com/roller/abien/entry/java_se_development_kit_7

You should use JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home) instead on a Mac and then set the current jdk via "Java Preferences.app".

Set JAVA_HOME in ~/.profile

The problem is that the symbolic link "CurrentJDK" inside the versions of JavaVm.framework points to the old jdk, so when i used the following commands to set the CurrentJDK to the latest one (1.7.0_45) it works

cd /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions
sudo rm CurrentJDK
sudo ln -s /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_45.jdk/Contents CurrentJDK

reference: http://java.dzone.com/articles/installing-jdk-7-mac-os-x

To find the path from Java Preferences, try /usr/libexec/java_home -X

My Java7 entry looks like this:

<dict>
    <key>JVMArch</key>
    <string>x86_64</string>
    <key>JVMBundleID</key>
    <string>com.oracle.java.7u04.jdk</string>
    <key>JVMEnabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>JVMHomePath</key>
    <string>/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.7.0.jdk/Contents/Home</string>
    <key>JVMIsBuiltIn</key>
    <false/>
    <key>JVMName</key>
    <string>Java SE 7</string>
    <key>JVMPlatformVersion</key>
    <string>1.7</string>
    <key>JVMVendor</key>
    <string>Oracle Corporation</string>
    <key>JVMVersion</key>
    <string>1.7.0_04</string>
</dict>

You need to change the JAVA_HOME environment variable to the new JDK 1.7 location.

Look at this question for possible locations where JAVA_HOME might be defined. In a terminal, type which java to find the path of your Java installation, and then update JAVA_HOME to point to that path (but exclude the trailing bin folder).