Download Apache Tomcat for PC, Windows 11/10 & Mac (Free)

The Apache Tomcat download is free for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac. Grab Tomcat 11.0.26 from tomcat.apache.org as a Windows Service Installer, a Windows zip, or a tar.gz archive for macOS and Linux.

Tomcat is the open-source Java web server from The Apache Software Foundation. It runs Jakarta Servlet, Jakarta Pages and WebSocket applications, and it needs Java installed first.

Below you will find the right file for your machine, the official links, setup on Windows and Mac, checksums, version choice, common fixes and removal.

Apache Tomcat card with version, file size and Java requirement
The Tomcat 11.0.26 Windows Service Installer is 14.3 MB and needs Java 17 or later.

Which Apache Tomcat download do you need?

Every file comes from the Apache download network at dlcdn.apache.org. Match your setup to a row, then install Java 17 or later before you start Tomcat 11.

Your setup Download Size
Windows 11 or 10, run Tomcat as a background service apache-tomcat-11.0.26.exe 14.3 MB
Windows 11 or 10, development copy you start by hand apache-tomcat-11.0.26-windows-x64.zip 15.7 MB
Mac or Linux apache-tomcat-11.0.26.tar.gz 13.8 MB
Any system, plain zip archive apache-tomcat-11.0.26.zip 14.3 MB
App still uses javax.* packages, or Java 8 Tomcat 9.0.122 downloads 14.3 MB installer
App built for Jakarta EE 10, or Java 11 Tomcat 10.1.60 downloads 15.3 MB installer

Tomcat 11 ships one Windows zip, for 64-bit x64. Tomcat 10.1 and 9.0 still offer 32-bit and 64-bit Windows zips.

Download Apache Tomcat from the official tomcat.apache.org pages

Each Tomcat branch has its own download page with the core files, the full documentation bundle, the deployer and the source code.

  1. Tomcat 11 software downloads — 11.0.26, current development focus
  2. Tomcat 11 Windows Service Installer — 14.3 MB · Direct file link
  3. Tomcat 10 software downloads — 10.1.60 for Jakarta EE 10
  4. Tomcat 9 software downloads — 9.0.122, last branch for Java EE 8
  5. Which Tomcat version? — Specs and minimum Java per branch
  6. Apache Tomcat home — Release news, documentation and security reports

If dlcdn.apache.org fails, the download page switches to the backup host downloads.apache.org from its mirror list.

Apache Tomcat 11 download page listing zip, tar.gz and installer files
Every file on the page has a pgp signature and a sha512 checksum link beside it.

How to install Apache Tomcat on Windows 11 and 10

The Windows Service Installer always sets Tomcat up as a Windows service. Install a Java 17 or later runtime first, because the installer looks for it in the registry.

  1. Open the Tomcat 11 download page and click Windows Service Installer under Binary Distributions.
  2. Double-click apache-tomcat-11.0.26.exe and click Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Work through the setup screens. On the components page, tick the service startup option if Tomcat should start with Windows.
  4. Confirm the Java path. The installer tries a JRE, then a JDK, then the JAVA_HOME variable.
  5. Finish setup, then start Tomcat from the shortcut the installer creates.
  6. Open http://localhost:8080/ in your browser to see the Tomcat welcome page.

A service shows no tray icon while it runs. Use the Tomcat11w monitor shortcut to start, stop and configure it.

Apache Tomcat setup guide covering the Windows installer and Unix daemon
The Windows installer always registers Tomcat as a service and looks up Java in the registry.

Run Apache Tomcat from the zip without installing it

The zip suits development machines. Nothing touches the registry, and you start or stop Tomcat from a terminal.

  1. Download the 64-bit Windows zip and extract it to its own folder, such as C:pache-tomcat-11.0 .
  2. Set CATALINA_HOME to that folder.
  3. Open Command Prompt and run %CATALINA_HOME%\bin\startup.bat .
  4. Browse to http://localhost:8080/ .
  5. Run %CATALINA_HOME%\bin\shutdown.bat to stop Tomcat.

To turn a zip copy into a Windows service, run service.bat install from the bin folder in an elevated prompt. The default service name is Tomcat11.

How to verify the Apache Tomcat download

Apache publishes a SHA-512 checksum and an OpenPGP signature for every release file. The download page tells you to check one before you run anything.

  1. Click the sha512 link next to your file on the download page and keep the hash open.
  2. Open PowerShell in your Downloads folder.
  3. Run Get-FileHash .\apache-tomcat-11.0.26.exe -Algorithm SHA512 .
  4. Compare the output with the published hash. They must match exactly.
  5. On a Mac, run shasum -a 512 apache-tomcat-11.0.26.tar.gz in Terminal instead.

For the signature check, import the KEYS file linked at the top of the download page into GnuPG and verify the pgp file.

Which Apache Tomcat download do you need for your Mac?

Tomcat has no Mac installer. The tar.gz archive runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs alike, because Tomcat is plain Java.

Your project Download Size
New app, Java 17 or later installed apache-tomcat-11.0.26.tar.gz 13.8 MB
Jakarta EE 10 app, Java 11 or later apache-tomcat-10.1.60.tar.gz 13.8 MB
Older javax.* app, Java 8 or later apache-tomcat-9.0.122.tar.gz 12.6 MB

Extract the archive, open Terminal in the folder and run bin/startup.sh . Stop Tomcat with bin/shutdown.sh .

Set JAVA_HOME or JRE_HOME in bin/setenv.sh if Tomcat cannot find Java.

Is Apache Tomcat free?

The Apache Software Foundation releases Tomcat under the Apache License version 2. You pay nothing for personal, commercial or production use.

Yes. Download Apache Tomcat free from tomcat.apache.org and use it anywhere, including commercial servers. There is no licence key, account or paid edition. A site charging for a Tomcat download is reselling free software.

Should you install Tomcat 11, 10.1 or 9?

Tomcat 10 and later use jakarta. packages instead of javax. . An app built for Tomcat 9 needs code changes, or the Apache migration tool, before it runs on 10.1 or 11.

Install Tomcat 11 for new projects. Install Tomcat 9.0 only for apps that still use javax packages or must run on Java 8. Tomcat 11 is the branch under active development. Tomcat 9.0 reaches end of life no earlier than 31 March 2027, and Tomcat 10.0 and 8.5 are already end-of-life.

Which Java and Jakarta EE versions each Tomcat branch supports

Each Tomcat branch implements one set of specifications and needs a minimum Java version. Check your app’s platform and your Java version against this table.

Branch Latest Servlet / Pages Platform Minimum Java
Tomcat 11.0 11.0.26 6.1 / 4.0 Jakarta EE 11 Java 17
Tomcat 10.1 10.1.60 6.0 / 3.1 Jakarta EE 10 Java 11
Tomcat 9.0 9.0.122 4.0 / 2.3 Java EE 8 Java 8
Apache Tomcat version table with specifications and minimum Java per branch
Tomcat 11 needs Java 17, while the older 9.0 branch still runs on Java 8.

Check the Apache Tomcat system requirements

Tomcat 11.0 requires a Java SE runtime, version 17 or later. Any Windows, macOS or Linux machine that runs that Java can run Tomcat.

Field Value
Software Apache Tomcat (Java web server and servlet container)
Developer The Apache Software Foundation
Latest version 11.0.26 (also 10.1.60 and 9.0.122)
Licence Free, Apache License version 2
Java Java 17 or later for Tomcat 11
Windows Windows 11 and 10, Service Installer or x64 zip
macOS and Linux zip or tar.gz archive
Download size 14.3 MB (Tomcat 11.0.26 Windows Service Installer)
Default address http://localhost:8080/
Official source tomcat.apache.org
Last verified 2026-09-25

How to point Apache Tomcat at the right Java on Windows 11

The startup scripts read JRE_HOME or JAVA_HOME. When both are set, Tomcat uses JRE_HOME.

  1. Open the bin folder inside your Tomcat folder.
  2. Create a text file named setenv.bat .
  3. Add the line set “JRE_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17” , using your own Java folder.
  4. Add exit /b 0 on the next line and save the file.
  5. Run startup.bat again from a new Command Prompt.

The service ignores setenv.bat , because the service wrapper launches Java directly. Change the Java path for a service in the Tomcat11w monitor.

Fix Apache Tomcat not installing or not starting

Most Tomcat start-up failures come from a missing Java runtime or a busy port. Find the symptom that matches yours.

The installer cannot find Java

No Java 17 or later runtime is registered.

  1. Install a Java 17 or later JDK or JRE.
  2. Set JAVA_HOME to its folder.
  3. Run the Tomcat installer again.

Tomcat stops at once because port 8080 is in use

Another program already listens on 8080.

  1. Open conf\server.xml in the Tomcat folder.
  2. Search for 8080 and change it to a free port above 1024.
  3. Restart Tomcat and use the new port in your browser.

http://localhost:8080/ will not load behind a proxy

The browser sends localhost through the proxy.

  1. Open your browser’s proxy settings.
  2. Add localhost to the bypass list.
  3. Reload the page.

An older web app fails on Tomcat 10.1 or 11

The app still imports javax.* classes.

  1. Run the Apache Tomcat Migration Tool for Jakarta EE on the app.
  2. Or install Tomcat 9.0.122 for that app instead.

How to uninstall Apache Tomcat on Windows 11 and Mac

Stop Tomcat before you remove it, and copy out any web apps from the webapps folder that you want to keep.

  1. For an installer copy, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Apache Tomcat and click Uninstall.
  2. For a zip copy running as a service, run service.bat remove from the bin folder in an elevated prompt.
  3. Delete the Tomcat folder.
  4. On a Mac, run bin/shutdown.sh , then drag the Tomcat folder to the Trash.

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Tomcat free?

Yes. The Apache Software Foundation releases Tomcat under the Apache License version 2, so it costs nothing for personal or commercial use.

What is the latest Apache Tomcat version?

Tomcat 11.0.26 is the latest release on tomcat.apache.org. The 10.1 branch is at 10.1.60 and the 9.0 branch is at 9.0.122.

Does Apache Tomcat need Java?

Yes. Tomcat 11 needs Java 17 or later, Tomcat 10.1 needs Java 11 or later, and Tomcat 9.0 needs Java 8 or later.

How big is the Apache Tomcat download?

The Tomcat 11.0.26 Windows Service Installer is 14.3 MB. The 64-bit Windows zip is 15.7 MB and the tar.gz for Mac and Linux is 13.8 MB.

Is there Apache Tomcat for Mac?

Yes. Download the tar.gz archive from tomcat.apache.org, extract it and run bin/startup.sh. It works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with Java installed.

What port does Apache Tomcat use?

Tomcat listens on port 8080 by default, so open http://localhost:8080/ after you start it. Change the port in conf/server.xml.

Can Apache Tomcat run as a Windows service?

Yes. The Windows Service Installer always installs Tomcat as a service. For a zip copy, run service.bat install from the bin folder. The default service name is Tomcat11.

Which Tomcat version should I download?

Download Tomcat 11 for new projects. Use Tomcat 9.0 only for older apps that still use javax.* packages or must run on Java 8.

Philip Celasco

Philip is a Texas-based technology writer and IT administrator at Techdows.com with more than 10 years of experience creating practical content for everyday users and professionals. He specializes in web browsers, particularly Chromium-based platforms such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera. Through his work as an IT administrator, Philip has hands-on experience managing devices, configuring browser policies, troubleshooting software and network issues, and helping people resolve problems that affect productivity and security. His articles are based on practical testing and real-world technical experience. He covers browser settings, extensions, performance problems, privacy controls, security features, and Windows troubleshooting. Outside work, Philip enjoys the quieter side of life in Texas and stepping away from the screen when he can. He has two kids, two cats and loves to play golf with his mother during the weekends.

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