How to install Gradle on Ubuntu

Gradle is a powerful build automation tool used for Java, Kotlin, and other JVM languages. Whether you’re building Android apps or Java libraries, Gradle is often the go-to. Here’s how to install it cleanly on Ubuntu.

✅ Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

• A system running Ubuntu 18.04 or newer
• sudo access
• Java installed (Gradle needs it)

You can check if Java is installed:

java -version

If it’s not, install it:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk -y

🔧 Step 1: Download the Latest Gradle Release

First, check the Gradle releases page for the latest version. At the time of writing, it’s 8.5.

Then, download and extract it:

wget https://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.5-bin.zip -P /tmp
sudo unzip -d /opt/gradle /tmp/gradle-8.5-bin.zip

This installs Gradle under /opt/gradle.

⚙️ Step 2: Set Up Environment Variables

Create a new file to load Gradle into your shell:

sudo nano /etc/profile.d/gradle.sh

Paste this in:

export GRADLE_HOME=/opt/gradle/gradle-8.5
export PATH=${GRADLE_HOME}/bin:${PATH}

Save and exit. Then apply the changes:

sudo chmod +x /etc/profile.d/gradle.sh
source /etc/profile.d/gradle.sh

✅ Step 3: Verify the Installation

Run:

gradle -v

You should see version info and system environment details. That means it worked.

🚀 You’re Done

Gradle is now installed and ready to go. From here, you can create a new project or import one that uses a build.gradle file. Simple.

Need a quick Gradle init?

gradle init

It’ll guide you through setting up a basic project.

Let me know in the comments if you hit any snags, or want help setting up your first Gradle build.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!