Why do I receive the error "Warning: An error occurred while reading the desktop configuration file" when launching MATLAB?

Why do I receive the error "Warning: An error occurred while reading the desktop configuration file" when launching MATLAB?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

If you are launching MATLAB and receiving the following error you might be using a different version of Java than the one shipped with MATLAB. 

ERROR: Warning: An error occurred while reading the desktop configuration file

In order to check the version of Java that MATLAB is using, launch MATLAB and run the following command. 

version -java

Check for a MATLAB_JAVA environment variable set on your system. If a MATLAB_JAVA environment variable is set, remove it and relaunch MATLAB twice to see if the issue persists. 

If this does not help, it was also possible to resolve this via the following commands:

>> restoredefaultpath
>> rehash toolboxcache
>> savepath

If you are still unable to start MATLAB properly after removing the MATLAB_JAVA environment variable and doing the commands above, please contact MathWorks Support. They can be reached here:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

[Ross Nye]

I'm having the same problem (and I don't have a MATLAB_JAVA either) and am now wondering the following

• Why is my Matlab, 2017a, using such an old version of Java, 1.7.0 u60? It was released in 2014.
• Why is my Matlab, which clearly has to be newer than your version, using an older version of Java than your is?
• Why didnt TMW Support team respond to your query when someone there last edited this post, which was after you posted.