diff --git a/BUILDING.md b/BUILDING.md
index 7e13a0714b..d62623f736 100644
--- a/BUILDING.md
+++ b/BUILDING.md
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ This guide explains how to build Codename One from source using Maven. It provid
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-- **JDK 8**
+- **JDK 8** for compiling the core framework (the core modules use `-source 1.5 -target 1.5` for backward compatibility)
+- **JDK 11 through 25** for *running* the simulator and the "Run as desktop app" target
 - **JDK 17** for building the Android port
 - **Apache Maven 3.6+**
 - macOS with Xcode (required only for the iOS port)
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 2c2f4690b8..781e8ece65 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ The project is transitioning from Ant to Maven. **Maven is the preferred build s
 ### Building from Source
 
 **Requirements:**
-- JDK 8 (required for core build)
+- JDK 8 (required for the core framework build)
+- JDK 11 through 25 (required at *runtime* for the simulator and "Run as desktop app")
 - JDK 17 (required for Android port)
 - Apache Maven 3.6+
 - macOS with Xcode (for iOS port only)
@@ -166,7 +167,8 @@ To use locally-built version, edit the generated `pom.xml`:
 - **Tooling/Plugins**: Can use Java 8+
 - **Tests**: Can use Java 11+
 - **Android build**: Requires JDK 17 in JAVA17_HOME
-- **Main JAVA_HOME**: Must be JDK 8
+- **Main JAVA_HOME (for building the framework)**: Must be JDK 8
+- **Runtime JDK for simulator / desktop run**: JDK 11 through 25 is supported. The Codename One Maven plugin checks this on entry to `cn1:run` and `cn1:debug` and aborts with a friendly error when an older JDK is in use. The build-time goals (`generate-desktop-app-wrapper`, `prepare-simulator-classpath`, the `executable-jar` profile) are not gated -- they still work on JDK 8 because they only generate icons / classpath metadata.
 
 ### Working with Native Code
 
@@ -251,7 +253,8 @@ The JavaSE port serves as the simulator with:
 
 ### Common Issues
 
-- **JDK version mismatch**: Ensure JAVA_HOME is JDK 8, JAVA17_HOME is JDK 17
+- **JDK version mismatch**: Ensure JAVA_HOME is JDK 8 for building the framework, JAVA17_HOME is JDK 17 for the Android port
+- **`Unrecognized option: --add-exports=...`** when running the simulator or desktop app: the project is being executed on a JDK older than 11. Switch to JDK 11 through 25 (Eclipse Temurin from <https://adoptium.net>) and re-run. The Codename One Maven plugin now detects this and prints a friendly error before the JVM is forked.
 - **Missing cn1-binaries**: Run `setup-workspace.sh` or manually clone to `../cn1-binaries`
 - **Build client missing**: Copy `maven/CodeNameOneBuildClient.jar` to `~/.codenameone/`
 - **macOS ARM JDK8**: Setup script downloads x64 version (works via Rosetta)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6d31deb4e4..ccecde3525 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -177,7 +177,9 @@ The setup is covered in depth in [this article and video](https://www.codenameon
 " img width="80%"> </a>
 </div>
 
-**IMPORTANT:** Building Codename One requires **JDK 8**, currently. You cannot use JDK 11 as some sub-modules must use `-source 1.5` and `-target 1.5` to maintain backward compatibility with parts of the toolchain.
+**IMPORTANT:** *Building* the Codename One framework from source requires **JDK 8** -- some sub-modules must use `-source 1.5` and `-target 1.5` to maintain backward compatibility with parts of the toolchain, and newer JDKs cannot emit those targets.
+
+*Running* a Codename One application (the simulator or the "Run as desktop app" target) supports **JDK 11 through 25** (Eclipse Temurin: <https://adoptium.net>).
 
 
 ### Quick Start with Maven
diff --git a/docs/developer-guide/Index.asciidoc b/docs/developer-guide/Index.asciidoc
index 3a530f23b7..2221d5bd52 100644
--- a/docs/developer-guide/Index.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/developer-guide/Index.asciidoc
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ This means that in runtime a user might revoke a permission. A good example for
 
 === Installing Codename One
 
-IMPORTANT: Codename One requires either JDK 11 or JDK 8. Other JDK versions aren't supported now.
+IMPORTANT: Codename One supports JDK 11 through 25 for running the simulator and the desktop ("Run as desktop app") target. Eclipse Temurin (https://adoptium.net) is the easiest way to install a supported JDK.
 
 Codename One projects are built with Maven. Typical Maven targets such as `package`, `clean` and `install` work out of the box, but the Codename One integrations that ship with each IDE provide dedicated Run and Build actions for a smoother workflow.
 
diff --git a/docs/developer-guide/Maven-Getting-Started.adoc b/docs/developer-guide/Maven-Getting-Started.adoc
index 45747bc260..acdf985307 100644
--- a/docs/developer-guide/Maven-Getting-Started.adoc
+++ b/docs/developer-guide/Maven-Getting-Started.adoc
@@ -1,5 +1,25 @@
 == Getting started
 
+[#prerequisites]
+=== Prerequisites
+
+Codename One supports JDK 11 through 25 for running the simulator and the
+"Run as desktop app" target. https://adoptium.net[Eclipse Temurin] is the
+easiest source of a supported JDK on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
+
+After installing the JDK, point `JAVA_HOME` at it and confirm with:
+
+[source,bash]
+----
+java -version
+mvn -v
+----
+
+Both should report Java 11 or newer. The Codename One Maven plugin checks the
+runtime JDK version when you invoke `mvn cn1:run` or `mvn cn1:debug` and fails
+fast with a friendly message if it is older than 11. Build-only goals (such as
+`-Pexecutable-jar`) still work on older JDKs.
+
 [#creating-app-project]
 === Creating a new project
 
diff --git a/docs/developer-guide/Working-With-CodenameOne-Sources.asciidoc b/docs/developer-guide/Working-With-CodenameOne-Sources.asciidoc
index d5e9dc68cc..4af76abbaf 100644
--- a/docs/developer-guide/Working-With-CodenameOne-Sources.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/developer-guide/Working-With-CodenameOne-Sources.asciidoc
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ Codename One uses multiple JDKs and Maven profiles during the build. Make sure
 your development machine includes the following tooling (see
 `BUILDING.md` for platform-specific installation tips):
 
-* JDK 8 (required for the core build and Maven invocations)
+* JDK 8 (required for the core build of the framework itself)
+* JDK 11 through 25 (required at *runtime* to launch the simulator or
+  "Run as desktop app" target)
 * JDK 17 (required when compiling the Android port)
 * Apache Maven 3.6 or newer
 * macOS with Xcode (if you plan to build or test the iOS port)
diff --git a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1DebugMojo.java b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1DebugMojo.java
index e148a8c0f8..b80f005d73 100644
--- a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1DebugMojo.java
+++ b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1DebugMojo.java
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ protected void executeImpl() throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException
             return;
         }
 
+        JavaVersionUtil.requireRuntimeJavaVersion(JavaVersionUtil.MIN_RUNTIME_JAVA_VERSION,
+                "debug the Codename One simulator");
+
 
 
         InvocationRequest request = new DefaultInvocationRequest();
diff --git a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1RunMojo.java b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1RunMojo.java
index 05f0c0c021..769e534b75 100644
--- a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1RunMojo.java
+++ b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/CN1RunMojo.java
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ protected void executeImpl() throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException
             return;
         }
 
+        JavaVersionUtil.requireRuntimeJavaVersion(JavaVersionUtil.MIN_RUNTIME_JAVA_VERSION,
+                "run the Codename One simulator");
+
 
 
         InvocationRequest request = new DefaultInvocationRequest();
diff --git a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/JavaVersionUtil.java b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/JavaVersionUtil.java
index 13dd8bc5f1..3fdd006ecb 100644
--- a/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/JavaVersionUtil.java
+++ b/maven/codenameone-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/codename1/maven/JavaVersionUtil.java
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
+import org.apache.maven.plugin.MojoFailureException;
+
 final class JavaVersionUtil {
     private static final Pattern MAJOR_VERSION_PATTERN = Pattern.compile("^(?:1\\.)?(\\d+)");
 
+    static final int MIN_RUNTIME_JAVA_VERSION = 11;
+
     private JavaVersionUtil() {
     }
 
@@ -27,4 +31,47 @@ static int parseJavaVersion(String version, int defaultValue) {
             return defaultValue;
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the major Java version of the JVM running this code (e.g. 8, 11, 17).
+     * Falls back to {@code defaultValue} if the version cannot be parsed.
+     */
+    static int getRuntimeMajorVersion(int defaultValue) {
+        String spec = System.getProperty("java.specification.version");
+        int parsed = parseJavaVersion(spec, -1);
+        if (parsed > 0) {
+            return parsed;
+        }
+        return parseJavaVersion(System.getProperty("java.version"), defaultValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Aborts the current Maven goal with a friendly, actionable message when the JVM
+     * Maven is running on is older than the supplied minimum.
+     *
+     * @param minimumMajorVersion smallest acceptable major version (e.g. 11)
+     * @param operationLabel short description of what the user was trying to do (used in the error message)
+     */
+    static void requireRuntimeJavaVersion(int minimumMajorVersion, String operationLabel) throws MojoFailureException {
+        int current = getRuntimeMajorVersion(-1);
+        if (current >= minimumMajorVersion) {
+            return;
+        }
+        String detected = current > 0
+                ? "Java " + current
+                : "an unknown Java version (java.version=" + System.getProperty("java.version") + ")";
+        String javaHome = System.getProperty("java.home");
+        StringBuilder msg = new StringBuilder();
+        msg.append('\n');
+        msg.append("Codename One supports JDK ").append(minimumMajorVersion).append(" through 25 to ")
+                .append(operationLabel).append(".\n");
+        msg.append("Detected ").append(detected);
+        if (javaHome != null) {
+            msg.append(" at ").append(javaHome);
+        }
+        msg.append(".\n\n");
+        msg.append("Install JDK ").append(minimumMajorVersion).append(" or newer (e.g. Eclipse Temurin\n")
+                .append("from https://adoptium.net), point JAVA_HOME at it, and re-run this goal.\n");
+        throw new MojoFailureException(msg.toString());
+    }
 }