Installation Instructions

Introduction

The Behave Fire Modeling System version 7 (Behave⁷) runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. See the Release Notice for complete software requirements. Behave⁷ is a self-contained universal Java-based file (JAR file) that is not “installed” in the traditional sense. See Downloading and Installing Behave⁷ on Other Computers for more information.

Behave⁷ has been approved for use by all federal land management agencies. As an agency employee, let us know if you have any issues installing it on your computer. We will work with the appropriate oversight group to get it approved.

State and Local Resources

Work with your IT departments to install Behave⁷ on your computer. They can contact the project co-leads if they have questions about the software itself.

Federal Agencies

US Department of Agriculture

USDA Forest Service

A zip file is available in the Software Center. It will automatically be installed on your computer once you click on it.

Department of Interior

Note 1: As the US Department of Interior consolidates individual agency CIOs into a single OCIO, we will work through the necessary approval process for support. Please be patient as we do so.

Note 2: The instructions for each agency below worked as of 22 July 2026. Contact us if these instructions no longer work.

BLM

Download the latest Windows version from the Software Center. The BLM hosts two installation options: ZIP File (Windows) and JAR File (Windows, macOS, and Linux). See information below about the difference in the two files.

USFWS, BIA, NPS, FWS

Download the latest Windows version from the Software Center.

Downloading and Installing Behave⁷ on Other Computers

The latest version of Behave⁷ is available at www.frames.gov/Behave under Current Software. Clicking on the link opens the GitHub Behave Repository. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the four files. Save either the ZIP file (e.g., behave7-7.1.0-windows-amd64.zip) or JAR file (e.g., behave-v7.1.4.jar ) to your computer.

Tips for Installation

• We recommend saving the program file to a consistent location, such as a local workspace (e.g., C:/Workspace) so that it is easy to find.
• For Mac users, we recommend using Amazon Corretto 17 or higher. This is a no-cost distribution of the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK)

Installing the ZIP File (WINDOWS)

Users do not need to install additional software for it to run. The ZIP file includes the following required components.

• Executable file: The executable file is a self-contained Java-based (universal JAR) file that contains the code and information necessary to run Behave⁷.
• Amazon Corretto (OpenJDK): OpenJDK is an open-source implementation of the Java Platform, which is the engine that runs Behave⁷. Corretto is Amazon’s version of OpenJDK.
• Interface: A Chromium window is used both as the interface and to perform all calculations within the program. This window opens separately from all internet browsers and cannot connect to the internet.

To install the ZIP File (Windows):

1. Save the ZIP file (e.g., behave7.1.4-windows-amd64.zip) to your computer
2. Unzip the folder to extract the files, and the program is ready for use.

Installing the JAR FILE (WINDOWS, macOS, AND LINUX)

The JAR file includes only the executable file. Users must install Java or Amazon Corretto on their computer separately to run the program. While the program opens in your default browser window, it is unable to connect to the internet.

To install the JAR File (Windows, macOS, and Linux)

1. The JAR file is the executable file. Save the JAR file to your computer and double-click to open it.
2. Users must install Java or Amazon Corretto on their computer separately to run the program.
3. While the program opens in your default browser window, it is unable to connect to the internet.

Note: Since Behave⁷ is not installed, it is not recognized by Windows as “software” and cannot be added to the Start Menu. In general, it cannot be added to the Task Bar, although some users have been able to add it to the Task Bar on their personal computers.

See Opening Behave⁷ for more information.

Uninstalling Behave⁷

Move any files you have created to another location if necessary and simply delete the folder that contains Behave⁷ to remove it from your computer.

Support

The following sources of technical support are available.

• Local Support: The first level of technical support, particularly for the use of Behave⁷ for fire management, is provided through your local support channels.
• Development Support: Interagency Incident Applications HelpDesk: Primary user support for Behave⁷ is provided by the Interagency Incident Applications HelpDesk (Website: https://iiahelpdesk.nwcg.gov/). The HelpDesk is available for help with software issues and cannot answer questions related to fire behavior modeling.

Opening Behave⁷

Instructions for both the ZIP and JAR file are included below.

ZIP FILE

• Navigate to the folder where you saved Behave⁷.
• In the Behave⁷ folder, click on the shortcut titled Behave⁷ to open the program.
• Behave⁷ does not retain analysis information when the browser window is closed and will not prompt you to save it. Therefore, you must Save a Run to use in the future or Print a formatted PDF file to keep the analysis.

JAR FILE

• Navigate to the folder where you saved Behave⁷.
• Double-click on the JAR file.
• The first time you open it, Behave⁷ will try to connect to your local OpenJDK (Java or Amazon Corretto).
• If your version of OpenJDK does not appear, select Choose another App.
• Choose either Java or Amazon Corretto as appropriate.
• Highlight the correct software and click Always.
• The app will open in your default browser.
• You may receive a security warning. If this happens, consider unchecking the box next to Always ask before opening this file, and click Open.

Additional Information

• The first time you open Behave⁷ a Disclaimer (the License Agreement) appears. When you close it, it will not reopen unless you clear your cache. However, you can always access it by clicking on the link at the bottom of the window.
• To perform future analyses, double-click on the app to open it again.
• Behave⁷ uses Amazon Corretto (OpenJDK) to connect with either an offline Chromium window (ZIP file) or Java / Amazon Corretto to connect to your default browser (JAR file). The browser window acts as a locally hosted interface, and Java uses the browser’s calculation power. Regardless of the interface, Behave⁷ is not capable of contacting the internet.