Required Software Components

• Oracle Database 26ai
• Oracle Application Express (APEX)
• ORDS (Oracle REST Data Services)
• Java Development Kit / Runtime Environment 17.0.1 or higher
• Apache Tomcat 9.0

In the follow example, Oracle and the associated applications will be installed in C:\app.

Tip: Use an encrypted password database such as Bitwarden to store login details for Oracle, APEX, ORDS, and Tomcat.

Download Software

• Oracle Database 26ai: Oracle Database 26ai
• APEX: Oracle APEX Download
• ORDS: Oracle ORDS Download
• Java 17.0.1: Java 17 Archive
• Apache Tomcat 9.0: Tomcat Downloads

Installation Steps

Install Oracle Database 26ai Free

Follow this guide to install Oracle Database: Oracle Database 26 ai Installation Guide (Windows)

1. Extract the Oracle Database Zip to the target folder under C:\app
2. Run setup.exe
3. Make a note of the connection strings.
4. Store passwords in an encrypted database, such as Bitwarden.

Install APEX

1. Extract APEX Zip to the target folder under C:\app
2. Open command prompt as user with administrator privileges.
3. Change to the Apex directory:

   C:\> cd c:\app\apex

4. Run SQL*Plus as SYSDBA:

   C:\app\apex> sqlplus / as sysdba

5. Switch to pluggable DB:

   SQL> show pdbs;
   SQL> alter session set container = FREEPDB1;

6. Install APEX:

   SQL> @apexins.sql sysaux sysaux temp /i/

7. Set APEX admin password:

   SQL> @apxchpwd.sql

8. Unlock APEX_PUBLIC_USER:

   SQL> alter user apex_public_user account unlock;
   SQL> alter user apex_public_user identified by <password>;
                     

Configure RESTful Services

SQL> @apex_rest_config.sql

Enter new passwords for APEX_LISTENER and APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER.

Install Java

1. Extract the Java Zip to the target folder under C:\app
2. Run jdk-17.0.1_windows-x64_bin.exe
3. Check version:

   java -version

Install Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS)

1. Extract the ORDS Zip to the target folder under C:\app
2. Unlock SYS and APEX accounts. NB: Remember to lock SYS after installing APEX.
   Open the command prompt:

   sqlplus / as SYSDBA
   
   SQL> alter user sys account unlock container=all;
   
   SQL> alter session set container=FREEPDB1;
   
   SQL> alter user apex_listener account unlock;
   
   SQL> alter user apex_public_user account unlock;
   
   SQL> alter user apex_rest_public_user account unlock; 
                     

3. Create config folder: C:\app\ords\config
4. Create logs folder: C:\app\ords\log
5. Create batch script ords_install.bat in the ORDS config directory C:\app\ords\config\
6. Check and amend ords_install.bat to ensure the paths, hostname, port, DB service and SYSDBA_USER match your environment.
7. Open the command prompt and run the batch file: ords_install.bat
8. Add bin directory to PATH: System, Advanced system settings, Environment Variables, System Variables, Path. C:\app\ords\bin\

Install Apache Tomcat

1. Extract Apache Tomcat Zip to target folder under C:\app
2. Run Tomcat installer. Open the Command Prompt:

   cd c:\app\apache-tomcat-9.0.117\bin
   service.bat install
                     

3. Make a note of the HTTP/1.1 Connector Port. The default is 8080
4. Set admin username/password (store in Bitwarden).
5. Click Finish to complete the installation.
6. Set CATALINA_HOME to Tomcat path. Open the command prompt:

   set CATALINA_HOME=c:\app\apache-tomcat-9.0.117

7. Create directory i under c:\app\apache-tomcat-9.0.117\webapps
8. Copy all files from C:\app\apex\images to C:\app\apache-tomcat-9.0.117\webapps\i
9. Copy C:\app\ords\ords.war into C:\app\apache-tomcat-9.0.117\webapps
10. Run tomcat9w.exe to define the ORDS configuration location. Set Java option:

    -Dconfig.url=C:\app\ords\config

    Click Apply.
11. Restart Tomcat service using Windows Services Manager service.msc, or right-click on Tomcat icon in the system tray, click stop then start.

Launch APEX Admin

Open browser: http://localhost:8080/ords/apex_admin
Login with the APEX admin credentials you created. You can now create an APEX workspace.

Troubleshooting

You will get an error when the ADMIN password expires:
ORDS was unable to make a connection to the database. The database user specified by db.username configuration setting is expired. The connection pool named: |default|lo| had the following error(s): ORA-28001: the password has expired docs.oracle.com/error-help/db/ora-28001/

To reset the password, run the following commands from the Command Prompt:

C:\>cd C:\app\apex

C:\app\apex>sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 23.26.1.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 15 19:49:18 2026
Version 23.26.1.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.1.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Version 23.26.1.0.0

SQL> alter session set container = FREEPDB1;

Session altered.

SQL> @apxchpwd.sql
...set_appun.sql
================================================================================
This script can be used to change the password of an Oracle APEX
instance administrator. If the user does not yet exist, a user record will be
created.
================================================================================
Enter the administrator's username [ADMIN]
              

After changing the password, bounce Apache Tomcat.

1. Run Services.
2. Find Apache tomcat.
3. Right click, select Restart.