Required Software Components

• Oracle Database Express 21c
• Oracle Application Express (APEX) version 24.2
• ORDS (Oracle REST Data Services) version 25.2
• Java Development Kit / Runtime Environment
  • Version 17.0.1 used by ORDS
  • Version 21.0.7 used by Apache Tomcat
• Apache Tomcat 9.0

Example: Database and applications will be installed on drive D:\.

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

Download Software

• Oracle Database Express: Oracle Database Express 21c
• 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 Express

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

1. Create folder: D:\oracle
2. Extract the Oracle Database zip.
3. Run setup.exe
4. Make a note of the connection strings.
5. Store passwords in an encrypted database, such as Bitwarden.

Install APEX

1. Create folder: D:\apex_24.2_en
2. Extract APEX zip into the folder (creates apex subfolder).
3. Open command prompt as administrator.
4. Change to the Apex directory:

   C:\>d:
   C:\>cd apex_24.2_en\apex

5. Run SQL*Plus as SYSDBA:

   D:\> sqlplus / as sysdba

6. Switch to pluggable DB:

   SQL> show pdbs;
   SQL> alter session set container = XEPDB1;

7. Install APEX:

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

8. Set APEX admin password:

   SQL> @apxchpwd.sql

9. 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. Run jdk-17.0.1_windows-x64_bin.exe
2. Check version:

   java -version

3. Also install Java 21 for Tomcat use.

Install Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS)

1. Create ORDS directory: D:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517
2. Extract ORDS zip there.
3. 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=XEPDB1;
   SQL> alter user apex_listener account unlock;
   SQL> alter user apex_public_user account unlock;
   SQL> alter user apex_rest_public_user account unlock; 
                     

4. Create config directory: D:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517\config
5. Create batch script ords_install.bat in the ORDS directory D:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517
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 ORDS bin directory to PATH: setx PATH="%PATH%;d:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517\bin\"

Install Apache Tomcat

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

   set CATALINA_HOME="d:\apache\Tomcat 9.0"

6. Create directory i under D:\apache\Tomcat 9.0\webapps
7. Copy all files from D:\apex_24.2_en\apex\images to D:\apache\Tomcat 9.0\webapps\i
8. Copy D:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517\ords.war into D:\apache\Tomcat 9.0\webapps.
9. Run tomcat9w.exe to define the ORDS configuration location. Set Java option:

   -Dconfig.url=D:\ords-25.2.3.224.1517\config

   Click Apply.
10. 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:\>d:
D:\>cd apex_24.2_en\apex

D:\apex_24.2_en\apex>sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 21.0.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Mar 25 22:00:15 2026
Version 21.3.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2021, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 21c Express Edition Release 21.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 21.3.0.0.0

SQL> alter session set container = XEPDB1;

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.