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## 1 About These Release Notes

These release notes contain important information not included in the Oracle APEX documentation.

Before You Begin

Review the following to ensure your readiness for this version of Oracle APEX.

### 1.1 Oracle Database Requirements

Oracle APEX release 26.1 requires an Oracle Database release 19c with Database Release Update 19.18 (January 2023) or newer. On Oracle AI Database 26ai, APEX requires at least Database Version 23.26.0 (October 2025). APEX runs on all database editions, including Enterprise Edition (EE), Standard Edition 2 (SE2), and Oracle AI Database 26ai Free. APEX can be installed in single-instance database and in Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) database.

Related Topics

- Oracle APEX Installation Requirements in Oracle APEX Installation Guide

### 1.2 Browser Requirements

Oracle APEX requires a JavaScript-enabled browser and supports the current and prior major release of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

### 1.3 Web Server Requirements

Oracle APEX requires Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) 26.1.1 or later.

Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) is Java-based web server. Oracle REST Data Services features the ability to emit RESTful web services, offers improved file upload capability, and is certified with Oracle WebLogic Server and Apache Tomcat.

As of Oracle APEX 26.1, Oracle now recommends in new installations, ORDS should be installed before APEX.

Tip:

APEX-based REST Services were desupported in release 22.1. Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) release 21.4.2 and newer now ship with migration scripts that enable you to upgrade any remaining APEX-based REST Services to ORDS-based Services. To learn more, see Migration of Oracle APEX RESTful Service Modules in Oracle REST Data Services Release Notes.

### 1.4 About Release Numbering Conventions

New releases of Oracle APEX correlate to the calendar year.

In 2018 and starting with release 18.1 and 18.2, APEX introduced correlating the release number to the calendar year.

In addition, APEX now only offers full releases and no longer provides patch set releases (such as 5.1.1). Eliminating patch set releases reduces downtime when updating existing installations. APEX architecture also enables developers to revert releases if necessary.

Patch set exceptions (PSEs) may still be delivered for major defects. To learn more about PSEs, visit the Oracle APEX 26.1 Known Issues page or the Prior Release Archives for earlier releases.

### 1.5 About Checking for the Most Current Release

Oracle APEX is released more frequently than the Oracle Database. To view information or download a more current release, see:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/apex/downloads/index.html

### 1.6 About Upgrading to the Latest Oracle APEX Release

If you already have Oracle APEX installed, Oracle strongly recommends that you regularly upgrade to the latest version available.

Direct upgrades are only supported for Oracle APEX release 18.1 or later. If your current release is older than APEX 18.1, first upgrade to APEX 24.2, then upgrade to APEX 26.1. Alternatively, you can manually export your workspaces and applications from the current instance and import them into a newly installed APEX 26.1 instance.

To learn more, see Upgrading from a Previous Oracle APEX Release in the Oracle APEX Installation Guide.

#### 1.6.1 About Upgrading to the Latest Version of Universal Theme

APEX supports the current and prior APEX version of Universal Theme for each release. For example, APEX 26.1 supports Universal Theme 26.1 and 24.2.

It is highly recommended users refresh Universal Theme within their applications after each APEX release. While refreshing Universal Theme is not mandatory and your application will continue to work, older versions of Universal Theme do not have support for new features or bug fixes introduced in subsequent APEX releases. Therefore, it is important to refresh your theme regularly so your applications are on the latest (or one version prior) release of Universal Theme and remain supported.

Universal Theme moved to CSS variables in APEX 21.1. This means refreshing Universal Theme is easier to customize and manage. For more on refreshing Universal Theme, see Refreshing the Universal Theme in Oracle APEX App Builder User’s Guide and the Migration Guides on the Oracle APEX Universal Theme app.

For the Universal Theme Change Log, see the Oracle APEX Universal Theme app.

### 1.7 About Determining Your Release Version

To determine which release of Oracle APEX you are currently running, do one of the following:

- View the release number on the Workspace home page:

  - Sign in to APEX.

    The Workspace home page appears. The current release version displays in the bottom right corner.

- View the About APEX page:

  1. Sign in to APEX.

     The Workspace home page appears.

  2. Click Help and select About.

     The About APEX page appears.

Related Topics

- About Accessing Your Development Environment in Oracle APEX App Builder User’s Guide

### 1.8 Important Information if Updating from a Release Prior to 26.1

If you are updating from a previous release of Oracle APEX, see the Changed Behavior sections in the following documents:

- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 24.2
- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 24.1
- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 23.2
- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 23.1
- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 22.2
- Oracle APEX Release Notes release 22.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 21.2
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 21.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 20.2
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 20.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 19.2
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 19.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 18.2
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 18.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 5.1
- Oracle Application Express Release Notes release 5.0