Installing Oracle Instant Client Using Zip Files

Learn how to download and use zip files to install Oracle Instant Client Basic.

Note:

Starting with Oracle Database Client 23ai, the Setup Wizard in the full client installation no longer provides the option to install Oracle Instant Client.

1. Use any browser to access the Oracle Instant Client Downloads page:
   https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/instant-client/downloads.html
2. Download Oracle Instant Client Basic or Oracle Instant Client Basic Light zip files. Select the correct platform, architecture, and packages of your choice. For example, if your application is 64-bit, then ensure that you select 64-bit Instant Client and download the Basic or Basic Light package zip file. Also, download any optional packages that you intend to use.

   Note:

   Oracle Instant Client 32-bit is not available on Oracle Database 23ai and later releases. However, you can continue to use Oracle Instant Client 19c 32-bit to connect to Oracle Database 23ai.
3. To verify the code-signing for Oracle Instant Client zip files, see Verifying Signed Oracle Instant Client Zip Files.
4. In a directory such as C:\oracle\, unzip the desired packages. For example, for Windows x64:

   unzip instantclient-basic-windows.x64-23.4.0.24.05.zip

   In this example, the package unzips into C:\oracle\instantclient_23_4.
5. Add this directory to the PATH environment variable. If you have multiple versions of Oracle libraries installed, make sure the new directory occurs first in the path. Restart any terminal windows or otherwise make sure the new PATH is used by your applications.
6. Download and install the latest Visual Studio C++ Redistributable from Microsoft. Oracle Instant Client 23ai requires this redistributable to run on Windows.
7. If you intend to colocate optional Oracle configuration files such as tnsnames.ora, sqlnet.ora, ldap.ora, or oraaccess.xml with Oracle Instant Client, then move these files to the C:\oracle\instantclient_23_4\network\admin subdirectory.
   This is the default Oracle configuration directory for applications linked with this Oracle Instant Client.
   Alternatively, you can move the Oracle configuration files to another, accessible directory. Then set the environment variable TNS_ADMIN to that directory name.
8. Start your application.

ODBC users must follow the Oracle Instant Client ODBC Installation Notes.