+++ Blog post updated on Oct 2, 2019 +++ New additions marked in Red +++
+++ Blog post updated on Aug 3, 2021 +++ New additions marked in Blue +++
Last week I’ve had an interesting discussion with a customer about the certification of APEX and Oracle Database 12.2.0.1.
I did a bit of research and emailing – and thanks to the APEX team – this is the source of truth for APEX certifications.
Minimum Database version for APEX
See MOS Note:1344948.1: Application Express (APEX) Database and Web Server Certification Reference:
- For APEX 4.0, the minimum database version is 10.2.0.3
- For APEX 5.0, the minimum database version is 11.1.0.7
- For APEX 5.1, the minimum database version is 11.2.0.4
- For APEX 18.1, 18.2, 19.1, 20.1, 20.2 the minimum database version is 11.2.0.4
- For APEX 21.1 the minimum database version is 12.1.0.2
Minimum APEX version per Database
See MOS Note:1344948.1: Application Express (APEX) Database and Web Server Certification Reference:
- For Oracle Database 11.1.0.x, the minimum APEX version is 3.0.
- For Oracle Database 11.2.0.x, the minimum APEX version is 3.2.1
- For Oracle Database 12.1.0.2, the minimum APEX version is 4.2.5
- For usage with Oracle Multitenant, APEX 4.2.3 or newer must be installed
- For Oracle Database 12.2.0.1, the minimum APEX version is 5.0.4
- For Oracle Database 18c, the minimum APEX version is 5.1.3
- For Oracle Database 19c, the minimum APEX version is 18.2
- For Oracle Database 21c, the minimum APEX version is 20.1
And remember: Never install APEX in CDB$ROOT but always in PDBs only!
Checking APEX certifications on MyOracle Support’s Certification Tab
- Go to https://support.oracle.com
- Click Certifications
- Enter Oracle Application Express as Product
- Select APEX version from the Release list, for example 5.0.4

Oracle APEX Certification in MyOracle Support
By clicking myself through all the possible combinations I could find out that APEX 5.0.3 is not certified with Oracle Database 12.2.0.1 as are all versions below. So the minimum version of APEX for Oracle Database 12.2.0.1 is APEX 5.0.4.
Unfortunately there’s no reverse certification search in MOS available (“Which APEX version(s) does a given databases release support?”).
–Mike
Very useful, thank you!
I have been looking at this for our pending upgrade and noticed MOS Note:1344948.1 has been updated to include additional minimum version pairs of APEX and Oracle DB:
Minimum Database versions for APEX:
HTML DB 1.5 through Application Express 3.2 are supported on Oracle Database 9.2.0.3 and higher.
Beginning with Application Express 4.0, the minimum database version is 10.2.0.3.
Beginning with Application Express 5.0, the minimum database version is 11.1.0.7.
Beginning with Application Express 5.1, the minimum database version is 11.2.0.4.
For Application Express 18.1, 18.2, 19.1 the minimum database version is 11.2.0.4.
Minimum APEX version for the Database:
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 11gR1 is Application Express 3.0. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 11.1 database.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 11gR2 is Application Express 3.2.1. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 11.2 database.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 12c is Application Express 4.2.0. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 12.1.0.1c database.
APEX 4.2.3 is the first patchset that can be used to patch a multitenant database. All 4.2 patches can be used to patch a standard (non-multitenant) configuration.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 12.1.0.2 is Application Express 4.2.5. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 12.1.0.2 database.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 12.2.0.1 is Application Express 5.0.4. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 12.2.0.1 database.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 18.0.0.0 is Application Express 5.1.3. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 18.0.0.0 database.
The minimum APEX version supported for Database 19.0.0.0 is Application Express 18.2. This version of APEX comes installed by default in the 19.0.0.0 database.
Thanks Amy – I updated the info on my OOW “Best Practice” Slide deck, but not on the blog.
Not yet – but will do now 🙂
Cheers and thanks for the reminder,
Mike
Thanks for this helpful information on the APEX/Database version compatibilities. Now, we will be upgrading our Oracle databases 11.2.0.4 and 12.1.0.2 to 12.2.0.1. We have APEX version 5.1.3.00.05 on both versions of the database. I understand that APEX does not get installed automatically when upgrading the database to version 12.2.0.1. Will the APEX software files including the existing workspaces and applications remain intact, or what adjustments or changes do we need to make on the APEX side before and after the upgrade ?
Actually the new home has a newer APEX version software-wise installed already – but APEX will be skipped during the upgrade.
Option 1: You leave APEX as is but this requires that your future DB version supports APEX 5.x
Option 2: You upgrade APEX upfront, then attempt the database upgrade.
Cheers,
Mike
I am migrating database from Oracle 11g to Oracle 19c PDB.
Current Apex version in Oracle 11g is 5.0.0.00.31.
what version of Apex should be require to install in oracle 19c PDB before migration.
See here please:
https://mikedietrichde.com/2017/05/02/is-your-apex-version-certified-with-your-database-release/
It’s all on the blog 🙂
Cheers,
Mike
Very useful, I come back to this article often. 🙂
Thank you!
Where can i find the 5.0.4 version to download?
I think this version is not available anymore – you may please open a ticket with Oracle Support and ask for it. I don’t have access to it.
Cheers,
Mike
Very useful Post, but maybe it need´s to be updatet, because New Apex-Versions are out now…
Done – thanks for the hint 🙂
Cheers,
Mike
Today I was checking the list “minimum APEX versions for Database” in MOS Note:1344948.1 (it’s in my favorites). Now this list is titled “APEX version supplied with the Database”. Versions in the list are the same, but words “The minimum APEX version supported for” are replaced with “APEX version supplied with”. Hmmm. Thank you for saving these lists and keeping them up-to date!
Interesting – and I have no real idea why this has been changed.
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your great articles.
I hope that you are able to give me a lead or two on my question below.
Are you able to point me to a very simple and clear doc on how to set up APEX to run from a browzer using a secure(SSL) URL, please? viz
https://server_name:port/apex
Footnote: We do not want to install ORDS and do have a firewall active.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Andre,
please try to get in touch with some of our APEX mates, such as:
https://twitter.com/cczarski
https://twitter.com/msewtz
https://twitter.com/PeterRaganitsch
Thanks
Mike