How to install Oracle ODBC driver in Windows 10

Apply these quick steps now

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Oracle Database is one of the foremost DBMS (Database Management Systems) for Windows. However, Windows 10 doesn’t include any built-in Oracle ODBC connection tool.

So, you’ll need to install an Oracle ODBCdriverto connect to an Oracle database with an ODBC-compliant application.

You have to do more than download and install an ODBC package to connect to an Oracle database with an application.

On top of that, you’ll also need to add new environment variables and set up a DSN for the driver before you can connect with the Oracle database.

How can I install an Oracle ODBC driver in Windows 10?

1. Download and extract the Oracle packages

The ODBC and basic ZIP archives must be unzipped to exactly the same folder. Select to extract the ODBC ZIP to the path of your unzipped Basic package.

Delete instantclient_19_11 at the end of the path in the Extract Compressed window so that an additional subfolder isn’t included.

The SDK package is a non-essential optional one. However, it’s recommended you download that package too.

The SDK ZIP archive should also be extracted to the sameinstantclient_19_11 folder that includes the Basic and ODBC package files.

In case that did not help, you can give a try toOutbyte Driver Updaterwhich has a big database of drivers and might have the right ones for Oracle, besides that, updating your drivers is a common good practice for maintaining a functional PC.

2. Add an Oracle Client directory environment variable

3. Install your ODBC Oracle client package

To install the ODBC client, open the instantclient_19_11 folder you extracted the ODBC package to in File Explorer. Then right-click odbc_install.exe and select theRun as administratoroption.

Note that there isn’t any kind of GUI installation wizard for that file. So, that’s all you need to do here.

4. Set up the DSN for Oracle driver

5. Install missing Visual C++ libraries

You can’t set up data sources for an Oracle driver with the ODBC Data Source Administration if a required Visual C++ package for it is not installed on your PC.

If an error message pops up when your try to set up an Oracle driver data source, you might be missing a required Visual C++ package.

You’ll need to have Visual Studio 17 installed for the current Oracle 19 client. You can download Visual Studio 2017, and older redistributable packages, via theC++ downloads page.

Then click the VC EXE file you downloaded to install the Visual Studio package. So, that’s how you can install the Oracle ODBC driver on Windows 10.

When you’ve installed the current Oracle ODBC driver, you can connect to Oracle Database DBMS versions from 11.2 up to 19.1 with the 19c client.

Moreover, if you need tofix Windows 10 ODBC issues, just check out our dedicated article. As for your opinion, the comments area is waiting for you.

How to install Oracle ODBC driver in Windows 10#

How can I install an Oracle ODBC driver in Windows 10?#

1. Download and extract the Oracle packages#

2. Add an Oracle Client directory environment variable#

3. Install your ODBC Oracle client package#

4. Set up the DSN for Oracle driver#

5. Install missing Visual C++ libraries#