When trying to connect to an Oracle database, it is common to encounter the ORA-12514 error message. The error message means that the TNS listener service cannot find the service requested in the connect descriptor. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide to resolving the ORA-12514 error and connecting to your Oracle database successfully.
Understanding the TNS listener service
The TNS listener service is responsible for listening for incoming database connections and redirecting them to the appropriate database instance. When you receive the ORA-12514 error message, it means that the TNS listener service is unable to find the service requested in the connect descriptor. This could be due to a number of reasons, including a misconfigured TNS listener service, an incorrect connect string, or an unavailable database.
Step 1: Check the TNS listener service

The first step in resolving the ORA-12514 error is to check the TNS listener service. You can do this by using the lsnrctl status
command in the command prompt. If the TNS listener service is not running, you will need to start it by using the lsnrctl start
command.
Step 2: Check the connect string
If the TNS listener service is running, the next step is to check the connect string. The connect string should contain the correct service name and the hostname or IP address of the database. You can check the connect string by using the tnsping
command in the command prompt.
Step 3: Check the database status
If the connection string is correct, the next step is to check the status of the database. You can do this by using the select status from v$instance
command in SQL Plus. If the database is unavailable, you will need to start it using the startup
command in SQL Plus.
Step 4: Verify the TNSNAMES.ora file
If the database is running, the next step is to verify the TNSNAMES.ora file. This file contains the configuration information for the TNS listener service, including the connect string. You should check that the TNSNAMES.ora file contains the correct service name, hostname or IP address, and port number.
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Conclusion
By following these four steps, you should be able to resolve the ORA-12514 TNS listener error and connect to your Oracle database successfully. If you continue to experience issues, it may be necessary to seek assistance from an experienced Oracle DBA.
graph TD;
A[Check TNS listener service] --> B[Check connect string];
B --> C[Check database status];
C --> D[Verify TNSNAMES.ora file];
D --> E[Connect to Oracle database];