javax.persistence.TransactionRequiredException: Executing an update/delete query

Q: Add @Transactional to the method

When to use: Use this when executing UPDATE or DELETE JPQL/SQL queries.. Hibernate requires an active database transaction to modify data. Without @Transactional, Spring doesn't open a transaction, and Hibernate rejects the query.

Q: Add @Modifying to the Repository

When to use: Use this if you are using a custom @Query for UPDATE/DELETE in your Spring Data JPA repository.. Spring Data JPA needs to know that your @Query alters data so it can execute it correctly. @Modifying tells Spring to treat it as an update operation.

Q: Check for proxy bypass (Self-Invocation)

When to use: Use this if you added @Transactional but it still throws the error.. If you call a @Transactional method from another method in the SAME class, Spring's AOP proxy is bypassed, and the transaction is never started. Move the method to a different bean.

🔴 The Error You're Seeing

Confirm this matches your console output. If it does, you're in the right place.

ERROR LOG

2026-03-01 09:15:22.410 ERROR 8842 --- [nio-8080-exec-1] o.a.c.c.C.[.[.[/].[dispatcherServlet]    : Servlet.service() for servlet [dispatcherServlet] in context with path [] threw exception [Request processing failed: javax.persistence.TransactionRequiredException: Executing an update/delete query] with root cause

javax.persistence.TransactionRequiredException: Executing an update/delete query
	at org.hibernate.query.sql.internal.NativeQueryImpl.doExecuteUpdate(NativeQueryImpl.java:309)

⚡ Quick Fix Works 80% of the time

Add @Transactional and @Modifying annotations to your repository or service method.

@Transactional
@Modifying
@Query("UPDATE User u SET u.status = :status")
void updateStatus(@Param("status") String status);

🧠 Why this Happens

Tap to expand the deep technical explanation

JPA and Hibernate strictly enforce that any operation modifying the database (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) must occur within a transaction. If you attempt to execute a modifying query without an active transaction context, Hibernate throws this exception to prevent silent, uncommittable data changes.

The HITEC City Parking Spot Analogy:

Imagine trying to withdraw money from a bank account, but the bank hasn't opened the vault yet. The teller (Hibernate) refuses to process the transaction because the secure environment (Transaction) isn't established.

🔁 How to Reproduce Confirm this is your error

Call an @Modifying repository method (an update/delete JPQL query) from a service method without @Transactional. Hibernate throws TransactionRequiredException: Executing an update/delete query.

🛠️ Solutions (3 Ways to Fix)

Solution 1✓ Most common cause

Add @Transactional to the method

👉 Use this when executing UPDATE or DELETE JPQL/SQL queries.

Hibernate requires an active database transaction to modify data. Without @Transactional, Spring doesn't open a transaction, and Hibernate rejects the query.

@Service
public class UserService {
    @Transactional // Add this
    public void updateStatus(Long id, String status) {
        userRepository.updateStatus(id, status);
    }
}

Solution 2

Add @Modifying to the Repository

👉 Use this if you are using a custom @Query for UPDATE/DELETE in your Spring Data JPA repository.

Spring Data JPA needs to know that your @Query alters data so it can execute it correctly. @Modifying tells Spring to treat it as an update operation.

@Repository
public interface UserRepository extends JpaRepository<User, Long> {
    @Modifying
    @Transactional
    @Query("DELETE FROM User u WHERE u.active = false")
    void deleteInactiveUsers();
}

Solution 3

Check for proxy bypass (Self-Invocation)

👉 Use this if you added @Transactional but it still throws the error.

If you call a @Transactional method from another method in the SAME class, Spring's AOP proxy is bypassed, and the transaction is never started. Move the method to a different bean.

// BAD: Called from same class, @Transactional ignored
public void batchUpdate() {
    this.updateOne(); // Proxy bypassed!
}

// GOOD: Inject the bean into itself
@Autowired
private UserService self;
public void batchUpdate() {
    self.updateOne(); 
}

📋 Version Notes

Spring Boot 2.x

Uses javax.persistence.TransactionRequiredException.

Spring Boot 3.x

Uses jakarta.persistence.TransactionRequiredException.

🛡️ How to Prevent This Next Time

Always annotate service methods that modify data with @Transactional. Use @Modifying on custom Spring Data JPA update/delete queries.