Embarcadero is pleased to announce that RAD Studio 13 Florence Update 1 (RAD Studio 13.1), along with Delphi 13 Update 1 and C++Builder 13 Update 1, is available to customers starting today.
RAD Studio 13.1 Florence delivers a broad set of enhancements across the product, combining new platform capabilities with continued investment in quality and developer productivity. Highlights include a new Delphi Windows on Arm (Arm64EC) native compiler, updates for the latest Android and iOS platforms, improvements to the Delphi LSP engine, and the introduction of a new FireMonkey Style Designer. The release also brings numerous IDE enhancements, UI modernization updates, and ongoing improvements to VCL, FireMonkey, C++Builder, database access, and web technologies.
In this blog post, we highlight the key enhancements in this release, along with the main areas of quality improvement.
Delphi Arm64EC Native Compiler Toolchain
Target the next generation of Windows on Arm devices with your existing codebase
RAD Studio 13.1 and Delphi 13.1 introduce a new native target platform for the Delphi compiler: Windows on Arm. Delphi can now generate native Arm binaries that run on Windows Arm devices (including Windows on Arm virtual machines on Arm-based Macs), without relying on Intel emulation.
Shown: The new Windows on Arm target platform in the Platform Manager
The new target is available in the IDE’s Platform Manager and allows developers to further expand their native Windows support, building applications for Win32, Win64 (Intel), and Win64 (Arm) from the same codebase. Existing Delphi applications can generally be recompiled for the new platform with minimal changes.
Shown: adding a new platform to an existing VCL application
From a technical standpoint, Delphi generates Arm64EC binaries. Arm64EC (Emulation Compatible) is a Windows on Arm ABI introduced by Microsoft that enables native Arm64 code to interoperate seamlessly with emulated x64 code. This approach allows mixing Intel libraries with an Arm-based executable and supports incremental migration by preserving x64 calling conventions and register usage.
Shown: A Delphi Arm64EC app running on Windows on Arm and listed as “Arm64 (x64 compatible)
The Delphi Windows on Arm toolchain is built on LLVM 20. It leverages LLVM’s linker infrastructure and selected RTL services, relies on Microsoft’s UCRT for core runtime functionality, and uses LLDB for debugging. Applications compiled with Delphi for Windows on Arm interact directly with the native Windows 64-bit Arm API.
In most cases, existing Delphi Win64 applications can be migrated with minimal changes. The majority of Windows APIs behave consistently across Intel and Arm platforms, making the transition straightforward—provided your code does not depend on Intel-specific assembly. Some edge cases may require source updates, and applications still targeting Win32 will first need to be migrated to 64-bit.
You can build the same application for Windows Intel and Windows on Arm
We’ll be sharing more detailed guidance in the coming weeks, including specific considerations and best practices for moving from Intel to Arm targets.
Android API Level 36 and iOS 26 Support
Compliance for the latest mobile OS and app store requirements
RAD Studio 13.1 adds support for Android API level 36.1, a requirement for publishing apps on the Google Play Store starting in August 2026. The release also updates the build system and platform JAR files accordingly. In addition, we’ve refreshed the Application Uses Permissions page to include the permissions required by the new API level and upgraded the Jetpack Core library used by the FireMonkey framework on Android.
We’ve also improved how the IDE locates existing Android SDK installations, added support for building Android shared libraries (.so), and introduced support for opting out of predictive back navigation in recent Android versions.
On the Apple side, RAD Studio 13.1 adds official support for iOS 26 and raises the default minimum supported iOS version to ensure continued compliance with App Store requirements.
Bookmarks Addon Integrated in the IDE
Expanded built-in source bookmark capabilities
RAD Studio 13.1 fully integrates the Bookmarks add-on into the IDE. Originally developed by Parnassus and previously available via GetIt, this implementation replaces the IDE’s built-in bookmark system with a more capable and extensible solution.
The enhanced Bookmarks feature introduces automatic numbering, fast keyboard-driven navigation, and a structured view of active bookmarks with precise code line references and a nice preview.
Shown: Integrated Bookmarks in the IDE
It also adds support for temporary caret bookmarks: you can drop a bookmark and press Escape to return to it. These bookmarks behave as a stack, so navigation follows a last-in, first-out model, and each bookmark is removed as you return to it.
Overall, these improvements make it easier to navigate large codebases and quickly return to relevant sections of your source code.
Shown: The Bookmarks list preview in the Tools > Options dialog box
Windows 11 Specific VCL Styles (also for the IDE)
Easily modernize the look and feel of your Windows applications
Continuing the UI modernization efforts of recent releases, RAD Studio 13.1 Florence introduces a set of six new Windows 11–specific VCL styles, offering a range of color variations. These include Windows Modern, Windows Modern Dark, Windows Modern Slate Gray, Windows Modern Green, Windows Modern Blue, and Windows Modern Purple.
Shown: The new Windows 11 VCL styles in action
A corresponding update has also been made to the IDE styles, further aligning the RAD Studio IDE with the Windows 11 look and feel. The IDE automatically selects an appropriate style based on the operating system—using a Windows 10 style when running on Windows 10 and switching to a Windows 11 style on Windows 11. IDE UI improvements include support for rounded window corners, improvements to the IDE search control, and updates to the navigation toolbar.
FireMonkey Style Designer
Faster, more flexible and modern UI styling
RAD Studio 13.1 includes the initial release of a new FireMonkey Style Designer, built specifically for FireMonkey (unlike the existing Bitmap Style Designer) and based on more modern design principles.
The new designer is a standalone application that reimagines how developers create and manage FMX styles. Rather than requiring detailed knowledge of style object hierarchies and component internals, it offers a more design-centric approach, focusing on high-level concepts such as colors, backgrounds, typography, and interaction states. The tool then handles the translation into the underlying FireMonkey style format.
Shown: The new FireMonkey native style designer
The Style Designer itself was built with FireMonkey, showcasing the framework’s ability to support professional desktop tooling. While primarily intended for developers, it is also designed to be used by UI/UX designers working alongside the development team.
We will be sharing more detailed documentation on the new FireMonkey Style Designer soon, along with a dedicated webinar. This new tool significantly improves the workflow for creating FireMonkey styles and enables closer collaboration between developers and designers on the user experience of FireMonkey applications.
DelphiLSP LSIF
Faster navigation in library source code
Delphi 13.1 introduces an extended architecture for the DelphiLSP code completion and navigation engine. The Delphi Language Server Protocol (LSP) engine now includes support for the Language Server Index Format (LSIF). This architectural change aims to reduce dependence on the compiler, improving the performance, stability, and accuracy of Code Insight.
The LSIF (Language Server Index Format) system introduces a new approach for DelphiLSP to provide navigation and Code Insight features by using pre-generated index files rather than relying on the compiler. When LSIF data is available, the language server can offer faster, more stable operations such as Go To Definition and Hover information. The product already includes pre-generated LSIF files for the core libraries, and you can generate matching LSIF files for the symbols defined in your own packages using a new compiler option.
The primary goal of this change is to deliver faster performance for common navigation requests without invoking the compiler. LSIF support increases responsiveness, reduces pauses previously caused by repeated background compilation, and improves DelphiLSP stability by lowering the number of requests sent to the compiler.
Shown: Enabling LSIF output for a package
C++Builder / Modern Win64 Quality
Following the upgrade to Clang 20 and C++23 in 13.0, RAD Studio 13.1 focuses primarily on improving quality across the C++Builder 64-bit Modern compiler toolchain. Notably, this release introduces the clang-scan-deps utility for faster dependency analysis and improves Unicode path handling during linker invocation.
For the Windows SDK, the import process has been made more robust when multiple SDK versions are installed, and support has been added for the latest Windows SDK.
Several issues affecting the use of the Delphi runtime from C++ have also been addressed.
IDE and Debugger Quality
For the RAD Studio IDE, beyond the features mentioned earlier, this release delivers a significant improvement to the High DPI design experience. You can now choose to save forms at 96 DPI, regardless of the design-time DPI. This is particularly useful for teams working on the same project across different screen resolutions and High DPI IDE configurations.
Shown: The Save in 96 DPI option in the IDE
In addition, this release introduces a new mechanism that allows simple calculations in selected numeric fields of the Object Inspector (specifically the Left, Top, Height, and Width properties of VCL TControl and derived classes).
Embarcadero’s product registration experience has also been modernized, with significant updates to both the License Manager application and the Product Registration dialog. These VCL applications now offer High DPI support using the Per Monitor v2 configuration, along with updated fonts and an overall UI refresh.
For the debugger, the “Attach to Process” dialog now displays process icons, making it easier to identify target processes.
Shown: The icons in the Attach to Process dialogs
This release also includes several debugger quality improvements, with a particular focus on the 64‑bit debuggers for Delphi and Modern C++. We resolved multiple scenarios—mainly involving exception handling—where the debugger previously stopped with an error and now operates as expected.
Quality and Small Enhancements for VCL and FireMonkey
In RAD Studio 13.1, Embarcadero has delivered a broad set of quality improvements across both UI libraries, VCL and FireMonkey.
For FireMonkey, we added support for Tinted Glyph, enabling icon recoloring within an ImageList—bringing this capability in line with what is already available for the TSpeedButton control. This feature is also used by the new FireMonkey Style Designer.
Shown: The TintedGlyph component in the Object Inspector
In addition, we added support for Linux styles and views in the IDE designer, added support for DirectX texture filtering, and improved the way a TFrame embedded in a FireMonkey form is aligned and manages its margins.
FireDAC and Database Improvements
Database access remains a core strength of RAD Studio. The FireDAC library continues to be updated to support the latest database versions. In this release, we’ve added support for SAP ASE Server 16.1, IBM DB2 12.1, and MariaDB Server 12.1 (with some FireDAC database drivers available in the Enterprise edition only).
In addition, legacy SQLite encryption is now available for 64-bit Windows applications.
Web Tooling Enhancements
RAD Studio 13.1 introduces support for the HTTP Server-Sent Events (SSE) model for both Web servers and Web clients, with new classes such as TWebResponseStream, THTTPEvent, and THTTPEventSource. This enables the development of applications based on SSE, including support for protocols such as MCP.
In addition, WebBroker adds Apache configuration support for C++Builder, and RAD Server Lite now includes integrated support for TLS 1.3.
Ready to Go
Product trials for RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder 13.1 Florence are now available and the updated product builds are live in the online store. Customers on Update Subscription can download and install RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder 13.1 today using their existing license and will receive an email announcing the new release availability. Downloads are available in the customers portal at https://my.embarcadero.com.
For more information, you can check the following links:
A Strong Release
RAD Studio 13.1 Florence represents a strong step forward, with meaningful new features and a continued focus on quality. We’re confident you’ll find this release valuable in your day-to-day development with RAD Studio, C++Builder, and Delphi.
Elevate your development experience with RAD Studio 13 Florence Update 1.
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