How to Install MySQL on Windows

Last updated: October 19, 2026Oct 19, 2026 6 min read

To learn MySQL you need a MySQL server on your computer. This guide installs the free MySQL Community Server on Windows step by step, then shows quick ways to install it on macOS, Linux and Docker. At the end you will connect to the server and run your first command.

1. Before You Start

Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit, with administrator rights.
About 1 GB of free disk space and an internet connection for the download.
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (2019 or later). The installer tells you if it is missing; it is a free download from Microsoft.
Choose a version: the latest LTS release (8.4 at the time of writing) is the safe choice for learning and production. Innovation releases (9.x) add newer features but have short support.

Figure 1: the five steps to a working MySQL server on Windows.

2. Step 1: Download the Installer

Open https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/ in your browser.
Select the version (for example 8.4.x LTS) and the operating system Microsoft Windows.
Download the Windows (x86, 64-bit), MSI Installer.
On the next page click No thanks, just start my download; an Oracle account is not required.

Older guides mention MySQL Installer, an all-in-one tool. It was used for MySQL 8.0 and is no longer provided for newer versions. Today each product (Server, Workbench, Shell) has its own MSI, and the server is configured with MySQL Configurator.

3. Step 2: Run the MSI Installer

Double-click the downloaded .msi file and click Next.
Accept the licence agreement.
Choose Typical setup (server, client programs and tools).
Click Install and allow the Windows permission prompt.
Leave Run MySQL Configurator ticked and click Finish.

The programs are copied to C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.4\. The server is not running yet; Configurator sets it up next.

4. Step 3: Configure the Server with MySQL Configurator

Screen	What to choose	Why
Data Directory	Keep the default `C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.4\`	Where your databases are stored
Type and Networking	Config type Development Computer; TCP/IP port 3306; tick Open Windows Firewall port only if other machines must connect	Uses less memory on a laptop; 3306 is the standard port
Accounts and Roles	Set a strong root password and write it down. Optionally add a normal user for daily work	root is the all-powerful admin account
Windows Service	Tick Configure MySQL Server as a Windows Service, name `MySQL84`, Start at System Startup	MySQL starts automatically with Windows
Server File Permissions	Keep the default (grant full access to the service account)	Protects the data folder
Sample Databases	Optional: sakila and world	Handy practice data
Apply Configuration	Click Execute and wait for all green ticks, then Finish	Creates the data folder and starts the service

If you forget the root password you will need a recovery procedure, so store it in a password manager.

5. Step 4: Add MySQL to the PATH

To run mysql from any folder, add its bin directory to the Windows PATH:

Press the Windows key, type environment variables and open Edit the system environment variables.
Click Environment Variables…, select Path under System variables and click Edit.
Click New and add C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.4\bin.
Click OK three times, then open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window.

6. Step 5: Connect and Test

Check that the client is found, then log in as root with the password you chose:

Command Prompt

mysql --version
mysql -u root -p

The first command prints the client version. After the second, type your password; you should see the mysql> prompt. Now run a few statements:

query.sql

SELECT VERSION() >= '8.0' AS modern_mysql, NOW() IS NOT NULL AS server_clock_ok;
SHOW DATABASES;

Result: 1 row

modern_mysql	server_clock_ok
1	1

Result: 4 rows

Database
information_schema
mysql
performance_schema
sys

Type exit (or \q) to leave the client.

Prefer a graphical tool? Install MySQL Workbench (separate MSI) or use the database tools in IntelliJ IDEA or VS Code, and connect to localhost:3306 as root.

7. Starting and Stopping the Service

MySQL runs as a Windows service. You can control it from Services (services.msc) or from an administrator Command Prompt:

Administrator Command Prompt

net stop MySQL84
net start MySQL84
sc query MySQL84

8. Installing on macOS, Linux and Docker

Platform	Quick install	Notes
macOS	Download the DMG (ARM or x86) from dev.mysql.com and run the package; or `brew install mysql`	The DMG adds a MySQL pane to System Settings to start/stop the server
Ubuntu / Debian	Add the MySQL APT repository (`mysql-apt-config`) then `sudo apt install mysql-server`	Ubuntu's own repository also has `mysql-server`, often a slightly older version
RHEL / Oracle Linux / Fedora	Install the MySQL Yum repository RPM, then `sudo dnf install mysql-community-server`	A temporary root password is written to `/var/log/mysqld.log`
Docker (any OS)	`docker run --name mysql84 -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=Secret#123 -p 3306:3306 -d mysql:8.4`	Add `-v mysqldata:/var/lib/mysql` to keep data when the container is removed

Terminal

# Linux (systemd): manage the service
sudo systemctl start mysqld      # service is called 'mysql' on Ubuntu/Debian
sudo systemctl enable mysqld
sudo mysql_secure_installation   # set root password, remove test database

9. First Things to Do After Installing

Working as root every day is risky. Create your own user and a practice database:

first-steps.sql

CREATE DATABASE practice;
CREATE USER 'learner'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'Learn#MySQL2026';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON practice.* TO 'learner'@'localhost';
SHOW GRANTS FOR 'learner'@'localhost';

Result: 2 rows

Grants for learner@localhost
GRANT USAGE ON . TO `learner`@`localhost`
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `practice`.* TO `learner`@`localhost`

From now on connect with mysql -u learner -p practice.

10. Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause and fix
`'mysql' is not recognized as an internal or external command`	The `bin` folder isn't in PATH, or the window was opened before you changed PATH. Repeat Step 4 and open a new window.
`ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'`	Wrong password, or you typed it after `-p` with a space. Use `-p` alone and type it at the prompt.
`ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost:3306'`	The service isn't running. Start it with `net start MySQL84` or from Services.
Configurator fails at Starting the server	Port 3306 is used by another program (or another MySQL). Choose a different port or stop the other program.
Installer complains about Visual C++	Install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64) and run the MSI again.

11. Summary

Download the MySQL Community Server MSI (choose an LTS version) from dev.mysql.com.
Install it, then use MySQL Configurator to set the port, root password and Windows service.
Add the bin folder to PATH and test with mysql -u root -p.
On macOS use the DMG or Homebrew; on Linux use the official APT/Yum repositories; anywhere, Docker works.
Create a normal user for daily work instead of using root.

Was this tutorial helpful?

Help Us Improve