MySQL Installation Guide (Windows 11)
This document provides a step-by-step breakdown for installing MySQL Server, Workbench, and Shell
on Windows 11, configuring the environment variables, and verifying the setup.
📋 Table of Contents
1. Download the MySQL Installer
2. Install MySQL Server, Workbench, and Shell
3. Server Configuration & Password Setup
4. Configure System Environment Variables
5. Verify Installation & Create a Database
1. Download the MySQL Installer
1. Open your web browser, search for MySQL, and navigate to the official website.
2. Go to Downloads > MySQL Community Downloads > MySQL Installer for Windows.
3. Choose the second download option (the larger file, approximately 306 MB). This installer
works for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems.
4. Click Download.
5. On the login prompt page, look at the bottom and click "No thanks, just start my
download".
2. Install MySQL Server, Workbench, and Shell
1. Locate your downloaded file and open it to begin the installation.
2. When prompted to Choose a Setup Type, select Custom and click Next.
3. Under Select Products, expand the following menus and use the green arrow button to move
them to the "Products to be Installed" section:
o MySQL Servers $\rightarrow$ MySQL Server
o Applications $\rightarrow$ MySQL Workbench
o Applications $\rightarrow$ MySQL Shell
4. Click Next once all three components are selected.
5. Click Execute to begin downloading and installing the chosen software.
3. Server Configuration & Password Setup
1. Once installation completes, click Next until you reach the Type and Networking screen.
Leave the default settings as they are (including default Port 3306) and click Next.
2. For the Authentication Method, keep the default recommended setting: Use Strong
Password Encryption for Authentication, then click Next.
3. Set a strong Root Password for your admin/root account.
⚠️Important: Write this password down or remember it. You will need it every time you access your
database.
4. Click Next through the Windows Service and Server File Permissions prompts to keep their
default values.
5. On the Apply Configuration screen, click Execute.
6. Once all configuration steps show a green checkmark, click Finish, then Next, and finally
Finish to close the setup wizard.
4. Configure System Environment Variables
Setting the environment variable allows you to run MySQL commands from any command prompt
window.
1. Open your Windows File Explorer and navigate to your MySQL installation folder. The default
path is:
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\bin
2. Click on the address bar and Copy this entire directory path.
3. Open your Windows Start menu, type "Environment Variables", and select Edit the system
environment variables.
4. In the System Properties window, click the Environment Variables... button at the bottom
right.
5. Under the System variables list, scroll down, select the Path variable, and click Edit (or
double-click it).
6. Click New on the right-hand side, then Paste the path you copied in step 1.
7. Click OK on all open windows to save the changes.
5. Verify Installation & Create a Database
1. Open the Windows Start menu, type CMD, and open the Command Prompt.
2. Run the following command to verify that Windows recognizes MySQL:
DOS
mysql --version
You should see version 8.0.40 printed on the screen.
3. Log into your MySQL server as the root user by executing:
DOS
mysql -u root -p
4. Enter the Root Password you created during step 3 and press Enter.
5. Now that you are inside the MySQL prompt, run these basic commands to check your setup
and create a new environment:
SQL
-- View default system databases
SHOW DATABASES;
-- Create a brand new custom database
CREATE DATABASE AmitDB;
-- Verify your new database exists
SHOW DATABASES;
6. To exit the MySQL prompt, type exit; and press Enter.