How to Install MySQL Server on a Windows PC

This updated guide examines How to Install MySQL Server on a Windows PC and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Part 1

Installing Python

1. Open the Python download page. Go to https://www.python.org/downloads in your computer's web browser.
2. ClickDownload Python 2.7.14. It's a yellow button at the top of the page. Python version 2.7.14 is the version that you'll need to use for MySQL.
   • You cannot run MySQL using Python 3.
3. Double-click the Python setup file. You'll find it in your browser's default downloads location. Doing so opens the Python setup window.
4. Navigate through the Python installation. The Python setup process is fairly straightforward:
   • Click Next on the first page.
   • Click Next on the "Select Destination Directory" page.
   • Click Next on the "Customize" page.
5. ClickYeswhen prompted. Doing so will cause Python to begin installing.
   • The Python installation should only take a few seconds.
6. ClickFinish. This option appears when Python has been installed successfully. Now that Python 2.7 is installed, you can proceed with installing MySQL.

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Which version of Python do you need to download before you can install the MySQL Database Server?

Any version of Python 3.

Not quite! You cannot use any version of Python to run MySQL. You should make sure you download the correct version of Python so that you can correctly install and use MySQL.Choose another answer!

Python 3.3.7.

Not exactly! You should avoid downloading Python 3.3.7 as it will not work correctly. You need the correct version of Python that allows you to install and use MySQL or you will have to navigate back to the Python downloader and try again.Choose another answer!

Python 2.7.14.

Yes! Python 2.7.14 is the correct version to download. Using 2.7.14, you'll be able to install MySQL and use it correctly.Read on for another quiz question.

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Part 2

Installing MySQL

1. Open the MySQL Server download page. Go to https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/installer/8.0.html in your computer's web browser. This will take you to the download site for the community version of MySQL Server.
2. Click the bottomDownloadoption. This blue button is at the bottom of the page.
   • Make sure to click the bottom Download button and not the top one here.
3. Scroll down and clickNo thanks, just start my download. It's a link near the bottom of the page. The MySQL setup file will download onto your computer.
4. Double-click the setup file. Doing so prompts the MySQL setup window to open.
5. ClickYeswhen prompted. This will confirm that you want to proceed with installing MySQL, which will open the MySQL launcher window.
   • You may have to do this twice before proceeding.
6. Check the "I accept the license terms" box. It's in the bottom-left side of the launcher window.
7. ClickNext. This is at the bottom of the window.
8. Check the "Full" box. It's in the middle of the page.
9. ClickNext. This option is at the bottom of the page. Doing so will save your installation preferences.
10. ClickNexton the "Requirements" page. It's at the bottom of the page.
11. ClickExecute. This button is at the bottom of the window. Doing so will prompt MySQL to begin installing onto your computer.
12. Wait for MySQL to finish installing. Once each of the options in the "Installation" window have checkmarks next to them, you can proceed with setting up MySQL.

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Part 2 Quiz

Why should you click "Yes" on the pop-up screen after you double click the setup file?

Clicking "Yes" confirms that you accept the license terms.

Not quite! Clicking "Yes" on the pop-up screen does not automatically accept the license terms. Instead, you will have the option to accept the license terms when you reach the launcher window. You are required to accept these terms to move forward with the install.Choose another answer!

Clicking the button confirms you want to install MySQL.

Yup! At this step, you are confirming that you are OK with proceeding to the installation. After you click "Yes" the MySQL launcher window will open.Read on for another quiz question.

Clicking "Yes" opens the setup window.

Not exactly! Choosing "Yes" won't open the setup window. At this point in the process, you have already opened the setup window.Choose another answer!

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Part 3

Setting up MySQL

1. Navigate through the first few pages. The first five pages of the MySQL setup are optimized for most Windows computers, so you can just click through them:
   • Click Next when the installation completes.
   • Click Next on the configuration page.
   • Click Next on the "Group Replication" page.
   • Click Next on the "Type and Networking" page.
   • Click Next on the "Authentication Method" page.
2. Create a MySQL password. Type your preferred password into the "MySQL Root Password" text box, then re-enter the password in the "Repeat Password" text box.
3. Add an administrator account. This will be the non-root account that you can use to do things like add users, change passwords, and so on:
   • Click Add User in the lower-right side of the page.
   • Type in your preferred username in the "Username" field.
   • Make sure that the "Role" field has DB Admin selected; if it doesn't, click the "Role" drop-down box and then click DB Admin
   • Enter a unique password for the user in the "Password" and "Confirm Password" boxes.
   • Click OK
4. ClickNext. This is at the bottom of the page. Doing so confirms your password and user account.
5. ClickNext. It's at the bottom of the "Windows Service" page.
6. Enable MySQL as a document store. You can skip this step by clicking Next if you like. Otherwise, do the following:
   • Check the "Enable X Protocol / MySQL as a Document Store" box.
   • Change the port number if necessary.
   • Make sure that the "Open Windows Firewall port for network access" box is checked.
   • Click Next
7. ClickExecute. It's at the bottom of the window. Your MySQL installation will begin configuring itself.
8. ClickFinish. This option will become available when the configuration is complete.
9. Configure the next attribute. Click Next at the bottom of the window, then click Finish . This will bring you to the final part of MySQL's setup, which is connecting to the server itself.
10. Enter your root password. In the "Password" box near the bottom of the window, type in the password that you created at the beginning of this part.
11. ClickCheck. It's at the bottom of the page. This will check your password and, if the password is correct, allow you to proceed.
12. ClickNext. This option is at the bottom of the page.
13. ClickExecute. Doing so will configure this part of your installation.
14. Finish the product configuration. Click Finish , click Next at the bottom of the "Product Configuration" page, and click Finish in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will complete your MySQL setup and open the MySQL Shell and dashboard. You're now ready to begin using MySQL.

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Part 3 Quiz

True or false: You'll need to create two separate passwords when you're installing MySQL.

True

Correct! To get the most function out of MySQL, you will need to start with two accounts and two separate passwords. The first account is your user account and the second is an admin account. The admin account is responsible for adding users and changing passwords.Read on for another quiz question.

False

Nope! You will create two separate accounts during the MySQL installation. The first is your user account and the second is your admin account. Both accounts will have their own password.Try again...

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