How to Install MySQL Server on Windows for Dev

Hello Dev, welcome to this comprehensive guide on installing MySQL Server on Windows. MySQL Server is a powerful open-source relational database management system that is widely used for web development, data analysis, and more. In this article, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of installing MySQL Server on your Windows machine.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, there are a few prerequisites you need to have in place:

1. A Windows operating system
2. Administrator privileges on your machine
3. An internet connection

Checking Your Operating System

The first thing you need to do is verify that you are running a Windows operating system. You can do this by:

1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Settings from the menu that appears.
3. Click System.
4. Select About from the menu on the left.
5. Under the Windows specifications section, verify that the edition, version, and OS build match what you are running.

Checking Your User Privileges

In order to install MySQL Server, you will need to have administrator privileges on your machine. You can check if you have these privileges by:

1. Clicking the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Type “cmd” into the search bar and press Enter.
3. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as Administrator.
4. If you are prompted for permission, click Yes.
5. Type “whoami /priv” and press Enter.
6. Verify that you have the “SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege” and “SeCreateTokenPrivilege” privileges.

Downloading MySQL Server

The next step is to download the MySQL Server installer from the official MySQL website. You can do this by:

1. Go to the MySQL website.
2. Select the version of MySQL Server you want to download.
3. If you’re not sure, select the latest version.
4. Scroll down to the “Looking for previous GA versions?” section if you want an older version.
5. Select the installer that matches your operating system and architecture.
6. Click the Download button.

Installing MySQL Server

Now that you have downloaded the MySQL Server installer, it’s time to install it. Follow these steps:

1. Double-click the downloaded installation file.
2. If prompted, click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.
3. Click Next on the Welcome screen.
4. Accept the license terms and click Next.
5. Select the setup type you want and click Next.
6. Choose a destination folder and click Next.
7. Select the components you want to install and click Next.
8. Select the configuration option you want and click Next.
9. Type a root password for the MySQL Server and click Next.
10. Click Install to begin the installation process.
11. Wait for the installation to complete.
12. Click Finish to close the installer.

Configuring MySQL Server

After you have installed MySQL Server, you need to configure it to work properly. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Type “cmd” into the search bar and press Enter.
3. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as Administrator.
4. If you are prompted for permission, click Yes.
5. Enter the following command:
   cd C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\bin
6. Press Enter.
7. Enter the following command:
   mysql_secure_installation
8. Press Enter.
9. Follow the prompts to secure your MySQL Server installation.

Using MySQL Server

Now that you have installed and configured MySQL Server, you’re ready to use it for your projects. Here are a few frequently asked questions about MySQL Server:

How do I start and stop MySQL Server?

You can start and stop MySQL Server by following these steps:

1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Type “cmd” into the search bar and press Enter.
3. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as Administrator.
4. If you are prompted for permission, click Yes.
5. Enter the following command to start MySQL Server:
   net start mysql80
6. Press Enter.
7. Enter the following command to stop MySQL Server:
   net stop mysql80
8. Press Enter.

How do I connect to a MySQL Server database?

You can connect to a MySQL Server database by following these steps:

1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Type “cmd” into the search bar and press Enter.
3. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as Administrator.
4. If you are prompted for permission, click Yes.
5. Enter the following command to connect to a database:
   mysql -u username -p
6. Replace “username” with your MySQL Server username.
7. Press Enter.
8. Enter your password when prompted.
9. You are now connected to your database.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully installed MySQL Server on your Windows machine. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can be confident in your ability to install, configure, and use MySQL Server for your projects. If you have any questions or run into any issues, consult the official MySQL documentation or seek out online resources for additional support.