Installing MySQL
MySQL download is the step where you get the installer for MySQL, Oracle's open-source relational database management system, onto your Windows or macOS machine before you run it and start the first server.
The download itself takes about 1 minute at a decent connection, and the installer then needs a few minutes to stage roughly 400 MB of files and configure the 3306 port service. Everything after that is configuration, and this guide walks each part of it, from the download page to a verified, running MySQL instance you can connect to from a client.
Before you install, understand the two installers Oracle ships, because the choice shapes the rest of the process. The first is the MySQL Installer, a single package that bundles the server, the command-line client, and the MySQL Workbench graphical tool. The second is a collection of standalone platform binaries, plain installers for individual components with no wizard. Most people want the MySQL Installer. If you want the fastest path to a working server plus a GUI, pick the Windows bundle. If you want only the server and plan to manage it from the terminal, the standalone binaries are lighter. The MySQL in practice page covers what you do with the server once it is up, so return there after you finish the install.
Download the MySQL Installer for Windows
To download the installer on Windows, go to the MySQL download page, select the MySQL Installer for Windows, and choose between the web-based download and the full bundle. The web-based download is a small launcher, about 1 MB, that fetches the components it needs during setup. The full bundle is the whole package, around 400 MB, and you can install from it offline without a second download. Windows 11 runs the same installer as Windows 10, so there is no separate build for Windows 11. If you are on Windows 11, download the Windows 10 or Windows 11 bundle, since Oracle labels the current build to cover both. Run the file, and the setup wizard opens with a list of the components it can install.
Choose the Server Type and Components
To choose the server type, the installer asks you to pick one of four installation types, and Full, Custom, Server only, and Client only cover the common cases. Select Server with GUI, which installs the MySQL Server, the command-line client, and MySQL Workbench together. In the Custom view you can tick or untick each component, but the default Server with GUI is the right start for learning. The component list shows the server, the Workbench GUI, the command-line tools, and the connector libraries, and you can confirm each one is checked before you continue. Keep the defaults unless you have a reason to change them, because the defaults are tuned for a clean, complete setup.
Set the Root Password and Server Port
To set the root password, the installer opens a configuration screen where you define the root account, the port, and the versioning behavior. Enter a root password, retype it, and make it long enough to survive a brute-force attempt, since the root account is the one that unlocks every database. Leave the port at 3306, the default MySQL port, unless another service already holds it, and if a port conflict appears the installer reports which process owns the port so you can free it or pick a new one. Decide whether to start the server as a Windows service and to enable it at boot, both of which you want, so MySQL restarts with the machine and runs without you opening a terminal. The installer then writes the configuration file and registers the service, and you can proceed to the next step once it reports the configuration as successful.
Verify the Service and Connect
To verify the service, confirm the MySQL server is running as a service before you touch the database, because a stopped service is the most common reason a fresh install seems broken. Open a terminal or the Services manager and check that the MySQL80 service is in the Running state, or run a command that reports the server version and the uptime in seconds. Once the service is up, connect with the command-line client using the root account and the password you set, and the client opens a prompt where you can run a command that lists the databases. You should see the system schema and any initial schemas the installer created. If the connection fails with an access error, the password or the port is wrong, so re-check both before moving on. From the command line you can also open MySQL Workbench, the graphical client, and the MySQL Workbench walkthrough page covers what to do there once you have this verified connection.
Download the MySQL Installer for Mac
To download the installer on Mac, follow the same page flow as Windows but pick the macOS package instead of the Windows bundle. Oracle distributes macOS builds as a disk image, a dmg file, that you open to drag the installer into Applications, and the package is built for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. The Mac installer does not use the Windows-style component wizard, so you install the server and then configure it through a configuration app or the terminal. The download size is comparable to the Windows bundle, and the install is a drag-and-drop plus a guided configuration, so the process is shorter but less guided than the Windows path. If you want a fully graphical setup on Mac, MySQL Workbench is still the tool for managing the server after the install, and the same verification steps apply, checking the service and connecting with the root account.
Which MySQL Package Fits Your Setup
To pick the right package, match the installer to your platform and your goal, and the table below maps each common situation to its download and its next step.
| Platform | Package to download | Typical size | Next step after install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | MySQL Installer for Windows (full bundle) | about 400 MB | Configure server type and root password |
| Windows 10 | MySQL Installer for Windows (full bundle) | about 400 MB | Configure server type and root password |
| macOS | MySQL Installer for Mac (dmg) | about 400 MB | Drag to Applications, then configure |
| Server only, Windows | MySQL Installer, Server only type | about 400 MB | Start the service and connect from a client |
The web-based launcher, around 1 MB, is the right pick when you have a reliable connection and want to download only what you need, while the full bundle is the pick when you are installing offline or on a machine you will not return to. Once the server is installed and verified, the Choosing between MySQL and PostgreSQL page is the natural next step if you are still deciding which database to run, and the Install Linux page is the path if you plan to move the same server from a desktop to a Linux host.