MySQL and Windows  /  Installing MySQL on Microsoft Windows  /  MySQL Installation Layout on Microsoft Windows

1.1 MySQL Installation Layout on Microsoft Windows

For MySQL 8.0 on Windows, the default installation directory is C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0 for installations performed with MySQL Installer. If you use the ZIP archive method to install MySQL, you may prefer to install in C:\mysql. However, the layout of the subdirectories remains the same.

All of the files are located within this parent directory, using the structure shown in the following table.

Table 1.1 Default MySQL Installation Layout for Microsoft Windows

Directory Contents of Directory Notes
bin mysqld server, client and utility programs
%PROGRAMDATA%\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\ Log files, databases The Windows system variable %PROGRAMDATA% defaults to C:\ProgramData.
docs Release documentation With MySQL Installer, use the Modify operation to select this optional folder.
include Include (header) files
lib Libraries
share Miscellaneous support files, including error messages, character set files, sample configuration files, SQL for database installation

Silent Installation Methods

Use MySQL Installer, see Section 1.3.5, “MySQL Installer Console Reference”.