2.3.1 Installing

MySQL Workbench for Windows can be installed using the MySQL Installer that installs and updates all MySQL products on Windows or the standalone Windows MSI Installer package. For general requirements and specific installation instructions, see the sections that follow.

Requirements for Windows

The following prerequisites are available at the Microsoft Download Center:

  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2

  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable

  • Microsoft Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022

Installation Using MySQL Installer

The general MySQL Installer download is available at https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/installer/. The MySQL Installer application can install, upgrade, and manage most MySQL products, including MySQL Workbench. Managing all of your MySQL products, including Workbench, with MySQL Installer is the recommended approach. It handles all requirements and prerequisites, configurations, and upgrades.

When executing MySQL Installer, you may choose MySQL Workbench as one of the products to install. It is selected by default, and essentially executes the standalone MSI Installer package described in the next section.

Installation Using the Windows MSI Installer Package

The standalone download is available at https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/.

Important

Installing MySQL Workbench using a Windows MSI Installer package requires either Administrator or Power User privileges.

MySQL Workbench can be installed using the Windows MSI Installer package. The MSI package bears the name mysql-workbench-community-version-winarch.msi, where version indicates the MySQL Workbench version number, and arch the build architecture (winx64).

To install MySQL Workbench:

  1. From an account with Administrator or Power User privileges, right-click the MSI file and select the Install item from the pop-up menu, or double-click the file.

  2. In the Setup Type page, select either a Complete or Custom installation. To use all features of MySQL Workbench choose the Complete setup type.

  3. Unless you choose otherwise, MySQL Workbench is installed in C:\%PROGRAMFILES%\MySQL\MySQL Workbench 8.0 edition_type\, where %PROGRAMFILES% is the default directory for programs for your locale. The %PROGRAMFILES% directory is defined as C:\Program Files\ on most systems.