To start MySQL Workbench on Windows, select Start, Programs, MySQL, then select MySQL Workbench. This executes the MySQLWorkbench.exe file on your system.

Alternatively, start MySQL Workbench from the command line. To view the available command-line options, issue the command MySQLWorkbench -help from the MySQL Workbench installation directory. You will see the following output:

MySQLWorkbench.exe [<options>] [<model file>]

Options:
  -swrendering          Force the diagram canvas to use software rendering instead of OpenGL
  -query [<connection>] Open a query tab to the named connection or prompt for it if none given
  -admin <instance>     Open a administration tab to the named instance
  -upgrade-mysql-dbs    Open a migration wizard tab
  -model <model file>   Open the given EER model file
  -open <file>          Open the given file at startup
  -run <script>         Execute the given code in default language for GRT shell
  -run-python <script>  Execute the given code in Python
  -run-lua <script>     Execute the given code in Lua
  -migration            Open the Migration Wizard tab
  -quit-when-done       Quit Workbench when the script is done
  -log-to-stderr        Also log to stderr
  -help, -h             Show command line options and exit
  -log-level=<level>    Valid levels are: error, warning, info, debug1, debug2, debug3
  -verbose, -v          Enable diagnostics output
  -version              Show Workbench version number and exit

Use the -swrendering option if your video card does not support OpenGL 1.5. The -version option can be used to display the MySQL Workbench version number. The other options are self-explanatory.

MySQL Workbench may also be started from MySQL Notifier for Microsoft Windows by choosing SQL Editor or Configure Instance from the Notifier context menu. For additional information, see MySQL Notifier for Microsoft Windows.