To install MySQL Workbench on Windows 10, download the Windows MSI installer from dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench, install the Visual C++ Redistributable it needs, run the MSI from an administrator account, and choose the Complete setup type. Workbench is only the graphical client, so if you also need a database on the same PC, install MySQL Server too. One important caveat first: Oracle’s current requirements list Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022, not Windows 10.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Before you start: check compatibility
Oracle’s MySQL Workbench installation guide lists these Windows requirements:
- Microsoft Windows 11 or Windows Server 2022
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable
Windows 10 isn’t on the supported list, so the latest Workbench release may install and run, but Oracle won’t support problems on it. If you rely on Workbench for work, upgrading to Windows 11 is the safer route. Otherwise, follow the steps below and check that the app starts and connects before you depend on it.
Step 1: Install the prerequisites
- Download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) from Microsoft and run it. If it says a newer version is already installed, you can skip this step.
- .NET Framework 4.5.2 or later is already part of an up-to-date Windows 10, so you normally don’t need to install it separately.
Step 2: Download MySQL Workbench
- Go to dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench.
- Under Select Operating System, choose Microsoft Windows.
- Select Download next to the Windows (x86, 64-bit) MSI Installer.
- On the next page, you can sign in or select No thanks, just start my download.
Step 3: Run the installer
- Sign in to Windows with an administrator account.
- Double-click the downloaded file (named like mysql-workbench-community-version-winx64.msi).
- Select Next on the welcome screen and keep the default install folder, or choose another.
- On the Setup Type page, select Complete to get every feature.
- Select Install, approve the User Account Control prompt, then select Finish.
By default, Workbench installs in C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Workbench. You’ll find it in the Start menu as MySQL Workbench.
Step 4: Connect to a MySQL server
- Open MySQL Workbench.
- Next to MySQL Connections, select the + icon.
- Give the connection a name. For a server on the same PC, use hostname 127.0.0.1 and port 3306.
- Enter the user name (often root on a local install) and select Test Connection. Enter the password when asked.
- If the test succeeds, select OK, then click the new connection tile to open it.
If the test fails, see our tips for connecting MySQL Workbench to localhost.
Need MySQL Server too?
Workbench doesn’t include a database server. To run MySQL locally, download MySQL Community Server from the same MySQL downloads site and run its installer, which sets up the server, a root password, and a Windows service. Our guide to installing MySQL on Windows 11 walks through it, and most steps are the same on Windows 10.
Troubleshooting
- Installer says a prerequisite is missing: install the Visual C++ Redistributable from Step 1, then run the MSI again.
- Workbench closes right after opening: update Windows and your graphics driver, and reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable. On Windows 10, an older Workbench release may also work better.
- “Can’t connect to MySQL server on 127.0.0.1”: the server isn’t running or uses a different port. Open services.msc and check that the MySQL service is running.
- Access denied for user ‘root’: the password is wrong, or root isn’t allowed to log in from that host. Use the password you set when installing MySQL Server.
Frequently asked questions
Is MySQL Workbench free?
Yes. MySQL Workbench Community Edition is free to download and use.
Can I use Workbench with a remote database?
Yes. Enter the remote server’s hostname, port, and user name when you create the connection. Many hosting providers also support connecting over SSH.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.