Download MySQL for macOS

Apple Silicon or Intel?

MySQL ships two macOS builds, and picking the right one matters. Macs from 2020 onward with an M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip use the ARM64 (arm64) build. Older Macs use the x86_64 build. To check, open the Apple menu → About This Mac: "Apple M-series" means ARM64, "Intel" means x86_64. Running the native build skips Rosetta 2 translation, so the server starts faster and uses less memory — worth getting right on the first download.

Install MySQL on macOS in four steps

1. Pick your chipChoose the ARM build for Apple Silicon (M1 to M4) or the x86_64 build for an Intel Mac. Check the Apple menu, About This Mac, to see which you have.
2. Open the .dmgDouble-click the downloaded .dmg, then run the .pkg installer inside it.
3. Set the root passwordDuring install, macOS prompts you to set a root password for MySQL. Write it down — you need it to connect.
4. Start the serverOpen System Settings, MySQL pane, and click Start MySQL Server. The server now runs in the background.

Prefer Homebrew?

If you already use Homebrew, one command installs the same official MySQL and wires up a background service:

# install the latest MySQL
brew install mysql

# start it now and on every login
brew services start mysql

# lock down the default install (recommended)
mysql_secure_installation

Homebrew keeps MySQL current with brew upgrade mysql, which is why many developers prefer it once the machine is set up. The trade-off: no System Settings pane, and Homebrew installs the latest release rather than the 8.4 LTS line.

DMG installer vs Homebrew

After installing: verify it works

However you installed it, confirm MySQL is present and start a session. If you used the .dmg, add its bin folder to your PATH first:

# .dmg install: add MySQL to PATH for this shell
export PATH="/usr/local/mysql/bin:$PATH"

# check the version, then connect as root
mysql --version
mysql -u root -p

With Homebrew, mysql is already on your PATH. From the mysql> prompt, CREATE DATABASE mydb; makes your first database; the official MySQL getting-started guide covers the rest.

Secure MySQL and create a user

On a fresh install, run the guided hardening script first. It sets a root password, removes anonymous accounts, and disables remote root login:

mysql_secure_installation

A note on Homebrew: its MySQL starts with a blank root password and socket-based access, so mysql -u root (no -p) works initially — run the script above to set a real password. Then create a dedicated, non-root user for your app rather than using root everywhere:

mysql -u root -p

# inside the mysql> prompt:
CREATE DATABASE appdb;
CREATE USER 'appuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'a-strong-password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON appdb.* TO 'appuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Two common first-run issues

"command not found: mysql" — the .dmg install doesn't add MySQL to your PATH. Add the export line above to your ~/.zshrc so it persists across sessions, or use MySQL Workbench, which finds the server automatically.

The server won't start — open System Settings → MySQL and click Start MySQL Server. With Homebrew, run brew services restart mysql and check brew services list for the status.

Verify the download (optional but recommended)

Confirm the .dmg matches the SHA-256 checksum Oracle lists beside it on the download page before you open it — this proves the file is the genuine, untampered installer:

shasum -a 256 mysql-*.dmg
# compare the output to the SHA256 shown on dev.mysql.com