How to Download Windows 10 MySQL ODBC Driver and Configure it

Detailed steps to help you configure the OBDC drive on your PC

Windows 10

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by Matthew Adams 

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Key notes

  • ODBC is an API that acts as a bridge between your system and your MySQL.
  • To make the driver configuration easy, you need to have installed MySQL on your PC.
download ODBC mysql driver windows 10

ODBC stands for Open Database Connectivity. This is an API that acts as a bridge between your operating system and database management system such as MySQL.

You’ll need to have the Windows 10 MySQL ODBC driver to access MySQL databases. With that driver, you can then use your databases with numerous applications.

How can I download and install the MySQL ODBC driver on Windows 10?

1. Download the driver

  1. Firstly, open this page on the MySQL website.
  2. Select Microsoft Windows from the Select Platform drop-down menu.
  3. Then click the Download button beside either Windows (x86, 64-bit), MSI Installer or Windows (x86, 32-bit), MSI Installer depending on the Windows version you. For example, if it’s 32-bit system click Windows (x86, 32-bit), MSI Installer.
    download page download the Windows 10 MySQL ODBC driver
  4. Now, open the MySQL ODBC driver setup wizard to install it.

The above steps are what you need to follow to download the Windows 10 MySQL ODBC driver.

2. Configure the driver

  1. Type set up ODBC into the Cortana search box and then select Set up ODBC Data Sources to open the window in the snapshot below.
  2. Click the System DSN tab and then press the Add button to open the window in the snapshot below.
    add mysql
  3. Next, double-click a MySQL ODBC driver from that list and click Finish.
    finish
  4. Enter an ID in the Data Source Name text box to identify the data source.
    data source
  5. If you’ve installed MySQL instance on the same PC you’re setting up the ODBC driver on, you can enter localhost as the TCP/IP Server name. Enter IP addresses there for remote MySQL servers.
  6. Enter root into the username field. That gives you default access to databases without needing to enter passwords.
  7. Now press the Test button to confirm a connection. A window will pop up stating, Connection was made.
  8. Finally, choose a database to link through the connection from the Database drop-down menu.
  9. Click OK to close the window. The System DSN tab now includes the connection.

So that’s how you can download and configure the MySQL ODBC driver in Windows for a local MySQL server. Configuration for a remote MySQL server is similar, except that a grant permission command and password are usually required.

More about the topics: Windows 10 drivers

Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it. He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes. In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.