[mysql] MySQL my.ini location

I have already seen http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/4.1/en/mysql-config-wizard-file-location.html

how to know mysql my.cnf location

and

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/option-files.html

But I am still stuck with the ages old question! "Where is my my.ini" I am using windows server 2008 with mysql 5.5.28. I installed the service using mysqld --install and I am able to use the mysql server using sqlyog. But unfortunately I am not able to find my.ini in installation directory or not in c:\ neither in c:\windows nor in data_dir query show variables like "mysql_home" returned nothing as well.

Any suggestions?

Press the windows key > type services > press enter > Look up mysql in the list > right click > properties > Path to Executable will have the location of the defaults file right below it (my.ini)

Answered for only MySQL Workbench users,

For MySql Server 8.0 The default location is %WINDIR% or C:\Windows.

You need to add a "my.ini" file there.

Here's a sample of what I put in the ini file.

[mysqld]

secure_file_priv=""

Make sure to restart the MySQL service after that.

it is there at C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.5 there are various .ini files with small, medium & large names. generally medium is used or it depends on your requirement.

Open your run console type: services.msc look for: mysql right click properties where is written "path to executable", click and move the cursor to the right until you see the directory of my.ini, it's written "defaults-file-". to reach it manually on your explore folders you have to enable the visualization of hidden elements (explore folder>top menu>visualize>visualize hidden elements)

as explained by this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvCAa2XuQhg

on Windows if MySQL is install as a service you can change the binpath of the service. For example

sc config MySQL57 binPath= "\"C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\bin\mysqld.exe\" --defaults-file=\"<myini path>" MySQL57"

space after binpath is important. You must escape double quotes

Start MySQL Workbench, then Server -> Options File and look at bottom of the window; it will say something like "Configuration File: C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini"

(And note the subtle difference between "ProgramData" and "Program Files" - easy to gloss over if you're looking for a quick answer.)

I've found mine in

\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\

(It is a hidden folder)

You can type win+R and write %PROGRAMDATA% to access that folder, or just enable show hidden folder.

You can find the my.ini file in windows at this location- C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6

the ProgramData folder is a hidden folder, so make the according setting to see that folder. And open my.ini file as an administrator to edit and then save that.

In my case, the folder ProgramData was hidden by default on windows 7, so I was unable to find my.ini file.

After selecting show hidden files and folders option, I was able to find the my.ini file at the location: C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6.

Display hidden files and folders on windows 7:

1. Right-click the Windows Logo button and choose Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click Organize and choose Folder and Search Options.

3. Click the View tab, select Show hidden files and folders and then clear the checkbox for Hide protected system operating files.

4. Click Yes on the warning and then click OK.

my.ini LOCATION ON WINDOWS MYSQL 5.6 MSI (USING THE INSTALL WIZARD)

Open a Windows command shell and type: echo %PROGRAMDATA%. On Windows Vista this results in: C:\ProgramData.

According to http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/option-files.html, the first location MySQL will look under is in %PROGRAMDATA%\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini. In your Windows shell if you do ls "%PROGRAMDATA%\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini", you will see that the file is there.

Unlike most suggestions you will find in Stackoverflow and around the web, putting the file in C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini WILL NOT WORK. Neither will C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.1. The reason being quoted on the MySQL link posted above:

On Windows, MySQL programs read startup options from the following files, in the specified order (top items are used first).

The 5.6 MSI installer does create a my.ini in the highest priority location, meaning no other file will ever be found/used, except for the one created by the installer.

The solution accepted above will not work for 5.6 MSI-based installs.

I met with the same problem when I did MSI install of MySQL and there were no my-medium.ini files too when I tried the above steps. Only installing the ZIP file of MySQL helped me. So, I suggest you to uninstall the MSI installed folder and reinstall using the ZIP file.

programData is hidden folder so you have to change the option from setting to show hidden folder and then make the change in my.ini file present in that.

Be sure to update the correct my.ini file because it can waste a lot of your time if you keep updating wrong file.

You can look into service to see which my.ini is configured in this service.

1. Enter "services.msc" on the Start menu search box.
2. Find MySQL service under Name column, for example, MySQL56.
3. Right click on MySQL service, and select Properties menu.
4. Look for "Path To Executable" under General tab, and there is your .ini file, for instance, "C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\bin\mysqld.exe" --defaults-file="C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini" MYSQL56