How to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS

Looking to install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS? This guide provides a detailed, easy-to-follow walkthrough to get MySQL up and running quickly, so you can get started on your application development or data management projects.

Two Ways to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04

Method 1: Installing MySQL from the Official Ubuntu Repository

Step 1: Update the Application Repository

First, update the application repository to ensure a smooth installation, with the latest versions of packages that are safer and more compatible with your system. This is a basic and necessary step to avoid errors during the installation process.

Open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install MySQL

This command will download and install the stable MySQL version available in the Ubuntu repository.

sudo apt install mysql-server

After installation, verify the MySQL version to confirm the installation was successful:

mysql --version

Method 2: Installing MySQL from the Official MySQL Repository

If you encounter the error “E: Package ‘mysql-server’ has no installation candidate”, it may be because your Ubuntu repository does not include the MySQL package version or you accidentally deleted it. In this case, use the official MySQL repository.

Step 1: Open the Terminal and Download the .deb File

Visit the MySQL APT repository download page: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/repo/apt/ to download the latest version. For example, the command below will download it using wget.

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://dev.mysql.com/get/mysql-apt-config_0.8.33-1_all.deb

Step 2: Add the Repository Configuration

Add the official MySQL repository configuration to your Ubuntu system. This allows you to install MySQL Server, Client, and other tools from this repository.

sudo dpkg -i mysql-apt-config_0.8.33-1_all.deb

When running the dpkg command, you’ll see an interface as shown below:

Select the first line, “MySQL Server & Cluster (Currently selected: mysql-8.4-lts),” and press the TAB key to move to the “OK” button, then press Enter. This is the MySQL Server 8.4 LTS version you will install (the latest version with long-term support).

In the next interface, you’ll see another prompt, as shown below:

Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the appropriate version:

• Recommendation: Choose mysql-8.4-lts for stability and long-term support.
• If you only need a common version, choose mysql-8.0.

Press Enter after selecting to save the configuration and continue.

Step 3: Update the System for the Newly Added SQL Repository

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install MySQL

The official MySQL repository usually provides the latest version and security updates faster than the Ubuntu repository.

sudo apt install mysql-server

How to Secure MySQL

The MySQL installation process comes with a script named “mysql_secure_installation” that allows you to easily configure the default root account and customize the security settings of your database server.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

• Switch to unix_socket authentication [Y/n]: Enter n if you are only using MySQL locally, meaning only for the current computer or server.
• Please set the password for root here: Press Enter to skip setting a password. (If you want better security, set a password.)
• Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Enter Y to remove unnecessary users created by default by MySQL.
• Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Similar to “unix_socket,” enter n if you are only using MySQL locally, meaning only for the current computer or server.
• Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]: Select Y to remove the default test database created by MySQL.
• Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]: Select Y to reload the root privileges.

Note: If you want to set up MySQL in a production environment, it is recommended to set a strong password for the root account and not skip the security steps. These settings help protect the server from common risks such as uncontrolled accounts, unauthorized access, and security vulnerabilities from test databases.

Check MySQL Status

After the installation is complete, you can check if the MySQL service is running by using the command:

sudo systemctl status mysql

If the result shows the status as active (running), as shown in the screenshot, MySQL has been installed and is running. Now, you can start using the system and customize the configuration, as well as optimize SQL performance to ensure the project runs smoothly.

How to Log in to MySQL

Log in to MySQL using the command:

sudo mysql

If you set a password for root in the security step, use the command:

mysql -u root -p

Installing MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 only takes a few simple steps. With high security and good compatibility, MySQL is an ideal choice for applications and websites. If you run into any installation or usage problems, we have a helpful guide on troubleshooting MySQL errors on Ubuntu.