How to Connect SQL Developer to MySQL

Connect to your MySQL database in under 5 minutes. This guide covers JDBC driver setup, connection configuration, and common troubleshooting tips.

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Before You Start

What you'll need

SQL Developer installed (download free)
MySQL server running and accessible
MySQL credentials: hostname, port, username, password, database name
MySQL JDBC Driver (Connector/J) - we'll show you how to get this

Connect to MySQL Step by Step

Follow these steps to set up your connection

Get the MySQL JDBC Driver

Download MySQL Connector/J from the official MySQL website. Choose the "Platform Independent" ZIP file. Extract it and note the location of the .jar file.

Add Driver to SQL Developer

In SQL Developer, go to Tools → Preferences → Database → Third Party JDBC Drivers. Click Add Entry and select the mysql-connector-j-x.x.x.jar file.

Create New Connection

Click the green + icon in the Connections panel. In the dialog, click the MySQL tab on the left side.

Enter Your Details

Connection Name: Any name you want
Username: Your MySQL user
Password: Your MySQL password
Hostname: localhost or server IP
Port: 3306 (default)
Database: Your database name

Test Connection

Click Test to verify everything works. You should see "Status: Success". If not, check the error message and see troubleshooting below.

Save and Connect

Click Save to save the connection for future use, then click Connect. Your MySQL database is now ready to use!

MySQL Connection Details

Common configurations

Local MySQL Server


                            Hostname: localhost

                            Port: 3306

                            Database: your_database_name

Remote MySQL Server


                            Hostname: your-server.com (or IP address)

                            Port: 3306 (or custom port)

                            Database: your_database_name

Amazon RDS MySQL


                            Hostname: your-instance.xxxx.region.rds.amazonaws.com

                            Port: 3306

                            Database: your_database_name

Common MySQL Connection Errors

Quick fixes for typical problems

No Suitable Driver Found

The MySQL JDBC driver isn't loaded. Go to Tools → Preferences → Database → Third Party JDBC Drivers and add the connector .jar file.

Connection Refused

MySQL isn't running or is blocked. Check that MySQL service is started and port 3306 is open in your firewall.

Access Denied for User

Wrong password or user doesn't have remote access. Try the same credentials in MySQL command line to verify they work.

Ready to Connect?

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