Windows Postinstallation Procedures The list of installed databases may vary, but always includes at least  mysql  and  information_schema . The preceding command (and commands for other MySQL programs such as  mysql ) may not work if the correct MySQL account does not exist. For example, the program may fail with an error, or you may not be able to view all databases. If you install MySQL using MySQL Installer, the  root  user is created automatically with the password you supplied. In this case, you should use the  -u root  and  -p  options. (You must use those options if you have already secured the initial MySQL accounts.) With  -p , the client program prompts for the  root  password. For example: If you specify a database name,  mysqlshow  displays a list of the tables within the database: Use the  mysql  program to select information from a table in the  mysql  database: C:\>  bin\mysql -e "SELECT User, Host, plugin FROM mysql.user" mysql 154 C:\>  bin\mysqlshow -u root -p Enter password:  (enter root password here) +--------------------+ | Databases | +--------------------+ | information_schema | | mysql | | performance_schema | | sys | +--------------------+ C:\>  bin\mysqlshow mysql Database: mysql +---------------------------+ | Tables | +---------------------------+ | columns_priv | | component | | db | | default_roles | | engine_cost | | func | | general_log | | global_grants | | gtid_executed | | help_category | | help_keyword | | help_relation | | help_topic | | innodb_index_stats | | innodb_table_stats | | ndb_binlog_index | | password_history | | plugin | | procs_priv | | proxies_priv | | role_edges | | server_cost | | servers | | slave_master_info | | slave_relay_log_info | | slave_worker_info | | slow_log | | tables_priv | | time_zone | | time_zone_leap_second | | time_zone_name | | time_zone_transition | | time_zone_transition_type | | user | +---------------------------+