Installing MySQL on Microsoft Windows Using a  noinstall  ZIP Archive Users who are installing from the  noinstall  package can use the instructions in this section to manually install MySQL. The process for installing MySQL from a ZIP Archive package is as follows: Optional : also extract the debug-test archive if you plan to execute the MySQL benchmark and test suite This process is described in the sections that follow. To install MySQL manually, do the following: The MySQL Installer installs MySQL under  C:\Program Files\MySQL . If you need to specify startup options when you run the server, you can indicate them on the command line or place them in an option file. For options that are used every time the server starts, you may find it most convenient to use an option file to specify your MySQL configuration. This is particularly true under the following circumstances: 143 •The installation or data directory locations are different from the default locations ( C:\Program Files \MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0  and  C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\data ). •You need to tune the server settings, such as memory, cache, or InnoDB configuration information. 4. Extract the install archive to the chosen installation location using your preferred file-compression tool. Some tools may extract the archive to a folder within your chosen installation location. If this occurs, you can move the contents of the subfolder into the chosen installation location. 3. Choose an installation location. Traditionally, the MySQL server is installed in  C:\mysql . If you do not install MySQL at  C:\mysql , you must specify the path to the install directory during startup or in an option file. See Section 2.3.4.2, “Creating an Option File” . 2. Make sure that you are logged in as a user with administrator privileges. 1. If you are upgrading from a previous version please refer to Section 2.11.10, “Upgrading MySQL on Windows” , before beginning the upgrade process. 1. Extract the main archive to the desired install directory 2. Create an option file 3. Choose a MySQL server type 4. Initialize MySQL 5. Start the MySQL server 6. Secure the default user accounts C:\>  MySQLInstallerConsole upgrade workbench:! C:\>  MySQLInstallerConsole upgrade workbench:8.0.21 visual:1.2.9 2.3.4 Installing MySQL on Microsoft Windows Using a  noinstall  ZIP Archive 2.3.4.1 Extracting the Install Archive 2.3.4.2 Creating an Option File Note