You can import and export a MySQL database in Kinsta’s Database Hosting using a tool like TablePlus or the command line interface (CLI). For more details on using a database client with your MySQL database, see our guide on connecting and managing your Kinsta database with TablePlus.
The installation of the database server and commands vary for each database type. This article is specific to MySQL. For other database types, see:
- Import and Export a MariaDB Database Using the Command Line
- Import and Export a PostgreSQL Database Using the Command Line
- Export a Redis Database Using the Command Line
Install MySQL
If you do not yet have MySQL installed on your local machine, you’ll need to install it to connect to your database. Depending on your operating system, you can install MySQL in the following ways.
Windows
Download and install MySQL Community Server (GUI program).
MacOS
Choose one of the following options for installing MySQL on MacOS:
- With Homebrew:
brew install mysql
. - Download and install MySQL Community Server (GUI program).
Debian-based Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, etc.)
Use the official MySQL APT repository and install the mysql-client
package.
RedHat-based Linux (RedHat Fedora, CentOS, etc.)
Use the official MySQL Yum repository and install the mysql-client
package.
Kinsta Database Credentials
You can find your database credentials under External connections on the database Info page.
Import a MySQL Database
Use the following command to export the database, replacing EXTERNAL_HOSTNAME
, USERNAME
, PORT
, and DATABASE_NAME
with the information from your database’s External connections. Replace export.sql with the path and name of the database you want to import:
mysql -h EXTERNAL_HOSTNAME -u USERNAME -P PORT -p DATABASE_NAME < export.sql
When prompted, enter the database password.
No output will be produced unless there are errors, which will be printed to the command line. To verify a successful import, you can use SHOW TABLES;
or a similar command to review the data in your database.
Export a MySQL Database
Use the following command to export the database, replacing EXTERNAL_HOSTNAME
, USERNAME
, PORT
, and DATABASE_NAME
with the information from your database’s External connections. Replace export.sql with the path and file name of the database you want to export:
mysqldump --no-tablespaces -h EXTERNAL_HOSTNAME -u USERNAME -P PORT -p DATABASE_NAME > export.sql
When prompted, enter the database password.
Once the export is complete, your database file (e.g. export.sql) will be available at the path you specified in the mysqldump
command. You can open the file with a plain text editor (e.g. TextEdit, Notepad++, Sublime Text, etc.) or a database tool like TablePlus to review the exported data.
Related Documentation
- Connect and Manage Your Kinsta Database With TablePlus
- External Connections
- Add a Database
- Connect to and Manage a Kinsta Database