[Tutorial] How to add another MySQL version

Adding another MySQL version is very easy and safe with Laragon.

MySQL

1. Download MySQL 5.7 (64-bit) or 32-bit: https://dev.mysql.com/get/Downloads/MySQL-5.7/mysql-5.7.18-winx64.zip

2. Extract the downloaded to: {LARAGON_ROOT}\bin\mysql\mysql-5.7.18-winx64 (see below Note for MariaDB)

C:\laragon
-- bin
   -- mysql
      -- mysql-5.7.18-winx64
      -- .............

3. Select the new version at: Laragon Menu > MySQL > Version > mysql-5.7.18-winx64

Very easy huh. That's all forks!

MariaDB

Hint: This tutorial also applies for MariaDB.

https://downloads.mariadb.org/mariadb/10.2.6/#os_group=windows

Download the MariaDB 64-bit version

Note: If you use MariaDB, extract it to: {LARAGON_ROOT}\bin\mysql\mariadb-10.2.6-winx64, Laragon will automatically create a corresponding data directory for MariaDB on {LARAGON_ROOT}\data\mariadb-{VERSION-NUMBER}.

Some pics

Folder structure

Menu

MySQL 8.4 or above

MySQL >= 8.4 has removed plain [native] passwords and my.ini is a different template from MySQL 8.0. Additional steps are required to install it (see the guide [https://gist.github.com/meorajrul/b57803bf1b4ddfd2f93e6ad37c3ac5f2] by @MeorA for full details). But in essence, before attempting to run the new version of MySQL you need to do a few simple steps:

1. In Laragon, select the new version of MySQL but do not start it yet (because you need to find out the random password and change it).
2. Edit the my.ini file in the new MySQL or MariaDB product version directory and remove the line default_authentication_plugin=mysql_native_password. Save the file and make the my.ini file read-only from file properties.
3. Open a command prompt in {LARAGON_ROOT}\data and if necessary create a new mysql-{VERSION-NUMBER} sub-directory, and CD to that sub-directory.
4. Run mysqld --initialize --datadir="{LARAGON_ROOT}\data\mysql-{VERSION}" --basedir="{LARAGON_ROOT}\bin\mysql\mysql-{VERSION}" --console replacing the directory names as necessary. When you get an output line which says A temporary password is generated for root@localhost: then make a note of / select and copy the random password that was generated.
5. From Laragon, open Heidi (session manager), type or paste the password into the password box and click Save.
6. In Laragon, Start MySQL/MariaDB and check that it starts OK.
7. In Heidi, connect to the database (you may need to restart Heidi). It should prompt you to change the root password. Once you have done this...
8. In Laragon, Stop and Start MySQL/MariaDB again to make sure that the password change has worked, and check that Heidi can also connect.