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How to Activate MySQL for Multiple Devices

This tutorial will guide you through the steps to allow multiple devices to access your MySQL server over a network.

Prerequisites

  • MySQL server installed on your host machine
  • Access to the MySQL root user or an admin account
  • Basic knowledge of networking

Step 1: Configure MySQL to Listen on All IP Addresses

  1. Open the MySQL configuration file (my.cnf or my.ini).
    • On Windows: Usually located at C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server X.X\my.ini
    • On Linux: Usually at /etc/mysql/my.cnf or /etc/my.cnf or /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
  2. Find the line starting with bind-address.
    bind-address        = 127.0.0.1
mysqlx-bind-address = 127.0.0.1
  3. Change it to:
    bind-address        = 0.0.0.0
mysqlx-bind-address = 0.0.0.0
    This allows MySQL to accept connections from any IP address.
  4. Save the file and restart the MySQL service.
    • Windows:
      net stop mysql
net start mysql
    • Linux:
      sudo systemctl restart mysql

Step 2: Allow Remote Connections in the Firewall

  1. Open port 3306 (default MySQL port) in your firewall settings.
    • Windows: Use Windows Defender Firewall to allow inbound connections on port 3306.
    • Linux:
      sudo ufw allow 3306/tcp

Step 3: Create a MySQL User for Remote Access

⚠️ Important: At this point MySQL will accept connections from anywhere. If your server is exposed to the internet, secure it:

  1. Log in to MySQL as root:
    mysql -u root -p
  2. Create a new user or update an existing user to allow access from a specific IP or any IP (%):
    CREATE USER 'username'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'username'@'%' WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

    Replace username and password with your desired credentials.

Step 4: Connect from Another Device

On the client device, use the following command to connect:

mysql -h <server-ip-address> -u username -p

Replace <server-ip-address> with the IP address of your MySQL server.

Security Tips

  • Only allow trusted IPs if possible (replace % with a specific IP or subnet).
  • Use strong passwords for all MySQL users.
  • Consider enabling SSL for encrypted connections.

You have now enabled MySQL access for multiple devices on your network!

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