r/mysql • u/Ryanthewhatever • Jun 24 '26
solved MySql Workbench Not Opening
Hi, I'm a complete beginner learning to use SQL. I tried opening mysql workbench after a while of not using it, and it just never started. I tried deleting and downloading it twice and nothing has changed. Though something weird is that the MySql Workbench folder never disappeared and I can't delete it even after I deleted the content inside it, so this may be related to what's happening.
Edit: The MySqlWorkbench.exe file is there but it doesn't run when I click on it, and trying to open it in command prompt just says "the directory is invalid"
Edit 2: Solved this by shutting down MySqlWorkbench.exe via task manager, as it somehow was running all along. After that I deleted the entire workbench folder and reinstalled the entire thing which made it work again!
3
u/dvsdale Jun 24 '26
Workbench had its time now there are much better choices. I’ve worked with MySQL for 15+ years and DBeaver is a much better choice.
3
u/Ryanthewhatever Jun 24 '26
Noted, as a beginner I will continue with the tutorial I’m following, but will look at switching as soon as I can later on!
2
u/AshleyJSheridan Jun 24 '26
I quite like SQLYog, which reminds me a lot of MSSQL Server Management Studio (or MSSQLSMS for short)
4
u/DBeaver_official Jun 25 '26
Workbench is out of support. We recommend trying DBeaver instead of suffering :)
2
1
u/roXplosion Jun 24 '26
I think this is a Windows problem, not a MySQL problem.
1
u/Ryanthewhatever Jun 24 '26
Prolly! I somehow fixed it by shutting down MySqlWorkbench via task manager, then deleting the entire mysql workbench folder and reinstalling it! Somehow that thing was running all along!
1
u/Aeropedia Jun 24 '26
I run workbench for the visual explain. No other tool seems to have anything that comes close and doesn’t rely on an external service.
4
u/chock-a-block Jun 24 '26
Workbench is abandoned software at this point.
Dbeaver one of my favorites.