Access MAMP's MySQL from Terminal

I'm assuming the version of MAMP you're using installs itself in /Applications/MAMP. First make sure via the MAMP console that the Mysql server is on. Then connect like this from command line:

/Applications/MAMP/Library/bin/mysql -uUsername -pPassword

Obviously replace Username and Password. BTW, there is no space between -u and the Username or -p and the Password.

Good Luck learning Mysql the old fashion way!


If you just want to type:

mysql -u Username -p

You can create an alias in your ~/.bash_profile in older OSX versions this file was called ~/.profile so best check first with

ls -la ~/

If one of those files exist, edit that file. Else, create a new one with what ever editor you like (here I do it with nano and have a ~/.bash_profile file)

sudo nano ~/.bash_profile

insert following line

alias mysql=/Applications/MAMP/Library/bin/mysql

Save the file and quit nano with CTRL + X and then type Y and enter

Then you need to type

source ~/.bash_profile

Now you can use

mysql -u root -p

Just simply create a symbolic link to the MAMP mysql.

sudo ln -s /Applications/MAMP/Library/bin/mysql /usr/bin/mysql

Then you can easily call it from any directory like this:

mysql -uUsername -pPassword