How can I access the MySQL command line with XAMPP for Windows?

For Linux:

/opt/lampp/bin/mysql -u root -p

To use just 'mysql -u root -p' command then add '/opt/lampp/bin' to the PATH of the environment variables.

On the Mac, or at least on my Mac using a default install, I accessed it at:

/Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/bin/mysql -uroot -p

Your MySQL binaries should be somewhere under your XAMPP folder. Look for a /bin folder, and you'll find the mysql.exe client around. Let's assume it is in c:\xampp\mysql\bin, then you should fireup a command prompt in this folder.

That means, fire up "cmd", and type:

cd c:\xampp\mysql\bin
mysql.exe -u root --password

If you want to use mysqldump.exe, you should also find it there.

Log into your mysql server, and start typing your commands.

Hope it helps...

To access the mysql command in Windows without manually changing directories, do this:

• Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings.
• System Properties will appear.
• Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
• Click 'Environment Variables'.
• Under System Variables, locate 'Path' and click Edit.

• Append the path to your MySQL installation to the end of the exisiting 'Variable value'. Example:

  %systemDrive%\xampp\mysql\bin\ 

  or, if you prefer

  c:\xampp\mysql\bin\ 

• Finally, open a new command prompt to make this change take effect.

Note that MySQL's documentation on Setting Environment Variables has little to say about handling this in Windows.