Access MAMP's MySQL from Terminal

I want to practice using SQL instead of phpMyAdmin.

How do I log into MAMP's MySQL from the 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

Update for macOS Big Sur replace all ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile with ~/.zshrc from the next commands.

Check first if you have a file named ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile or ~/.zshrc with the following command

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

I had to do a little modification, first go to the bin folder

cd /Applications/MAMP/Library/bin/

then to run mysql file a had to execute

./mysql -uUSERNAME -pPASSWORD

The reason was that: Running an executable in Mac Terminal