Why does SQL Developer say no suitable driver found for MySQL?

The MySQL JDBC driver is not loaded. Go to Tools → Preferences → Database → Third Party JDBC Drivers and add the mysql-connector-j-x.x.x.jar file. Download MySQL Connector/J (Platform Independent ZIP) from the official MySQL site if you don't already have it.

What port does SQL Developer use to connect to MySQL?

The default MySQL port is 3306. If your DBA has configured a non-default port, ask them for the correct value. SSL/TLS is optional but recommended for remote connections.

Why does MySQL say access denied for user when connecting from SQL Developer?

MySQL access denied usually means a wrong password, or the user is restricted to specific hosts. A user created as 'john'@'localhost' can only connect locally; for remote connections you need 'john'@'%' or 'john'@'your-ip'. Verify with SHOW GRANTS FOR 'username'@'host'.

Why is the MySQL connection refused in SQL Developer?

Connection refused means MySQL isn't accepting connections. Check that the MySQL service is running, port 3306 is open in your firewall, and the server is bound to a reachable network interface (not just localhost).

mysql/connection.spec

How to Connect SQL Developer to MySQL

Connect to your MySQL database in under 5 minutes. This guide covers JDBC driver setup, connection configuration, and common troubleshooting tips.

~/connections/mysql.spec setup overview

# Connection target

database = MySQL 5.7+ / 8.x / MariaDB-compatible

driver = MySQL Connector/J (JDBC)

port = 3306 # default; configurable

protocol = TCP # SSL/TLS optional

auth = username/password

# Setup info

time = 5 minutes

difficulty = Beginner

steps = 6

prereq = SQL Developer installed + MySQL JDBC .jar

// 6 setup steps + connection examples + troubleshooting below

View Steps Download SQL Developer

prerequisites.txt

Before You Start

What you'll need before opening the New Connection dialog.

SQL Developer installed — download free if you haven't yet
MySQL server running and reachable from your machine
MySQL credentials: hostname, port, username, password, and the database name
MySQL JDBC Driver (Connector/J) — Step 1 below shows you how to get it

install/steps

Connect to MySQL Step by Step

Follow these six steps to set up your MySQL connection. Total time: about 5 minutes.

STEP_01

Get the MySQL JDBC Driver

Download MySQL Connector/J from the official MySQL website. Choose the "Platform Independent" ZIP file. Extract it and note the location of the mysql-connector-j-x.x.x.jar file.

STEP_02

Add Driver to SQL Developer

In SQL Developer, go to Tools → Preferences → Database → Third Party JDBC Drivers. Click Add Entry and select the .jar file from Step 1.

STEP_03

Create New Connection

Click the green + icon in the Connections panel. In the dialog that opens, click the MySQL tab on the left side.

STEP_04

Enter Your Details

Connection Name: any name you want
Username: your MySQL user
Password: your MySQL password
Hostname: localhost or server IP
Port: 3306 (default)
Database: your database name

STEP_05

Test Connection

Click Test to verify everything works. You should see Status: Success. If not, check the error message and see the troubleshooting section below.

STEP_06

Save and Connect

Click Save to keep the connection for future use, then click Connect. Your MySQL database is now ready to use.

connections.conf

MySQL Connection Details

Three common configurations — local server, remote host, and Amazon RDS — shown as connection config blocks.

~/connections/local.conflocal MySQL

# Local MySQL Server (most common dev setup)

hostname = localhost

port = 3306

database = your_database_name

~/connections/remote.confremote MySQL

# Remote MySQL Server (production or shared dev host)

hostname = your-server.com # or IP address

port = 3306 # or custom port

database = your_database_name

~/connections/aws-rds.confAmazon RDS MySQL

# Amazon RDS endpoint (with region in hostname)

hostname = your-instance.xxxx.region.rds.amazonaws.com

port = 3306

database = your_database_name

PROBLEMS panel

Common MySQL Connection Errors

Quick fixes for the three problems most often hit during MySQL setup.

!

No Suitable Driver Found

The MySQL JDBC driver isn't loaded. Go to Tools → Preferences → Database → Third Party JDBC Drivers and add the mysql-connector-j-x.x.x.jar file from Step 1.

JDBC
⚠

Connection Refused

MySQL isn't running or the port is blocked. Check that the MySQL service is started and port 3306 is open in your firewall. Full fix in the connection-refused guide.

→
!

Access Denied for User

Wrong password, or the user doesn't have remote access. Try the same credentials in the MySQL CLI (mysql -h host -u user -p) to verify they work. Detailed fix in the access-denied guide.

→

~/downloads ready.sh

Next: Connect to Another Database?

SQL Developer connects to PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, and MariaDB with the same New Connection dialog flow — the setup steps are nearly identical to MySQL, only the JDBC driver and port number change.

// next.specconnect-postgresql.md · port 5432

// see-alsogetting-started.md · keyboard-shortcuts.md

Connect to PostgreSQL

See also: Getting Started · Keyboard Shortcuts · Don't have it yet? Download SQL Developer