localhost/phpmyadmin

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

phpMyAdmin is a free web-based database management tool for MySQL and MariaDB. Access your local database at localhost/phpmyadmin after installing XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP, or standalone phpMyAdmin on your computer.

→ Open localhost/phpmyadmin

How to Access phpMyAdmin on Localhost

Install XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP, or standalone phpMyAdmin on your system
Start Apache web server and MySQL database services from control panel
Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Type localhost/phpmyadmin in the address bar
Press Enter to access the phpMyAdmin login page
Enter your database username and password credentials
Click "Go" to login to phpMyAdmin dashboard

Default phpMyAdmin Login Credentials

Use these default username and password combinations to login to phpMyAdmin:

Server Software	Username	Password	Notes
XAMPP (Windows/Linux)	root	(blank/empty)	No password by default
WAMP (Windows)	root	(blank/empty)	Leave password field empty
MAMP (Mac)	root	root	Both username and password are "root"
LAMP (Linux)	root	(set during install)	Password set during MySQL installation
Custom Installation	(your username)	(your password)	Credentials you configured

What is phpMyAdmin Used For?

phpMyAdmin is a powerful database administration tool that allows you to:

Create and manage MySQL and MariaDB databases
Create, edit, delete, and modify database tables
Execute SQL queries and commands
Import databases from SQL files
Export databases to SQL, CSV, XML formats
Manage database user accounts and permissions
Backup and restore database data
Browse, search, and edit database records
Optimize and repair database tables
View database structure and relationships

Alternative phpMyAdmin URLs and Ports

If localhost/phpmyadmin doesn't work, try these alternative URLs:

localhost/phpmyadmin - Default XAMPP/WAMP URL
localhost:8080/phpmyadmin - Alternative HTTP port 8080
localhost/phpMyAdmin - Case-sensitive on Linux systems
127.0.0.1/phpmyadmin - Using IP address instead of localhost
localhost/pma - Custom phpMyAdmin alias
localhost:80/phpmyadmin - Explicit port 80
localhost/dashboard - XAMPP dashboard with phpMyAdmin link

How to Fix "phpMyAdmin Not Working" Issues

Error: "Cannot connect: invalid settings"

This error means phpMyAdmin cannot connect to your MySQL/MariaDB database server.

Ensure MySQL or MariaDB service is running in XAMPP/WAMP control panel
Check database credentials in config.inc.php file are correct
Verify MySQL is listening on port 3306 (default MySQL port)
Check firewall is not blocking MySQL connections
Restart both Apache and MySQL services
Look for MySQL error logs in XAMPP/logs directory

Error: "#1045 - Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'"

This is a MySQL authentication error indicating wrong username or password.

Try default credentials: username root with blank password
For MAMP, try username root with password root
Check if you set a custom MySQL root password
Reset MySQL root password using command line
Verify user privileges in MySQL database
Check config.inc.php has correct authentication details

Error: "Access forbidden! You don't have permission"

This error indicates phpMyAdmin access restrictions or permission issues.

Check Apache is running properly
Verify phpMyAdmin folder exists in htdocs directory
Check file and folder permissions (755 for folders, 644 for files)
Review httpd.conf Apache configuration file
Check .htaccess file isn't blocking access
Ensure phpMyAdmin configuration allows localhost access

Error: "The mysqli extension is missing"

PHP's MySQL extension is not enabled.

Open php.ini configuration file in text editor
Find line ;extension=mysqli
Remove semicolon to uncomment: extension=mysqli
Save php.ini and restart Apache web server
Check phpinfo() to verify mysqli is loaded

Error: "The mbstring extension is missing"

PHP's mbstring extension is required for phpMyAdmin.

Open php.ini file
Uncomment extension=mbstring
Save changes and restart Apache
Verify extension is loaded in PHP configuration

Error: "404 Not Found - The requested URL /phpmyadmin was not found"

phpMyAdmin is not installed or not in the correct location.

Verify phpMyAdmin folder exists in web server document root
Check folder name spelling and case (phpMyAdmin vs phpmyadmin)
Ensure phpMyAdmin is in htdocs folder for XAMPP
For WAMP, check it's in www folder
Reinstall phpMyAdmin if files are missing
Check Apache virtual host configuration

Error: "Wrong permissions on configuration file, should not be world writable"

Security warning about config.inc.php file permissions.

Change config.inc.php permissions to 644 on Linux
On Windows, remove write permissions for other users
Use command: chmod 644 config.inc.php
Restart web server after changing permissions

Start XAMPP Services (Command Line):

# Windows - Start XAMPP Control Panel
xampp-control.exe

# Linux - Start all services
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

# Linux - Start individual services
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp startapache
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp startmysql

# Mac (MAMP) - Start services
/Applications/MAMP/bin/start.sh

# Check MySQL is running
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp status
    

Check MySQL Service Status:

# Windows - Check if MySQL is running
netstat -ano | findstr :3306

# Linux - Check MySQL service
sudo systemctl status mysql
sudo systemctl status mariadb

# Start MySQL if stopped
sudo systemctl start mysql

# Mac - Check MySQL process
ps aux | grep mysql
    

phpMyAdmin Configuration File Locations

Edit config.inc.php to configure phpMyAdmin database connection settings:

XAMPP Windows: C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php
XAMPP Linux: /opt/lampp/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php
WAMP Windows: C:\wamp\apps\phpmyadmin\config.inc.php or C:\wamp64\apps\phpmyadmin\config.inc.php
MAMP Mac: /Applications/MAMP/bin/phpMyAdmin/config.inc.php
Ubuntu/Debian: /etc/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php
Standalone: Look in your phpMyAdmin installation directory

Important config.inc.php Settings

Key configuration options in phpMyAdmin config file:

// Database host (usually localhost or 127.0.0.1)
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'localhost';

// MySQL port (default is 3306)
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['port'] = '';

// Database username
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = 'root';

// Database password (blank for XAMPP default)
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = '';

// Authentication type (config, cookie, http)
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';

// Blowfish secret for cookie authentication
$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'GENERATE_RANDOM_32_CHAR_STRING';
    

How to Reset MySQL Root Password

Stop MySQL service from XAMPP control panel
Open command prompt as administrator
Navigate to MySQL bin directory
Start MySQL in safe mode: mysqld --skip-grant-tables
Open new command prompt and run: mysql -u root
Execute SQL: ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'newpassword';
Flush privileges: FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Exit and restart MySQL normally
Update password in config.inc.php if needed

phpMyAdmin Security Best Practices

Change MySQL root password immediately after installation
Never use phpMyAdmin on production servers exposed to internet
Restrict phpMyAdmin access by IP address in config
Use strong passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters
Keep phpMyAdmin updated to latest version for security patches
Enable two-factor authentication if available
Use HTTPS instead of HTTP for encrypted connections
Set proper file permissions on config.inc.php (644 or 600)
Disable root login and create separate admin users
Enable phpMyAdmin login timeout for inactive sessions
Review and limit user privileges - use principle of least privilege

Security Warning: After fresh XAMPP installation, phpMyAdmin is accessible without any password. This is extremely insecure. Always set a strong root password immediately: ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'YourStrongPassword123!';

Common phpMyAdmin Tasks and Queries

Create a New Database

CREATE DATABASE my_database;

Create a Database User

CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'mypassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_database.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
    

Import SQL File

Click on database name in left sidebar
Click "Import" tab
Click "Choose File" and select your .sql file
Click "Go" to import

Export Database Backup

Click on database name
Click "Export" tab
Select "Quick" or "Custom" export method
Choose SQL format
Click "Go" to download

phpMyAdmin Alternatives

Other database management tools you can use:

Adminer - Lightweight single-file database manager
MySQL Workbench - Official MySQL desktop GUI tool
HeidiSQL - Windows MySQL client
DBeaver - Universal database tool
TablePlus - Modern database client for Mac/Windows
Sequel Pro - MySQL client for Mac

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I access localhost/phpmyadmin?

Check that Apache and MySQL services are running, phpMyAdmin is installed in the correct directory, and you're using the right URL. Try 127.0.0.1/phpmyadmin or localhost:8080/phpmyadmin as alternatives.

What is the default phpMyAdmin username and password?

For XAMPP and WAMP, the default username is root with a blank password (no password). For MAMP, both username and password are root.

How do I change phpMyAdmin password?

Login to phpMyAdmin, go to User Accounts, click Edit for root user, and set a new password. Then update the password in config.inc.php file.

Can I use phpMyAdmin remotely?

Yes, but it's not recommended for security reasons. If you must, configure firewall rules, use HTTPS, restrict by IP, and use strong authentication.