How to install phpMyAdmin to manage MySQL from the browser

Updated 7/20/2026

phpMyAdmin lets you view and edit MySQL databases from a browser, without the command line. Here is how to install it safely.

1. Install

apt-get update -y
apt-get install -y phpmyadmin

When prompted, choose the web server (Apache) or configure it manually for Nginx via a symlink:

ln -s /usr/share/phpmyadmin /var/www/mysite/phpmyadmin

phpMyAdmin is a frequent target. Protect it:

Serve it only over HTTPS (see Let's Encrypt).
Add an extra password at the web server level (basic auth).
Do not use the MySQL root account; create a dedicated user (see MySQL users and privileges).
Ideally, restrict access to your own IP.

For a single file, no install, you can use Adminer (adminer.php), which offers the same functionality much more simply.

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