How to Install phpMyAdmin Manually?

Managing databases effectively is a critical part of web development, and phpMyAdmin is a widely used tool that makes this process seamless. It offers a user-friendly graphical interface to manage MySQL or MariaDB databases. 

This guide will walk you through the steps to install phpMyAdmin manually. Let’s get started!

What is phpMyAdmin?

phpMyAdmin is an open-source tool written in PHP that simplifies database administration. It lets you manage databases, tables, and users through an intuitive web interface. Instead of using complex SQL commands, phpMyAdmin makes tasks like importing data, executing queries, and managing privileges straightforward.

If you are managing your website on a cloud server, phpMyAdmin is an essential tool to streamline database tasks without the need to access the command line.

Prerequisites for Installing phpMyAdmin

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

A Server: You need a web server like Apache or Nginx installed and running.

PHP: phpMyAdmin requires PHP to function. Make sure PHP is installed on your server.

MySQL or MariaDB: Your server should have a running MySQL or MariaDB database.

Root Access: Ensure you have root or sudo privileges to install and configure software.

If you’re using a cloud-based hosting solution, most of these prerequisites are likely already in place. However, you should verify them before proceeding.

Step 1: Download phpMyAdmin

First, download the latest version of phpMyAdmin from its official website. You can download it directly via the terminal using the wget command.

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wget https://www.phpmyadmin.net/downloads/phpMyAdmin-latest-all-languages.zip  

Once downloaded, unzip the file using the following command:

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unzip phpMyAdmin-latest-all-languages.zip  

This will create a folder named something like phpMyAdmin--all-languages. To make it easier, rename this folder to phpmyadmin:

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mv phpMyAdmin-*-all-languages phpmyadmin  

Step 2: Move phpMyAdmin to the Web Directory

Now, move the phpmyadmin folder to your web server’s document root directory. For example, if you are using Apache, the document root is typically /var/www/html. Use the following command:

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sudo mv phpmyadmin /var/www/html/  

This makes phpMyAdmin accessible through a web browser.

Step 3: Configure phpMyAdmin

To use phpMyAdmin effectively, you need to create a configuration file. Navigate to the phpmyadmin directory:

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cd /var/www/html/phpmyadmin  

Copy the sample configuration file and rename it to config.inc.php:

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sudo cp config.sample.inc.php config.inc.php  

Now, open the configuration file in a text editor like nano:

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sudo nano config.inc.php  

Look for the following line:

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$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = '';  

This secret key is used for encryption. Add a long, random string (32 characters) between the quotes:

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$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'your_random_string_here';  

Save and close the file by pressing Ctrl + O, then Ctrl + X.

Step 4: Set Up Permissions

Set the correct permissions for the phpmyadmin folder to ensure it’s accessible by the web server:

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sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/phpmyadmin  

sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/phpmyadmin  

This grants the appropriate read and execute permissions.

Step 5: Configure Apache (or Nginx)

For Apache Users:

Create a new configuration file for phpMyAdmin:

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sudo nano /etc/apache2/conf-available/phpmyadmin.conf  

Add the following configuration:

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Alias /phpmyadmin /var/www/html/phpmyadmin  

    Options SymLinksIfOwnerMatch  

    DirectoryIndex index.php  

    AllowOverride All  

    Require all granted  

Enable the configuration and restart Apache:

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sudo a2enconf phpmyadmin  

sudo systemctl restart apache2  

For Nginx Users:

If you're using Nginx, add the following configuration to your server block:

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location /phpmyadmin {  

    root /var/www/html;  

    index index.php;  

    try_files $uri $uri/ /phpmyadmin/index.php;  

}  

Restart Nginx:

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sudo systemctl restart nginx  

Step 6: Access phpMyAdmin

Now that phpMyAdmin is installed and configured, open a web browser and navigate to:

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http://your-server-ip/phpmyadmin  

You should see the phpMyAdmin login screen. Log in using your MySQL root username and password or any other MySQL user credentials.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

404 Not Found: This typically means the phpMyAdmin alias isn't configured correctly. Ensure the configuration file is properly set and the server has been restarted.

Access Denied: Verify that your MySQL username and password are correct. Check the user permissions in the database.

Blowfish Secret Error: Make sure you’ve set a long, random string for $cfg['blowfish_secret'] in config.inc.php.

Conclusion

Installing phpMyAdmin manually is straightforward and gives you greater control over your database management. Whether you're managing databases on a local server or using a cloud hosting service, phpMyAdmin simplifies complex tasks with its graphical interface.

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