#### 2.3.4.1 Extracting the Install Archive

 To install MySQL manually, do the following:

1. If you are upgrading from a previous version please refer to [Section 2.11.10, “Upgrading MySQL on Windows”](windows-upgrading.html), before beginning the upgrade process.

2. Make sure that you are logged in as a user with administrator privileges.

3. Choose an installation location. Traditionally, the MySQL server is installed in `C:\mysql`. If you do not install MySQL at `C:\mysql`, you must specify the path to the install directory during startup or in an option file. See [Section 2.3.4.2, “Creating an Option File”](windows-create-option-file.html).

   Note

    The MySQL Installer installs MySQL under `C:\Program Files\MySQL`.

4. Extract the install archive to the chosen installation location using your preferred file-compression tool. Some tools may extract the archive to a folder within your chosen installation location. If this occurs, you can move the contents of the subfolder into the chosen installation location.

