HeidiSQL
Also called heidisql, heidisql mariadb
Windows SQL GUI popular for MariaDB and MySQL. The process is heidisql.exe. It is not DBeaver.
What you need to know
HeidiSQL is a Windows SQL GUI. It is not DBeaver.
heidisql.exe is a native MariaDB/MySQL client. DBeaver is a Java multi-engine IDE. Neither is the database server.
- What is it?
- SQL desktop client
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is HeidiSQL?
heidisql.exe talks to MariaDB, MySQL, and some other engines Ansgar documents. It does not replace DBeaver's multi-engine workspace, and it is not mysqld.
If you have never used it
If you administer MariaDB or MySQL on Windows, HeidiSQL is the small native GUI many people use. Download it from heidisql.com. DBeaver is a Java, multi-engine IDE. This is not a database server.
What is it used for?
Trees, queries, and exports. DBeaver does this plus many other engines in a Java UI.
CSV and SQL dumps. This is a client. The server is still MariaDB or MySQL.
Windows-native session list. DBeaver workspaces are a different file format.
Who is it for?
- Windows admins of MariaDB or MySQL
- People who find DBeaver heavy
- Anyone who thought HeidiSQL was the server
Current status
HeidiSQL (2006) is a current sql desktop client from Ansgar Becker. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.heidisql.com/download.php.
How old is it?
HeidiSQL has been a Windows MySQL/MariaDB client since 2006. DBeaver is a later, broader Java tool. phpMyAdmin is web, not this exe.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| heidisql.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
HeidiSQL does not need to start with Windows.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\HeidiSQL\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Installed HeidiSQL and expected a running server
This is a client. Install MariaDB, MySQL, or Laragon if you need a server.
Wanted PostgreSQL-first like DBeaver
HeidiSQL's sweet spot is MariaDB/MySQL. DBeaver is the broader sibling.
Getting unstuck
Install from heidisql.com/download.php
Installer or portable. Skip "HeidiSQL Pro" ads.
Test the same host and port with the mysql CLI if the GUI fails
Firewall and bind-address are server issues. DBeaver would fail the same way.
Export a dump from Tools, not by copying Program Files
A folder copy is not a backup. heidisql.com/help.php covers export.
Alternatives
DBeaver is the multi-engine Java IDE. MySQL Workbench is Oracle's official GUI. DB Browser for SQLite is for local SQLite files.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.heidisql.com/download.php Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | www.heidisql.com/help.php Vendor support |
| Official site | www.heidisql.com/download.php Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
The client is light. The database server and the query you run set CPU and RAM.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- HeidiSQL official site · Vendor product page
- HeidiSQL help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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