> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-windows-zip-packages.md).

# Installing MariaDB Windows ZIP Packages

Users need to run [mariadb-install-db.exe](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/installing-system-tables-mariadb-install-db/mariadb-install-db-exe.md), without parameters to create a data directory, e.g

```bash
C:\zip_unpack\directory> bin\mariadb-install-db.exe
```

Then you can start server like this

```bash
C:\zip_unpack\directory> bin\mariadbd.exe --console
```

If you like to customize the server instance (data directory, install as service etc), please refer to [mariadb-install-db.exe documentation](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/installing-system-tables-mariadb-install-db/mariadb-install-db-exe.md)

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

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