How To Uninstall MySQL From Windows

How to Uninstall/Clean MySQL from Windows completely?

MariaDB Logo

Q: How to completely uninstall MariaDB to enable a clean re-install?
A: The way you uninstall MySQL get rid of the MariaDB service & program folders

Remember to Backup your databases before you uninstall.

1) Run Command Prompt (Type cmd into the search menu in Windows 8/10) and run it as Administrator and execute the following commands to stop and remove MySQL service.

Step 1: Net stop MySQL
Step 2: SC delete MySQL

Or if the service was called MariaDB

Step 1: Net stop MariaDB
Step 2: SC delete MariaDB

The service should now be gone

2) Go to Control Panel>Programs and Features>select MySQL Server and click Uninstall.

After that's uninstalled you then need to do the following

3) Delete the MySQL program folders.You will need to enable Hidden items in file manager in order to get to the hidden program data files

C:\Program Files\MySQL
C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL
C:\ProgramData\MySQL
 C:\Users\[User-Name]\AppData\Roaming\MySQL 

Its also probably worth scanning and fixing the registry and clear out any old entries.

4) Restart your PC

5) Start installing Maria DB as per the instructions on the link below

How To Install MariaDB

That’s literally all there is to it you should find MariaDB installs without too much hassle once you've got rid of MySQL

Then all you need to do is restore your previous database SQL backup (You did take one didn't you?)

Important: I cannot be held liable for any damages or data loss arising from this post, You install and uninstall software at your own risk!

I hope you found it easy and straight forward