How to Connect MySQL Database (Hosted on Hostinger via phpMyAdmin) to Power BI?

[Gokul_Saraboji]

Hello Power BI Community,

I’m trying to connect a MySQL database to Power BI, but I’m facing some challenges. Here are the details of my setup:

1. Database Type: MySQL

2. Hosting Platform: Hostinger

3. Database Management Tool: phpMyAdmin

4. Goal: Connect the MySQL database to Power BI to get the live data
   
    Questions:

   1. What are the correct steps to connect a MySQL database hosted on Hostinger to Power BI?

   2. What should I enter for the server address, port, and other connection details?

   3. Are there any specific settings or configurations required in phpMyAdmin or Hostinger to allow this connection?

   4. Are there any common pitfalls or errors I should watch out for during this process?
      
      

      Additional Information:

      • I am using the latest version of Power BI Desktop.

      • I have access to the database credentials (username, password, etc.) for Hostinger.

      • The database is currently accessible via phpMyAdmin on Hostinger.
        
        

      Any guidance or step-by-step instructions would be greatly appreciated.

      Thanks in advance!

[Poojara_D12 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Gokul_Saraboji 

To connect a MySQL database hosted on Hostinger to Power BI, you first need to enable remote MySQL access in Hostinger’s control panel by adding your public IP address under the Remote MySQL settings. Next, obtain the server address, port (usually 3306), database name, and credentials from your Hostinger account. Since Power BI doesn’t have a built-in MySQL driver, you must install the MySQL Connector/ODBC from the MySQL official website and configure a System DSN to establish a connection. In Power BI, go to Home → Get Data → More → MySQL database, enter the server details, provide your username and password, and connect. If you encounter errors like “Can't connect to MySQL server,” ensure that remote access is properly configured, or try temporarily allowing all IPs (%). If access is denied, verify your credentials, as some hosting providers require a full username format (e.g., u12345_user). To ensure smooth data retrieval, check that tables have primary keys, as Power BI often requires them. For real-time data, consider using DirectQuery mode, and if planning scheduled refreshes in Power BI Service, a gateway setup might be needed. This process allows seamless data visualization while maintaining security and connectivity with your Hostinger MySQL database.

[v-yangliu-msft]

Thanks for the reply from lbendlin , please allow me to add some more information:
Hi  @Gokul_Saraboji ,

This is the related document, you can view this content:

Power Query MySQL database connector - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

Solved: Problem connection Power BI to MySQL data source - Microsoft Fabric Community

support.hostinger.com

Best Regards,

Liu Yang

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[lbendlin]

You can define your own port or use the default port (3306).  If your database is hosted outside of your tenant, and outside of Azure then you pretty much have to give the whole internet access to that URL and port.  Be prepared for the skript kiddies trying to break in pretty much immediately.