How to Install SQL Developer on Windows

How do I install SQL Developer? Simply download, extract, and run. This guide covers installation on Windows 10 and Windows 11, plus connecting to your first database in under 10 minutes.

Time to complete: 10 minutes

SQL Developer installation and setup on Windows

Step 1: Download SQL Developer

Download SQL Developer from our website. Unlike Oracle's official site, you don't need to create an account or log in.

  1. Go to getsqldeveloper.com/download
  2. Click Download Free for Windows
  3. Save the .zip file to your Downloads folder

The download is approximately 450MB and includes a bundled JDK, so you don't need Java installed separately.

Download SQL Developer Free
Download SQL Developer - click the download button

Step 2: Extract the ZIP File

SQL Developer is a portable application. After you download SQL Developer, simply extract and run — no installation wizard required.

  1. Locate the downloaded sqldeveloper-24.3.1.xxx-x64.zip file
  2. Right-click and select Extract All...
  3. Choose a destination folder (e.g., C:\sqldeveloper)
  4. Click Extract

Tip: Avoid extracting to Program Files to prevent permission issues. A simple path like C:\sqldeveloper works best.

Extract SQL Developer ZIP file on Windows

Step 3: Launch SQL Developer

After extraction, you can run SQL Developer immediately. No additional setup is needed.

  1. Open the extracted folder (e.g., C:\sqldeveloper)
  2. Navigate to the sqldeveloper subfolder
  3. Double-click sqldeveloper.exe

First launch: SQL Developer may take 30-60 seconds to start the first time as it initializes settings. Subsequent launches will be faster.

Windows SmartScreen: If you see a "Windows protected your PC" message, click More info then Run anyway. This is normal for downloaded applications.

SQL Developer main interface after launch

Step 4: Create Your First Connection

Now that you've downloaded SQL Developer and launched it, let's connect to a database. SQL Developer supports Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and SQLite.

  1. Click the green + icon in the Connections panel (left side)
  2. Enter a Connection Name (e.g., "My MySQL Database")
  3. Select the Database Type tab (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.)
  4. Enter your connection details:
    • Hostname: Your database server address
    • Port: MySQL: 3306, PostgreSQL: 5432, Oracle: 1521, SQL Server: 1433
    • Username: Your database username
    • Password: Your database password
SQL Developer connection dialog

Step 5: Test and Connect

Before saving your connection, always test it to verify your credentials are correct.

  1. Click the Test button at the bottom of the connection dialog
  2. If successful, you'll see "Status: Success" in green
  3. Click Save to save the connection for future use
  4. Click Connect to open the connection

Connection failed? Common issues:

  • Connection refused: Check that your database server is running and the port is correct
  • Access denied: Verify your username and password
  • Timeout: Check your firewall settings or try connecting via SSH tunnel

What's Next?

Now that you've downloaded SQL Developer and connected to your database, explore these guides:

Write Your First Query

Learn SQL basics with SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements.

Read Guide →

Explore Database Schema

Navigate tables, views, and relationships in your database.

Read Guide →

Import & Export Data

Move data between CSV, Excel, and your database tables.

Read Guide →

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with essential keyboard shortcuts.

View Shortcuts →

Ready to Download SQL Developer?

Download SQL Developer free for Windows 10/11. No account required.

Windows 10/11 (64-bit) Free offline installer | No login required
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