How to configure remote MySQL access in cPanel

This article describes how to use cPanel to allow external hosts to access your MySQL databases. When remote host access is enabled, you can use remote client applications to connect to your databases directly.

Enabling direct remote access to your databases is a potential security risk. An alternative, more secure way to access your databases remotely is to tunnel MySQL connections over SSH. For information about how to set up an SSH tunnel for MySQL, please see this article.

Adding host access

To add remote host access for MySQL, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to cPanel.
    If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
  2. Open the Remote MySQL tool:
    • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click Remote MySQL:

      cPanel - Databases - Remote MySQL icon

    • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click Remote MySQL:

      cPanel - Databases - Remote MySQL icon

  3. Under Add Access Host, in the Host text box, type the domain name or IP address of the host that you want to add.

    • To obtain your own IP address, use your web browser to visit http://ipfinder.us.
    • You can use the % wildcard to specify a block of addresses. For example, to allow all IP addresses that begin with 10.0.1, type 10.0.1.%.
  4. In the Comment text box, you can add an optional comment to describe the remote host.
  5. Click Add Host.

Accessing your database remotely

After you enable host access, you can connect to your MySQL databases remotely by using a MySQL client application. For more information about how to use MySQL client applications, please see this article.

Removing host access

You can remove host access when you no longer want a host to be able to access your MySQL databases remotely.

To remove host access, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to cPanel.
    If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
  2. Open the Remote MySQL tool:
    • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click Remote MySQL:

      cPanel - Databases - Remote MySQL icon

    • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click Remote MySQL:

      cPanel - Databases - Remote MySQL icon

  3. Under Manage Access Hosts, locate the host for which you want to remove access, and then click Delete.
  4. Click Remove Access Host. cPanel removes the host.

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