# Import from MySQL (Prisma ORM v7) (/docs/v7/prisma-postgres/import-from-existing-database-mysql)

> For the complete Prisma documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.prisma.io/docs/llms.txt). A markdown version of any docs page is available by appending `.md` to its URL.

Learn how to import data from an existing MySQL database into Prisma Postgres

Location: v7 > Prisma Postgres > Import from MySQL

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for importing data from an existing MySQL database into Prisma Postgres.

You can accomplish this migration in four steps:

1. Create a new Prisma Postgres database.
2. Connect directly to a Prisma Postgres instance using a [direct connection](https://www.prisma.io/docs/postgres/database/connecting-to-your-database).
3. Migrate your MySQL data to Prisma Postgres using [pgloader](https://pgloader.io/).
4. Configure your Prisma project for Prisma Postgres.

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

* The connection URL to your existing MySQL database.
* A [Prisma Data Platform](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=%28index%29) account.
* Node.js 18+ installed.
* [pgloader](https://pgloader.io/) installed.

> [!NOTE]
> Make sure your PostgreSQL tools match the Prisma Postgres version
> 
> Prisma Postgres runs PostgreSQL 17. Your `pgloader` and any other PostgreSQL tools you use need to be compatible with PostgreSQL 17.

We recommend attempting this migration in a separate git development branch.

## 1. Create a new Prisma Postgres database [#1-create-a-new-prisma-postgres-database]

Follow these steps to create a new Prisma Postgres database:

1. Log in to [Prisma Data Platform](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=%28index%29) and open the Console.
2. In a [workspace](https://www.prisma.io/docs/console/concepts#workspace) of your choice, click the **New project** button.
3. Type a name for your project in the **Name** field, e.g. **hello-ppg**.
4. In the **Prisma Postgres** section, click the **Get started** button.
5. In the **Region** dropdown, select the region that's closest to your current location, e.g. **US East (N. Virginia)**.
6. Click the **Create project** button.

Once your database is provisioned, find your direct Prisma Postgres connection string:

1. Navigate to your active Prisma Postgres instance.
2. Click the **Connection Strings** tab in the project's sidenav.
3. Click the **Create connection string** button.
4. In the popup, provide a **Name** for the connection string and click **Create**.
5. Copy the connection string starting with `postgres://`, this is your direct connection string.

Save the connection string, as you'll need it in step 3.

## 2. Prepare your direct connection string [#2-prepare-your-direct-connection-string]

In this step, you'll use the [direct connection string](https://www.prisma.io/docs/postgres/database/connecting-to-your-database) you obtained in step 1 to connect to your Prisma Postgres instance.

Your direct connection string should look like this:

```text
postgres://USER:PASSWORD@db.prisma.io:5432/?sslmode=require
```

You'll use this connection string in the next step when configuring pgloader.

## 3. Migrate your MySQL data to Prisma Postgres using pgloader [#3-migrate-your-mysql-data-to-prisma-postgres-using-pgloader]

Now that you have an active connection to your Prisma Postgres instance, you'll use [pgloader](https://pgloader.io/) to export data from your MySQL database to Prisma Postgres.

Open a separate terminal window and create a `config.load` file:

```bash
touch config.load
```

Open the `config.load` file in your preferred text editor and copy-paste the following configuration:

```text title="config.load"
LOAD DATABASE
    FROM mysql://username:password@host:PORT/database_name
    INTO postgres://__USER__:__PASSWORD__@db.prisma.io:5432/?sslmode=require

WITH quote identifiers,    -- preserve table/column name case by quoting them
     include drop,
     create tables,
     create indexes,
     reset sequences

ALTER SCHEMA 'database_name' RENAME TO 'public';
```

Make sure to update the following details in the `config.load` file:

* `FROM` url (MySQL database URL):
  * Replace `username`, `password`, `host`, `PORT`, and `database_name` with the actual connection details for your MySQL database.
  * Ensure that your connection string includes `useSSL=true` if SSL is required, for example: `mysql://username:password@host:PORT/database_name?useSSL=true`. Note that when using PlanetScale, appending `sslaccept=strict` will not work.
* `INTO` url (Postgres database URL):
  * Update this with your direct connection string from above, replacing the `__USER__` and `__PASSWORD__` placeholders.
* Update the `database_name` in `ALTER SCHEMA 'database_name' RENAME TO 'public';` to exactly match the `database_name` in your MySQL connection string.

After saving the configuration file with your updated credentials, in the same terminal window, execute the following command:

```bash
pgloader config.load
```

You should see a log similar to this, which confirms the successful migration of your data:

```bash
LOG report summary reset
               table name     errors       rows      bytes      total time
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
          fetch meta data          0          9                     2.546s
           Create Schemas          0          0                     0.325s
         Create SQL Types          0          0                     0.635s
            Create tables          0          6                     5.695s
           Set Table OIDs          0          3                     0.328s
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
              public.post          0          8     0.5 kB          4.255s
            public."user"          0          4     0.1 kB          2.775s
public._prisma_migrations          0          1     0.2 kB          4.278s
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
  COPY Threads Completion          0          4                     5.095s
   Index Build Completion          0          5                     9.601s
           Create Indexes          0          5                     4.116s
          Reset Sequences          0          2                     4.540s
             Primary Keys          0          3                     2.917s
      Create Foreign Keys          0          1                     1.121s
          Create Triggers          0          0                     0.651s
         Install Comments          0          0                     0.000s
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
        Total import time          ✓         13     0.8 kB         28.042s
```

If you see output like this, it means your data has been successfully exported to your Prisma Postgres instance.

You can also use [Prisma Studio](https://www.prisma.io/docs/guides/postgres/viewing-data#viewing-and-editing-data-in-prisma-studio) to verify whether the migration was successful:

  

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma studio
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma studio
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma studio
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma studio
```

## 4. Configure your Prisma project for Prisma Postgres [#4-configure-your-prisma-project-for-prisma-postgres]

After migrating your data, you need to set up your Prisma project to work with Prisma Postgres. The steps differ depending on whether you were already using Prisma ORM.

### If you **were not** previously using Prisma ORM [#if-you-were-not-previously-using-prisma-orm]

Initialize Prisma in your project by running `npx prisma init` in your project directory. This creates a `prisma` folder with a `schema.prisma` file and `.env` file (if not already present).

In the generated `.env` file, update `DATABASE_URL` to match your Prisma Postgres direct connection string that you received in [step 1](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v7/prisma-postgres/import-from-existing-database-mysql#1-create-a-new-prisma-postgres-database):

```text title=".env" no-copy
DATABASE_URL="postgres://USER:PASSWORD@db.prisma.io:5432/?sslmode=require"
```

[Introspect](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v7/prisma-schema/introspection) your newly migrated database by running:

  

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma db pull
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma db pull
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma db pull
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma db pull
```

This command updates your `schema.prisma` file with models representing your migrated tables, so you can start using [Prisma Client](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v7/prisma-client/setup-and-configuration/introduction) to query your data or [Prisma Migrate](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v7/prisma-migrate/getting-started) to manage future changes.

Your MySQL database is now migrated to Prisma Postgres and your Prisma project is configured.

> [!NOTE]
> For a comprehensive guide on getting started with Prisma and Prisma Postgres, see [start from scratch with Prisma and Prisma Postgres](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v7/prisma-orm/quickstart/prisma-postgres).

### If you **were** already using Prisma ORM [#if-you-were-already-using-prisma-orm]

In your `schema.prisma` file, change the `provider` in the `datasource` block from `mysql` to `postgresql`:

```prisma title="schema.prisma"
datasource db {
  provider = "mysql" // [!code --]
  provider = "postgres" // [!code ++]
}
```

In the generated `.env` file, update `DATABASE_URL` to match your Prisma Postgres direct connection string that you received in [step 1](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v7/prisma-postgres/import-from-existing-database-mysql#1-create-a-new-prisma-postgres-database):

```text title=".env" no-copy
DATABASE_URL="postgres://USER:PASSWORD@db.prisma.io:5432/?sslmode=require"
```

Introspect your newly migrated Prisma Postgres database and generate Prisma Client:

  

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma db pull
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma db pull
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma db pull
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma db pull
```

This command refreshes your Prisma models based on the new database schema.

If you were using [Prisma Migrate](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v7/prisma-migrate/getting-started) before:

* Delete your existing `migrations` folder in the `prisma` directory.
* [Baseline your database](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v7/prisma-migrate/workflows/baselining#baselining-a-database) to begin creating new migrations.

Your MySQL database is now migrated to Prisma Postgres and your Prisma project is configured.

If you run into issues during the migration, ask on [Discord](https://pris.ly/discord?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=conclusion) or via [X](https://pris.ly/x?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=conclusion).

## Related pages

- [`From the CLI`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v7/prisma-postgres/from-the-cli): Start building a Prisma application with a Prisma Postgres database from the CLI
- [`Import from PostgreSQL`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v7/prisma-postgres/import-from-existing-database-postgresql): Learn how to import data from an existing PostgreSQL database into Prisma Postgres