How to Update phpMyAdmin to Version 5.2.3 in XAMPP on Windows

Why Update phpMyAdmin in XAMPP?

XAMPP is convenient because it bundles Apache, PHP, MariaDB, and phpMyAdmin in one package. However, the bundled phpMyAdmin version may not always be the latest available release.

Updating phpMyAdmin can help you get bug fixes, better compatibility, and a more reliable database management experience. phpMyAdmin 5.2.3 is a bugfix release, so it is a good target version if you want to keep your local development environment more up to date.

This guide focuses on updating phpMyAdmin inside XAMPP on Windows while keeping your existing databases, Apache, PHP, and MariaDB setup unchanged.

Before You Start

Updating phpMyAdmin is usually safer than updating PHP or MariaDB, because phpMyAdmin is mainly a PHP web application. Still, you should always back up your current phpMyAdmin folder before replacing it.

Back up this folder:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin

You should also make sure your databases are backed up, especially if you plan to test import, export, or user management features after the update.

To export a database, open:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Select your database, click Export, choose SQL format, and download the backup file.

Step 1: Check Your Current phpMyAdmin Version

First, check which phpMyAdmin version your XAMPP installation is currently using.

Start Apache and MySQL from the XAMPP Control Panel, then open:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

On the phpMyAdmin dashboard, look for the version information. You may see it on the right side of the home page or near the footer, depending on your theme and layout.

If your version is older than 5.2.3, you can continue with the update.

Step 2: Stop Apache in XAMPP

Open the XAMPP Control Panel and stop Apache before replacing the phpMyAdmin folder.

phpMyAdmin runs through Apache and PHP, so stopping Apache prevents file lock issues while you copy or rename folders.

You do not always need to stop MySQL or MariaDB for this update, but stopping it is fine if you want to avoid active database sessions during the process.

Step 3: Rename the Old phpMyAdmin Folder

Go to your XAMPP installation directory:

C:\xampp

Find the existing phpMyAdmin folder:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin

Rename it to:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin-old

This gives you a quick rollback option if the new phpMyAdmin version does not work correctly.

Step 4: Download phpMyAdmin 5.2.3

Download phpMyAdmin 5.2.3 from the official phpMyAdmin website. The official phpMyAdmin release page lists version 5.2.3 as a bugfix release, and the phpMyAdmin downloads page provides the current downloadable packages.

For XAMPP on Windows, download the ZIP package:

phpMyAdmin-5.2.3-all-languages.zip

After downloading, extract the ZIP file to a temporary location, for example:

C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\phpMyAdmin-5.2.3

Step 5: Copy phpMyAdmin 5.2.3 into XAMPP

Copy the extracted phpMyAdmin folder into your XAMPP directory:

C:\xampp

Rename the copied folder to:

phpMyAdmin

Your new phpMyAdmin path should now be:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin

Make sure the folder contains files such as:

index.php
libraries
templates
themes
vendor

Step 6: Restore the XAMPP phpMyAdmin Configuration

Your old phpMyAdmin folder contains an important configuration file:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin-old\config.inc.php

Copy this file into the new phpMyAdmin folder:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php

This file contains settings for authentication, host, port, blowfish secret, and database connection behavior.

After copying it, open the file in a code editor and check these common settings:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'your-secret-key-here';

$i++;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'config';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = '127.0.0.1';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = 'root';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = '';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['extension'] = 'mysqli';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = true;

If your local database root user has a password, update the password value accordingly.

If you use a custom database port, add or update the port setting:

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['port'] = '3307';

Use your actual MariaDB or MySQL port number.

Step 7: Check PHP Extension Requirements

phpMyAdmin requires PHP and several common PHP extensions. XAMPP usually includes these by default, but after updating PHP or phpMyAdmin, it is a good idea to check your configuration.

Open your PHP configuration file:

C:\xampp\php\php.ini

Make sure these extensions are enabled:

extension=mysqli
extension=mbstring
extension=openssl
extension=zip
extension=curl
extension=fileinfo
extension=gd

If any line starts with a semicolon, remove the semicolon to enable the extension:

;extension=mysqli

should become:

extension=mysqli

Step 8: Start Apache and Open phpMyAdmin

Open the XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache again. Also start MySQL if it is not already running.

Then open phpMyAdmin in your browser:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

If everything is configured correctly, phpMyAdmin should load normally.

Check the version number on the phpMyAdmin home page. It should show:

phpMyAdmin 5.2.3

Step 9: Test Database Access

After updating phpMyAdmin, test the main features you normally use.

Try the following:

• Open an existing database.
• Browse a table.
• Run a simple SQL query.
• Export a database.
• Import a small SQL file.
• Create and drop a test table.

You can run this simple SQL query to confirm the database connection:

SELECT VERSION();

This will show the current MySQL or MariaDB server version used by XAMPP.

Common Problems After Updating phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin Shows a Blank Page

A blank page usually means there is a PHP error. Check the Apache error log:

C:\xampp\apache\logs\error.log

Also check that your PHP version is compatible and that required extensions are enabled in php.ini.

Cannot Connect: Invalid Settings

If phpMyAdmin shows a connection error, open:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php

Check these settings:

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host']
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['port']
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user']
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password']
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type']

Make sure they match your XAMPP MariaDB or MySQL setup.

Access Denied for User Root

If you see an access denied error, your root password may be different from the value in config.inc.php.

For many default XAMPP installations, the local database login is:

Username: root
Password: empty

But if you previously set a root password, update the configuration file with the correct value.

The mysqli Extension Is Missing

If phpMyAdmin says the mysqli extension is missing, open:

C:\xampp\php\php.ini

Enable:

extension=mysqli

Then restart Apache.

The Blowfish Secret Is Too Short

If phpMyAdmin warns about the blowfish secret, open:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php

Set a longer random string:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'a-long-random-secret-key-for-local-xampp';

This value is used for cookie authentication encryption. Even for local development, it should not be empty.

Rollback Plan

If phpMyAdmin 5.2.3 does not work correctly, you can restore your old version.

First, stop Apache from the XAMPP Control Panel.

Rename the new folder:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin

to:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin-new

Then rename your old backup folder:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin-old

back to:

C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin

Start Apache again and open:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Your previous phpMyAdmin version should be restored.

Should You Update phpMyAdmin in XAMPP?

Updating phpMyAdmin is usually a good idea if you want a more current local development tool. Unlike database server upgrades, this update does not directly change your database engine or data files.

You should update phpMyAdmin if:

• Your current phpMyAdmin version is outdated.
• You recently upgraded PHP in XAMPP.
• You recently upgraded MariaDB or MySQL in XAMPP.
• You want bug fixes from phpMyAdmin 5.2.3.
• You want better compatibility with your current local stack.

You may want to wait if:

• Your current XAMPP setup is working perfectly.
• You do not have a backup of your old phpMyAdmin folder.
• You use custom phpMyAdmin themes or plugins.
• You are not sure which PHP version your XAMPP installation uses.

Final Thoughts

Updating phpMyAdmin to version 5.2.3 in XAMPP on Windows is a straightforward process if you back up the old folder first. In most cases, you only need to rename the old phpMyAdmin directory, copy the new version into XAMPP, restore config.inc.php, and restart Apache.

After the update, always test login, database browsing, SQL queries, import, and export features. This helps confirm that phpMyAdmin is working correctly with your current PHP and MariaDB or MySQL setup.

If anything goes wrong, the rollback process is simple: stop Apache, restore the old phpMyAdmin folder, and start Apache again.