Install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian

Managing MySQL or MariaDB via the command line can feel limiting. phpMyAdmin offers a faster, browser-based alternative for Ubuntu and Debian users.

Use the below command to install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu or Debian with Apache:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install phpmyadmin

This guide walks you through a secure, production-ready setup with full user, database, and Apache integration.

Prerequisites to Install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian

To let this tutorial work correctly, provide the options below and move on.

• Buy Linux VPS running Ubuntu/Debian.
• A non-root user with sudo privileges.
• Access to a command line/terminal window.
•  Update your system package to avoid conflicts during the phpMyAdmin Ubuntu install or Debian phpMyAdmin setup:

• To use phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu or Debian, you need a working LAMP stack on Debian & Ubuntu. If you haven’t installed it yet, use:

sudo apt install apache2 -y
sudo apt install mysql-server -y
sudo apt install php php-mbstring php-zip php-gd php-json php-curl php-mysql libapache2-mod-php -y

• phpMyAdmin install on Ubuntu and Debian systems depends on specific PHP extensions:

sudo phpenmod mbstring
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian Step-by-Step

Now that your system is ready, here’s how to install phpMyAdmin on both Debian and Ubuntu securely.

In the end, you will be able to administer MySQL and MariaDB servers and interact with your target database server.

Step 1. Update Your System Packages

First, ensure your system is up-to-date. This avoids conflicts during the phpMyAdmin Ubuntu install or Debian phpMyAdmin setup:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This step applies to both Ubuntu and Debian systems, whether you’re planning to install phpMyAdmin Debian 10, Debian 11, or the latest Ubuntu phpMyAdmin version.

Step 2: Install phpMyAdmin Package on Ubuntu or Debian

Use the following command to install phpMyAdmin on Linux:

sudo apt install phpmyadmin -y

During the installation, you’ll be asked to choose a web server. Select apache2 using the spacebar, then press Enter.

Next, choose Yes to configure the database with dbconfig-common and set your MySQL application password.

This step installs all the core components needed for Debian and Ubuntu install phpmyadmin, which sets up their database schema.

Step 3: Configure phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian

phpMyAdmin requires a web server to be served over a web browser using either the local network or the Internet.

On Ubuntu:

On Ubuntu, choose the apache2 web server to automatically configure. Just press Tab to navigate to <ok> and hit Enter.

Once the installer asks to configure the database for phpMyAdmin, select <Yes> and hit Enter.

The default username is ‘’phpMyAdmin’’. Choose a strong password (which works as an administrator password) when you are prompted by the installer.

When you are finished, hit Enter, then confirm the password and hit Enter again.

On Debian:

On Debian, you can use both MariaDB and MySQL because of their common features and commands. Here, we use MariaDB as an open-source database management system.

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

systemctl status mariadb

When you see the active (running) status, you are ready to configure the MariaDB database.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Then, to set a root password, type y and press Enter to create a strong root password for your database. A specified user is required for the phpMyAdmin tool to connect to your database. It is safer and easier to manage the degree of rights given to a user when you create a new MariaDB user.

So, creating a new MariaDB user could be one of the essential steps when you are done installing phpMyAdmin on your Debian.

Step 4: Enable Apache Configuration for phpMyAdmin

On some systems, phpMyAdmin’s Apache config may not be enabled automatically. Link and enable it manually:

sudo ln -s /etc/phpmyadmin/apache.conf /etc/apache2/conf-available/phpmyadmin.conf
sudo a2enconf phpmyadmin
sudo systemctl reload apache2

This ensures that Apache serves the phpMyAdmin interface properly. Now your Ubuntu phpMyAdmin panel should be functional.

Step 5: Allow Web Traffic Through the Firewall (for Apache Access)

If you’re running UFW on your server, you’ll need to explicitly allow Apache. Otherwise, even a correct phpmyadmin install won’t be reachable via the browser.

sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full'

Without this, the phpMyAdmin web interface won’t be accessible through the browser.

Step 6: Access phpMyAdmin from a Browser

Once installed, open your browser and visit:

http://your-server-ip/phpmyadmin

Log in using your MySQL root user or any MySQL account with sufficient privileges. You’ve now completed the phpMyAdmin install Ubuntu process.

Access phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu

Upon completion of the installation process, launch a browser and navigate to http://your-server-IP/phpmyadmin. Substitute the IP address of the server for your-server-IP.

Use the URL http://localhost/phpmyadmin if you’re using localhost. This is how the phpMyAdmin login screen will appear.

Access phpMyAdmin on Debian

To access phpMyAdmin, open a web browser and type localhost/your_phpMyAdmin_directory into the address bar. In our instance:

localhost/phpMyAdmin

As soon as you connect to the locally built Apache, MariaDB, and PHP files, the machine displays the phpMyAdmin login screen.

Use the username and password you created for the MariaDB user to access phpMyAdmin.

Step 7: Test phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu

To test whether phpMyAdmin is working correctly or not, run the commands below and replace your information:

localhost/phpMyAdmin

Your server’s IP address/phpMyAdmin

www.domain.com/phpMyAdmin

The browser shows you a screen with a login form that welcomes you to phpMyAdmin. Please enter your username and password.

The phpMyAdmin dashboard is loaded by the browser.

Step 8: Create a New MySQL User for phpMyAdmin (Bypass auth_socket)

Ubuntu by default uses auth_socket to authenticate a root user with MySQL versions 5.7 and later.

This type of authentication is highly secure and validates the socket username against the name listed in the MySQL user table. But this makes using phpMyAdmin challenging.

The type of authentication can be altered. Making a new MySQL administrator account is a simpler way to get around auth_socket.

First, type the command below to log in to the MySQL server:

sudo mysql

Replace UserName with the username of your choice, and Password with a suitable strong password when entering the commands below:

CREATE USER 'UserName'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'PassWord';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'UserName'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

To exit the MySQL shell, run:

exit

Step 9: Back Up phpMyAdmin Configuration and MySQL Databases

Before modifying configs or locking down access, always back up your phpMyAdmin-related files and databases.

A misstep could lock you out or break your Ubuntu phpMyAdmin install entirely.

• Backup MySQL Databases:

sudo mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > /root/all-databases-backup.sql

• Backup phpMyAdmin Configuration File:

sudo cp /etc/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php /etc/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php.bak

• Backup Apache Configuration:

sudo cp /etc/apache2/conf-available/phpmyadmin.conf /etc/apache2/conf-available/phpmyadmin.conf.bak

These quick backups ensure you can restore your phpmyadmin install Ubuntu setup in seconds if needed. It’s a safety net every smart Linux admin uses.

Step 10: Secure Your phpMyAdmin Installation

Out of the box, phpMyAdmin is accessible to anyone who knows the URL. This makes it a common attack target. Let’s harden the installation.

Configure Apache to Serve phpMyAdmin

In some systems, phpMyAdmin is not linked automatically. If you don’t see it at http://your-server/phpmyadmin, create a symbolic link:

sudo ln -s /usr/share/phpmyadmin /var/www/html/phpmyadmin

Disable MySQL Root Login via phpMyAdmin (Critical Production Hardening)

Exposing root access in phpMyAdmin is one of the fastest ways to get hacked. You absolutely must disable it for every serious phpmyadmin Ubuntu or debian phpmyadmin deployment.

sudo nano /etc/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php

From here, you can:

• Define the Blowfish secret for encryption.
• Enable multiple database server support.
• Change the default language, theme, or timeout.

For advanced Ubuntu phpmyadmin setups or multi-server deployments, this file is where you’ll do the tuning.

Add or update this line:

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowRoot'] = false;

This simple change locks the front door tight, phpmyadmin install Ubuntu doesn’t need to be root-friendly.

Limit Access by IP

Restricting access to only trusted IPs is a good first line of defense. Open the Apache config:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/conf-available/phpmyadmin.conf

Find the <Directory /usr/share/phpmyadmin> block and insert:

Require ip your.ip.address.here

Reload Apache:

sudo systemctl reload apache2

Now, only your IP can access the phpMyAdmin on the Ubuntu panel, best practice for phpMyAdmin Linux setups.

Add this line inside the block:

AllowOverride All

Then save and close (Ctrl + X, then Y, Enter), and enable rewrite module:

sudo a2enmod rewrite

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Add HTTP Authentication

An additional login layer can stop bots or bad actors. Install Apache’s authentication utilities:

sudo apt install apache2-utils

Create a password file:

sudo htpasswd -c /etc/phpmyadmin/.htpasswd youradmin

Enter a strong password. Then edit your .htaccess file:

sudo nano /usr/share/phpmyadmin/.htaccess

Modify the config again:

<Directory /usr/share/phpmyadmin>
    AuthType Basic
    AuthName "Restricted"
    AuthUserFile /etc/phpmyadmin/.htpasswd
    Require valid-user
</Directory>

Apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

This is a strong enhancement for anyone using phpMyAdmin Ubuntu in production.

Whether you’re deploying on a Cheap Linux VPS, setting up a cost-effective Linux VPS hosting stack, or looking for Linux distributions for secure browsing, having a well-hardened phpMyAdmin install is essential for long-term stability.

Finally, to check your phpMyAdmin setup is secured and ready to use, run:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 11: Install SSL Certificate with Let’s Encrypt (HTTPS is Not Optional)

Using HTTP on a live phpmyadmin on Ubuntu setup is reckless. A free SSL certificate not only encrypts your session but also builds trust and protects credentials in transit.

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y
sudo certbot --apache

This instantly upgrades your install phpmyadmin Ubuntu instance to production-grade with HTTPS.

Step 12: Update phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu or Debian (Optional)

To avoid security vulnerabilities, periodically update your installation. Run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade phpmyadmin -y

This keeps your Ubuntu phpMyAdmin install safe and up to date.

Step 13: Confirm phpMyAdmin is working

To visit if your phpMyAdmin is working, check out:

http://your-server-ip/phpmyadmin

Log in with your MySQL root or another database user.

How to Use phpMyAdmin on Debian

When you are done with installing and configuring phpMyAdmin, you are ready to go through the remaining steps to use it on your Debian.

Step 1. Configure and Unpack phpMyAdmin

Run the following command to create a phpMyAdmin directory in the Apache web root directory:

sudo mkdir /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin

To access the Downloads directory and unpack the phpMyAdmin tar.gz files to the newly created directory, type:

sudo tar xvf phpMyAdmin-latest-all-languages.tar.gz --strip-components=1 -C /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin

Use the following command to create a default configuration file:

sudo cp /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin/config.sample.inc.php /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin/config.inc.php

Open your preferred text editor and add a secret passphrase to the config.inc.php file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin/config.inc.php

Locate the following line:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = '';

Between the single quotes, insert a secret passphrase. For instance:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'My_Secret_Passphras3!';

Select a challenging passphrase, exit, and save the file (Ctrl+x).

Change the config.inc.php file’s permissions:

sudo chmod 660 /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin/config.inc.php

Run the command below to change ownership of the phpMyAdmin directory:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin

To restart Apache, type:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 2. Check phpMyAdmin GPG Key

Every downloaded package has an associated.asc file with its key signature. The signature can be checked once both files are in the same folder.

Download the phpMyAdmin keyring to the previous location you used to verify the GPG key for phpMyAdmin. In this instance, Downloads:

wget -P Downloads https://files.phpmyadmin.net/phpmyadmin.keyring

To navigate to the Downloads directory, then import the keyring:

cd Downloads

gpg --import phpmyadmin.keyring

Download the relevant GPG.asc file for your phpMyAdmin version and stay in the same directory.

wget https://www.phpmyadmin.net/downloads/phpMyAdmin-latest-all-languages.tar.gz.asc

Again, stay in the same directory and verify the .asc file against the keyring you downloaded:

gpg --verify phpMyAdmin-latest-all-languages.tar.gz.asc

Now you can contrast the developer credentials on the phpMyAdmin documentation page with the GPG key.

FAQ

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered how to install phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu and Debian systems using Apache as the web server.

From updating your system packages to configuring Apache and securing your MySQL root access, each step was designed to give you production-ready access to phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu or phpMyAdmin Debian environments.

You now know exactly how to install phpMyAdmin, properly configure phpMyAdmin, and even how to manage access via the /phpmyadmin URL securely.

If you’re managing multiple databases or prefer GUI-based interaction over CLI, installing phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu or Debian phpMyAdmin setup is a practical and powerful choice.

You’ve also learned how to update phpMyAdmin Ubuntu, and how to ensure a clean, secure deployment across phpMyAdmin Linux servers.