Macs ship with a built in version of MySQL Community Edition that meets most requirements, however MySQL doesn't get updated by Apple through Software Updates unless of a major security vulnerability. So what do you do if you have to upgrade?  You can't upgrade this built in version of MySQL, however you can install a second instance of a newer version and take all your data with you. Here's How So hold on... Install the mysql-5.5.27-osx10.6-x86.pkg (obviously the version may be different), then the MySQLStartupItem.pkg and lastly the MySQL.prefpane. Now you might have already been using the built in version of MySQL and therefore have data.  You most likely will need to utilise all the users/databases etc in this new version.  To do this the best way I have found is to symlink your data directory in the new install of MySQL to the existing database location. Open Terminal More data please Sir... To restore your users/databases navigate to the new install in Terminal: cd /usr/local list the directory ls -l to check that there is a symlink from the mysql directory to your new installation directory (obviously the version number may be different), eg: