# Connect to an existing MySQL Instance

**URL:** <https://www.five.org/t/connect-to-an-existing-mysql-instance/250>\
**Category:** How do I?\
**Created:** [September 8, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/connect-to-an-existing-mysql-instance/250 "2023-09-08T23:41:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Andrew](https://www.five.org/u/Andrew)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/connect-to-an-existing-mysql-instance/250/1 "2023-09-08T23:41:03Z")

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Hello,

My apologies if I missed this in the docs.

I realise you can create a database in Five from an MySQL dump (structure and/or structure and data), or by hand using the platform, however is there a way to connect to an existing MySQL server?

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Pranoy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.five.org/pranoy/32/281_2.png) [@Pranoy](https://www.five.org/u/Pranoy)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/connect-to-an-existing-mysql-instance/250/2 "2023-09-10T01:43:36Z")

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Hi Andrew,

As you mentioned, you can currently import SQL dumps into Five or connect to external APIs to retrieve data.

We are working diligently to release a new version of Five very soon. This update will introduce the capability to connect to external databases, PDF generation (as you inquired in your previous question), and several other features.

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**Author:** ![Andrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Andrew](https://www.five.org/u/Andrew)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/connect-to-an-existing-mysql-instance/250/3 "2023-09-10T02:04:40Z")

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Hello @Pranoy, thank you for replying. Importing an SQL data dump for now, is no great imposition, however the planned features will be welcome for sure.