How to connect the Navicat graphics client to the MySQL server on WSL and solve error 1251

Familiar work with databases through a graphical interface often pushes developers away from using the Ubuntu environment, especially in the case of WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). However, as it turned out, connecting a graphical client (for example, Navicat) to work with a database on a MySQL server deployed in WSL is quite simple and does not require complex manipulations.

In this short guide, you will learn how to configure the MySQL server and fix the error "1251 - Client does not support authentication protocol requested by server; consider upgrading MySQL client" to ensure a successful connection via the Navicat graphical client.

Step 1: Configuring MySQL on WSL

Make sure MySQL is installed and running

If MySQL is not already installed, run the following commands in WSL to install and run it:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mysql-server
sudo service mysql start

After launching, check its operation:

sudo service mysql status

Step 2: Allow connections from other devices

By default, the MySQL server listens only to local connections (via 127.0.0.1). To connect from Navicat (or other Windows programs), you need to change this behavior:

Open the MySQL configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf

Find the bind-address setting:
It will look something like this:
```
bind-address = 127.0.0.1
```
Change it to the following:
```
bind-address = 0.0.0.0
```
Save the file and restart MySQL:
```
sudo service mysql restart
```

Step 3: Configure MySQL User for Remote Connections

By default, in MySQL, the root user can only connect locally. To allow connection from Navicat, follow these steps:

Log in to MySQL:

sudo mysql -u root

Check the authentication methods and existing users:

SELECT host, user, plugin FROM mysql.user;

Change the user authentication method root to a compatible one:

ALTER USER 'root'@'%' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY '';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Make sure that the changes are applied:

SELECT host, user, plugin FROM mysql.user WHERE user = 'root';

Log out of MySQL:

EXIT;

Step 4: Find the WSL IP address

To connect via TCP/IP from Windows, we need an IP address assigned by WSL:

ip addr show

Find the IP address of the interface eth0. Example:

inet 172.24.239.136/20 brd 172.24.255.255 scope global eth0

Here is the WSL IP address: 172.24.239.136.

Step 5: Allow port 3306

To connect from the outside, you need to allow access to the MySQL port (3306):

If the WSL firewall (ufw) is enabled, run:

sudo ufw allow 3306

Check the port availability on the Windows side (in the Powershell terminal):

Test-NetConnection -ComputerName 172.24.239.136 -Port 3306

If TcpTestSucceeded is True, access is allowed.

Step 6: Configure the connection in Navicat

Now you can set up a connection in Navicat:

Open Navicat.
Create a new connection by selecting Connection → MySQL.
In the connection settings, specify:

Connection Name: any name, for example, MySQL WSL.
Host Name/IP Address: The IP address of your WSL (for example, 172.24.239.136).
Port: 3306.
User Name: root.
Password: leave it blank (or specify the password if it is set).