Installing MongoDB Community 8

What you will learn

By the end of this lesson you will have:

• A MongoDB 8 server running on your own computer
• The MongoDB Shell (mongosh) installed and connected to it
• A simple way to start and stop the server
• An idea of where MongoDB keeps your data

Pick one install method below. You do not need all of them.

Tip: Don’t want to install anything? Skip to the next lesson, MongoDB Atlas: Free Cluster Setup, and use a free cloud database instead. Everything in this course works on Atlas too.

What exactly are we installing?

“Installing MongoDB” really means installing a few separate programs:

Think of it like this: mongod is the kitchen in a restaurant. mongosh is the waiter who takes your order to the kitchen and brings back the food. You need both to get a meal.

The free version of MongoDB you run yourself is called MongoDB Community Edition. That’s what we’ll install.

Which version should I pick?

This course uses MongoDB 8.x. The 8.x family has a few release lines you can install yourself:

• 8.0 is the main MongoDB 8 release. It gets the longest support and is the safest choice for learning.
• 8.3 is the latest 8.x minor release, with extra features. Starting with 8.2, minor releases can also be downloaded for self-managed use.

Both work for every beginner lesson in this course. The commands below use 8.0. Where it matters, a tip shows how to get 8.3 instead.

Note: MongoDB 9.0 has also been released. It reaches Atlas first, and Community downloads follow later. If a download page or package manager offers 9.0, the lessons in this course work the same way. For installing, the steps stay the same; you only change the version number.

Choose your install method

Option 1: Docker (the quickest way)

Docker runs programs inside containers: small, isolated boxes that already contain everything the program needs. Nothing is installed directly on your system, and you can delete it all in one command.

Think of it like this: A container is like a lunchbox. The food (MongoDB) is packed inside with everything it needs, and it doesn’t spill into your bag.

Step 1: Install Docker

Install Docker Desktop (Windows/macOS) or Docker Engine (Linux) from the official Docker website. Then check it works:

docker --version

Step 2: Start a MongoDB 8 container

MongoDB publishes an official image called mongodb/mongodb-community-server. This command downloads it and starts it:

docker run --name mongodb -p 127.0.0.1:27017:27017 -v mongodb-data:/data/db -d mongodb/mongodb-community-server:8.0-ubuntu2204

Let’s break that down:

The same command works in Windows PowerShell.

Step 3: Check it is running

docker ps

You should see a line with the name mongodb and a status like Up 10 seconds.

Everyday Docker commands

docker stop mongodb    # stop the server
docker start mongodb   # start it again (your data is still there)
docker logs mongodb    # see the server's log messages

Warning: If you write -p 27017:27017 without 127.0.0.1:, Docker may expose MongoDB to your whole network. A fresh MongoDB has no password, so keep it on 127.0.0.1 while learning.

Now jump to the Install mongosh section below. Docker gives you the server, but you still want the shell on your computer.

Option 2: Windows

MongoDB 8 Community supports 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.

Note: MongoDB does not support running inside WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Install the Windows version, or use Docker.

Method A: The MSI installer (point and click)

1. Open the MongoDB Community Server download page at mongodb.com/try/download/community.
2. Choose the Version (for example 8.0.x), Platform = Windows, Package = msi. Click Download.
3. Double-click the downloaded .msi file.
4. Choose the Complete setup type.
5. On the service screen, keep Install MongoD as a Service ticked. Leave Run service as Network Service user selected. The default service name is MongoDB.
6. Leave the data and log folders as they are, unless you have a reason to change them.
7. Keep Install MongoDB Compass ticked if you want the graphical app (you’ll use it in a later lesson).
8. Click Install and wait.

When it finishes, the MongoDB service starts automatically. The server programs live in:

C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\8.0\bin

Tip: To make mongod work from any terminal, add that bin folder to your PATH environment variable. This is optional because the service runs on its own.

Method B: winget in PowerShell

winget is the package manager built into Windows 11. Open PowerShell and run:

winget install --id MongoDB.Server --exact

winget installs the newest MongoDB Server version it knows about, which may not be 8.x. If you want a specific version like 8.0, use the MSI method instead.

Start and stop the service on Windows

The service normally starts by itself when Windows boots. To control it manually, open PowerShell as Administrator:

Get-Service MongoDB      # check the status
Stop-Service MongoDB     # stop the server
Start-Service MongoDB    # start the server

You can also use the classic commands net stop MongoDB and net start MongoDB, or the Services app (search “Services” in the Start menu).

Important: The Windows installer does not include mongosh. Continue with the Install mongosh section below.

Option 3: macOS with Homebrew

MongoDB 8 supports macOS 14 or later. On macOS, the official way is Homebrew, the popular package manager.

Step 1: Install the tools Homebrew needs

xcode-select --install

If Homebrew itself is missing, install it from brew.sh first.

Step 2: Add MongoDB’s Homebrew “tap”

A tap is an extra list of packages. MongoDB keeps its own:

brew tap mongodb/brew
brew trust mongodb/brew
brew update

The brew trust line marks MongoDB’s tap as a trusted source, as the official docs recommend.

Step 3: Install MongoDB 8

brew install mongodb-community@8.0

For MongoDB 8.3, use mongodb-community@8.3 instead.

Good news: on macOS this one command installs mongod, mongosh and the Database Tools together.

Step 4: Start MongoDB as a background service

brew services start mongodb-community@8.0

Check that it is running:

brew services list

You should see mongodb-community with the status started. To stop it later:

brew services stop mongodb-community@8.0

Where are my files on a Mac?

Tip: If macOS blocks mongod with a “developer cannot be verified” message, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway next to the message about mongod.

Option 4: Ubuntu Linux with apt

MongoDB 8.0 supports the 64-bit LTS releases of Ubuntu: 24.04 (Noble), 22.04 (Jammy) and 20.04 (Focal). Check yours with:

cat /etc/lsb-release

Warning: Ubuntu has its own package called mongodb. It is not made by MongoDB Inc. and it clashes with the official one. If you installed it before, remove it first. We will use the official package, mongodb-org.

Step 1: Import MongoDB’s signing key

This lets apt check that the packages really come from MongoDB.

sudo apt-get install gnupg curl
curl -fsSL https://pgp.mongodb.com/server-8.0.asc | \
   sudo gpg -o /usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-8.0.gpg \
   --dearmor

Step 2: Add the MongoDB package list

This line is for Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble):

echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-8.0.gpg ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu noble/mongodb-org/8.0 multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-8.0.list

On Ubuntu 22.04, replace noble with jammy. For MongoDB 8.3, the official docs use noble/mongodb-org/8.3 and the file name mongodb-org-8.3.list (the 8.0 key stays the same).

Step 3: Install

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mongodb-org

The mongodb-org package is a bundle. It installs the server, mongosh and the Database Tools in one go.

Step 4: Start the server

Modern Ubuntu uses systemd, which is controlled with systemctl:

sudo systemctl start mongod
sudo systemctl status mongod

Look for active (running) in green. Press q to leave the status screen.

If you get Unit mongod.service not found, run this once and try again:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Optional: start MongoDB automatically every time the computer boots.

sudo systemctl enable mongod

Other everyday commands:

sudo systemctl stop mongod
sudo systemctl restart mongod

On Linux, data lives in /var/lib/mongodb, logs in /var/log/mongodb, and the config file is /etc/mongod.conf.

Install mongosh (the shell)

Check whether you already have it:

mongosh --version

If you see a version like 2.x.x, skip ahead. You already have mongosh if you used Homebrew (macOS) or mongodb-org (Linux). You still need it if you used the Windows MSI or Docker.

mongosh on Windows

Option A, the installer: open the MongoDB Shell download page at mongodb.com/try/download/shell, choose Windows 64-bit (10+) (MSI), download and double-click it. Let the installer add mongosh to your PATH.

Option B, winget in PowerShell:

winget install --id MongoDB.Shell --exact

Close and reopen your terminal afterwards so the new PATH takes effect.

mongosh on macOS (if you used Docker)

brew install mongosh

mongosh on Ubuntu (if you used Docker)

Follow Steps 1 and 2 of the Ubuntu section above, then install just the shell:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mongodb-mongosh

Note: The old shell was called mongo. It was removed years ago. Always use mongosh. If a tutorial tells you to type mongo, it is out of date.

Check that everything works

Open a new terminal and type:

mongosh

With no extra options, mongosh connects to a server on your own computer at the default port 27017. You should see something like this:

Current Mongosh Log ID: 6718c0ffee...
Connecting to:          mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/?directConnection=true&serverSelectionTimeoutMS=2000&appName=mongosh+2.x.x
Using MongoDB:          8.0.x
Using Mongosh:          2.x.x

test>

The test> prompt means you are connected. Now ask the server if it is alive:

db.runCommand({ ping: 1 })
// → { ok: 1 }

And check its version:

db.version()
// → 8.0.x

Type exit to leave the shell.

That’s it. You have a working MongoDB server.

If it doesn’t connect

Two safety facts about a local install

1. It only listens on your own computer. By default MongoDB binds to 127.0.0.1 (localhost). Other machines can’t connect, which is exactly what you want while learning.
2. It has no password by default. That’s fine on localhost. Before you ever open it to a network, turn on authentication. You’ll learn how in Role-Based Access Control and Users.

Common mistakes

• Installing Ubuntu’s mongodb package instead of the official mongodb-org. Remove the old one and follow the official steps.
• Forgetting that the server must be running. mongosh is only the client. If mongod isn’t started, you’ll get “connection refused”.
• Installing the server on Windows and expecting mongosh to be there. The MSI doesn’t include it. Install mongosh separately.
• Using the old mongo command from outdated tutorials. Use mongosh.
• Running two MongoDB servers at once (for example a Windows service and a Docker container) on the same port 27017. Pick one.

Practice

1. Install MongoDB with any method and connect with mongosh.
2. Run the commands that show the server version and check that the server answers a ping.
3. Stop the server, then try mongosh again. What error do you get? Start the server again.

// Inside mongosh:
db.version()
// → 8.0.x

db.runCommand({ ping: 1 })
// → { ok: 1 }

// After stopping the server, running mongosh fails with an error like:
// MongoNetworkError: connect ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:27017
// Start the server again (for example: brew services start mongodb-community@8.0,
// sudo systemctl start mongod, Start-Service MongoDB, or docker start mongodb)

Key takeaways

• MongoDB is made of separate programs: the mongod server, the mongosh shell, plus optional Compass and Database Tools.
• Use Docker for the quickest setup, the MSI or winget on Windows, Homebrew on macOS, and apt with mongodb-org on Ubuntu.
• The Windows MSI and Docker don’t include mongosh. Install it separately.
• The default address is mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017, and a local install only accepts connections from your own computer.
• Test your setup with mongosh, then db.runCommand({ ping: 1 }).

Next lesson: MongoDB Atlas: Free Cluster Setup