How can I set a MySQL database to use MyISAM by default?

To set the default storage engine, use the following syntax −

set @@default_storage_engine = ’yourEngineType’;

Now implement the above syntax to set the default engine to MyISAM. The query is as follows −

mysql> set @@default_storage_engine = 'MyISAM';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.05 sec)

Now you can check the default engine type with the help of SELECT statement. The query is as follows −

mysql> select @@default_storage_engine;

The following is the output displaying the engine as MyISAM −

+--------------------------+
| @@default_storage_engine |
+--------------------------+
| MyISAM                   |
+--------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

Now create a table and check for the default engine MyISAM.

Let us create a table. The query to create a table is as follows −

mysql> create table Followers
   -> (
   -> FollowerId int,
   -> FollowerName varchar(20)
   -> );
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.32 sec)

Let us check the default engine type of the above table with the help of SHOW TABLE command. The query is as follows −

mysql> SHOW TABLE STATUS WHERE Name = 'Followers'\G

Output

Name: followers
Engine: MyISAM
Version: 10
Row_format: Dynamic
Rows: 0
Avg_row_length: 0
Data_length: 0
Max_data_length: 281474976710655
Index_length: 1024
Data_free: 0
Auto_increment: 1
Create_time: 2019 - 02 - 12 00: 42: 27
Update_time: 2019 - 02 - 12 00: 42: 28
Check_time: NULL
Collation: utf8_general_ci
Checksum: NULL
Create_options:
Comment:
1 row in set(0.00 sec)

In MySQL version 8.0.12 the default engine is InnoDB but we have changed it above to MyISAM only for a session. If you restart the MySQL then the storage engine will be in the default MySQL mode i.e. InnoDB. Let’s restart MySQL. The query is as follows −

mysql> restart;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.20 sec)

Now check the default engine type once again. It would be InnoDB now −

mysql> select @@default_storage_engine;
No connection. Trying to reconnect...
Connection id: 8
Current database: sample
+--------------------------+
| @@default_storage_engine |
+--------------------------+
| InnoDB                   |
+--------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)