Your first connection

A connection is a saved set of settings (server address, authentication, TLS, tunnel) with a name. You create it once in the Connection Manager, then open it with one click whenever you need it. Opening a connection never changes anything on the server.

Create a connection from a connection string

This is the fastest way when you already have a mongodb:// or mongodb+srv:// string.

1. Click Connect in the Global Toolbar, or press Ctrl+N. The Connection Manager opens.
2. Click New connection. The New Connection wizard opens.
3. Keep Paste your connection string (SRV or standard) here: selected and paste the string into URI:, for example mongodb://localhost:27017/acme_store.
4. If the string names a user but no password, type the password in Database user password:, or leave it empty to be asked at each connect.
5. Click Next. The app reads the string and tells you the connection has been successfully auto-configured. Click OK.
6. The connection dialog opens with every field filled in from the string. Type a Connection name:, for example ACME Store (local).
7. Click Test Connection to check the settings without saving them.
8. Click Save. The connection appears in the list.

Create a connection by hand

1. In the wizard, choose Manually configure my connection settings and click Next.
2. On the Server tab, set the connection type, host and port (the defaults are a standalone server on localhost, port 27017).
3. Fill in the other tabs only if you need them (see the reference table).
4. Type a Connection name:, click Test Connection, then Save.

Open the connection

1. In the Connection Manager, select the connection.
2. Click Connect, or double-click the connection.
3. A Connecting box lists each step of opening the connection with its status. When it succeeds, the Connection Manager closes and the connection appears in the Open connections tree.

Continue with Your first query.

Reference: the connection dialog tabs

Reference: the Connection Manager

Tips

• Passwords are not written to the connection file: they go to the protected store you chose at first launch.
• Use folders to separate environments (for example Production and Staging); see Folders.
• Tick Read-Only Lock on the Server tab for connections to production data so nothing can be written by mistake; see Read-only connections.
• Your first connections also appear under Recent Connections on the Quickstart page and in the arrow menu of the Connect toolbar button.

Troubleshooting