What is MongoDB Compass GUI?

MongoDB Compass is a free graphical tool for querying and managing your database. Under the hood, it is built with Electron—a framework that uses Chromium and Node.js.

What is Electron?

Electron allows developers to build desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. The biggest advantage is that it is cross-platform, meaning it runs seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Is MongoDB Compass in the official Linux repositories?

No. Unlike the MongoDB database server itself, the Compass GUI is usually not included in standard Linux package repositories. You have to download it manually from the official website.

Important Notice: You must have a MongoDB database running (either locally or on a server) to use MongoDB Compass. Compass is „only“ a frontend to visualize your data; it is not a self-contained local database system like MS Access.

How to install MongoDB Compass (First Time)

1. Go to the official download page:https://www.mongodb.com/try/download/compass
2. Select your operating system (RedHat / CentOS / AlmaLinux / Rocky for .rpm packages) and system architecture. In most cases, the website will detect your OS automatically.
3. Download the .rpm file.
4. Open your terminal, navigate to your downloads folder, and run:

sudo dnf install mongodb-compass-1.49.12.x86_64.rpm

How to Update MongoDB Compass

You do not need to uninstall the old version first. The package manager dnf can perform an in-place upgrade, which is much faster and safer.

1. Download the latest .rpm package from the official website.
2. Open your terminal, navigate to your downloads folder, and run:

sudo dnf upgrade mongodb-compass-1.49.12.x86_64.rpm

1. dnf will automatically detect the installed older version, replace it with the new files, and complete the update.
2. Once completed, you can open MongoDB Compass. Your connection settings will still be there!

Where are my connection settings saved?

Your connection settings and saved databases are stored safely in a separate directory in your user profile: ~/.config/MongoDB Compass/Connections

Because this folder starts with a dot, it is hidden by default. You can view it in your terminal by running:

ls -a

Inside this directory, you will also find a .json file containing login settings. Since your configurations are stored here, they will survive any application update or reinstallation.

You can check the .json file with your favorite editor like vim or nano or something else.