Install Liquibases
Last updated: September 2, 2025
Liquibase is a Java-based application that runs on minimal hardware. To use Liquibase, Java must be installed on your host machine.
Set up Liquibase Pro with your database
In this tutorial, you’ll do the following:
Install Liquibase on macOS.
Set up the example environment.
Add a new column to an existing table.
Before you begin:
Install Java. You can verify that you have Java installed by running `java -version` in a terminal window.
Be sure your computer meets the necessary hardware and software requirements for running Liquibase.
Install Liquibase on macOS
Procedure
Function 1 directions are featured within this supporting copy body of text lorem ipsum doler est conestur doler ira ispum doler est consectur doler est impum doler est.
Install Liquibase
Liquibase works on Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
Liquibase is also available in a Docker image via Docker Hub. Since installation is unnecessary, you should be able to pull the Liquibase Docker image into your setup using the docker pull liquibase command and then run Liquibase using one of the docker run commands provided in the Docker Hub
If using Liquibase Docker image, skip down to "2. Apply the Liquibase Pro License Key" section. We can also provide links to the Dockerfile if you want to customize the official Liquibase Docker image and host it internally in your private Docker image repository.
Download the latest Liquibase release
The simplest way to install Liquibase is to download the liquibase-<version>.zip file from the Liquibase GitHub releases page using the latest tag https://github.com/liquibase/liquibase/releases/latest Scroll to the Assets section for the liquibase-<version>.zip file and download to your local machine.
Extract the zip file to a local directory
Extract the contents to a local directory. For example:
In Linux, extract the zip file into /opt/liquibase/liquibase-<version> directory.
In Windows, extract the zip file into the C:\liquibase\liquibase-<version> directory.
In MacOS, extract the zip file into ~/liquibase/liquibase-<version> directory.
Create a symbolic link to Liquibase
By creating a symbolic link to the latest version of Liquibase, DevOps engineers can control which version of Liquibase is executed at install time. This method allows the pipeline maintainer to link a specific version of Liquibase, reducing confusion.
Linux/Mac
# Create a symbolic directory link named /opt/liquibase/liquibase to
# the /opt/liquibase/liquibase-<version> directory
sudo ln -sf ./liquibase-<version> ./liquibaseWindows
# Create a symbolic directory link named C:\liquibase\liquibase to
# the C:\liquibase\liquibase-<version> directory
mklink /d C:\liquibase\liquibase C:\liquibase\liquibase-<version>Update the path environment variable
Once the Liquibase file is unzipped, ensure the PATH environment variable is updated to point to the “liquibase” symbolic link. Restart the shell session to load the new changes.
Linux/Mac
# If installed in /opt/liquibase/liquibase-4.29.2 with a symbolic
# link created previously at /opt/liquibase/liquibase, then
export PATH=/opt/liquibase/liquibase:$PATHWindows
# If installed in C:\liquibase\liquibase-4.29.2 with a symbolic link
# created previously at C:\liquibase\liquibase, then
SET PATH=C:\liquibase\liquibase;%PATH%Apply the Liquibase Pro license key
If you have your Liquibase Pro license key, follow the instructions on the documentation page to apply the Pro key.
Add the following line to liquibase.properties file:
liquibase.licenseKey: YouRKeyHere.
Add the following argument to the docker run command:
docker run --env LIQUIBASE_LICENSE_KEY=<enter license key here> -it liquibase:latest update
You can also obtain a Liquibase Pro 30-day trial license key here.
Install drivers
The Liquibase installation already comes with JDBC drivers for popular database platforms such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Snowflake, and H2. If you are working with a different Liquibase-supported database, visit the Liquibase Database Tutorials documentation page to download the JDBC driver specific to your database.
Validate the Liquibase Pro install and license key
You can validate the Liquibase Pro install and check for the Pro license key locally. Run the liquibase --version command to ensure Liquibase can access the Pro key. You should also see the drivers related to your database type(s). If using the Docker image, run the following docker run command:
docker run --env LIQUIBASE_LICENSE_KEY=<your license key here> -it liquibase:latest --version
Below is an example output:
Code Example
> liquibase --version
Starting Liquibase at 16:28:35 using Java 11.0.16.1 (version 4.29.1 #3316 built at 2024-07-30 20:15+0000)
Liquibase Home: /Users/adeelmalik/Desktop/LiquibaseHub/liquibase-4.29.1
Java Home /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.16.1.jdk/Contents/Home (Version 11.0.16.1)
Libraries:
- internal/lib/commons-collections4.jar: Apache Commons Collections 4.4.0 By The Apache Software Foundation
- internal/lib/commons-io.jar: Apache Commons IO 2.16.1 By The Apache Software Foundation
- internal/lib/commons-lang3.jar: Apache Commons Lang 3.14.0 By The Apache Software Foundation
- internal/lib/commons-text.jar: Apache Commons Text 1.12.0 By The Apache Software Foundation
- internal/lib/h2.jar: H2 Database Engine 2.2.224 By H2 Group
- internal/lib/hsqldb.jar: HSQLDB 2.7.3 By The HSQL Development Group
- internal/lib/jaxb-api.jar: jaxb-api 2.3.1 By Oracle Corporation
- internal/lib/jaxb-core.jar: JAXB Core 4.0.5 By Eclipse Foundation
- internal/lib/jaxb-runtime.jar: JAXB Runtime 4.0.5 By Eclipse Foundation
- internal/lib/jcc.jar: IBM JCC DBC 4 Driver 1.4.0 By IBM
- internal/lib/liquibase-commercial.jar: Commercial Liquibase Functionality 4.29.1 By Liquibase
- internal/lib/mariadb-java-client.jar: mariadb-java-client 3.3.3 By mariadb.com
- internal/lib/mssql-jdbc.jar: Microsoft JDBC Driver for SQL Server 12.6.1 By Microsoft Corporation
- internal/lib/ojdbc8.jar: JDBC 19.23.0.0.0 By Oracle Corporation
- internal/lib/opencsv.jar: opencsv 5.9.0
- internal/lib/picocli.jar: picocli 4.7.6 By Remko Popma
- internal/lib/postgresql.jar: PostgreSQL JDBC Driver 42.7.3 By PostgreSQL Global Development Group
- internal/lib/slf4j-api.jar: slf4j-api 1.7.36 By SLF4J.ORG
- internal/lib/slf4j-simple.jar: slf4j-simple 1.7.36 By SLF4J.ORG
- internal/lib/snakeyaml.jar: SnakeYAML 2.2.0
- internal/lib/snowflake-jdbc.jar: snowflake-jdbc 3.16.1
- internal/lib/sqlite-jdbc.jar: SQLite JDBC 3.46.0.0
Liquibase Version: 4.29.1
Liquibase Pro 4.29.1 by Liquibase licensed to Liquibase_CustomerXYZ until Wed Dec 31 22:59:59 CST 2025More like this Article
Learn Liquibase, level up your learning, and stand out as a subject matter expert with certifications and digital credentials.
