Connections
In Desktop, you can connect to both local and remote instances. For local instances, the connection is established when you start the instance, but for remote instances, you need to specify connection details.
Remote connections
You can connect to Neo4j instances/DBMSs that are running remotely, including Neo4j Aura instances. From the sidebar, under Data services, you find Remote connections. To add a remote connection, use the button and provide the following:
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Protocol - select the one suitable for your environment.
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Connection URL - where your remote instance is located.
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Database user - for the remote instance.
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Password - for the remote instance.
Once you have added a remote connection, it is listed as an instance card, just like your local instances.
Connecting tools
As mentioned in Connect tools, you can connect directly to either of the tools using the Connect dropdown on a running instance.
This action connects the selected tool to the default database (neo4j, unless otherwise specified).
Once in Query or Explore (or Import), you’ll see the connection bar towards the top of your screen. This allows you to switch not only which database to connect to, but also which instance and user.
As mentioned, you can only have one instance running and therefore, if you opt to switch instance from the connection bar, you need to stop the currently connected instance and start the one you want to connect to. Options for this are presented as the next step after selecting Switch instance. You can choose to connect to a different local instance or a remote instance (see Remote connections above for more information). For local instances, use the play button to start the instance you want to switch to, this automatically stops the currently connected one.
For remote instances, enter the credentials and then Connect.