MySQL - ERROR 1298 (HY000): Unknown or incorrect time zone: 'UTC'

Let`s assume have a MySQL 5.6 Server installed on a Windows machine.

and you get the error below when trying to set time_zone to 'UTC' 

or a different time zone, follow the steps below to resolve this issue.

SET time_zone = 'UTC';

ERROR 1298 (HY000): Unknown or incorrect time zone: 'UTC'

The issue is you do not have the time zones data installed,

to install the time zones on a Windows machine, you will need:

1) Download "timezone_2020a_posix.zip - POSIX standard"

     from https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/timezones.html

2) Stop the MySQL service

3) Extract the files from the downloaded file 

    and copy them with overwrite

    to C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\data\mysql

    

    Yes, to C:\ProgramData\.. and not to C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\...

4) Start the MySQL service

Enjoy:)