diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index 355c7f5aeeb..79ce36410f5 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -1,21 +1,24 @@
 version: build-{build}~branch-{branch}
 
-before_build:
-  - md %APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%\win_build
-  - cd %APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%\win_build
-  - cmake .. -DWITH_UNIT_TESTS=0 -DWITH_MARIABACKUP=0 -DMYSQL_MAINTAINER_MODE=ERR -DPLUGIN_ROCKSDB=NO -DPLUGIN_CONNECT=NO -DBISON_EXECUTABLE=C:\cygwin64\bin\bison
+clone_depth: 1
 
-build:
-  project: win_build\MySQL.sln
-  parallel: true
-  verbosity: minimal
-
-configuration: RelWithDebInfo
-platform: x64
+build_script:
+  # dump some system info
+  - echo  processor='%PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER%' , processor count= %NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
+  - cd %APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%
+  - mkdir _build
+  - cd _build
+  - set BUILD_TYPE=MinSizeRel
+  - set GENERATOR=-GNinja
+  - call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
+  - cmake -E time cmake %GENERATOR% .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=%BUILD_TYPE% -DMYSQL_MAINTAINER_MODE=ERR -DFAST_BUILD=1 -DBISON_EXECUTABLE=C:\cygwin64\bin\bison -DWITHOUT_DYNAMIC_PLUGINS=1 -DPLUGIN_PERFSCHEMA=NO -DPLUGIN_FEEDBACK=NO  -DWITH_UNIT_TESTS=0 -DWITH_MARIABACKUP=0
+  - set /A jobs=2*%NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
+  - cmake -E time cmake --build . -j %jobs% --config %BUILD_TYPE%
 
 test_script:
   - set PATH=C:\Strawberry\perl\bin;%PATH%;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64
-  - cd %APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%\win_build\mysql-test
-  - perl mysql-test-run.pl --force --max-test-fail=10 --parallel=4 --testcase-timeout=10 --suite=main
+  - cd %APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%\_build\mysql-test
+  - set /A parallel=4*%NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
+  - perl mysql-test-run.pl --force --max-test-fail=10 --retry=2 -parallel=%parallel% --testcase-timeout=3 --suite=main  --skip-test-list=%APPVEYOR_BUILD_FOLDER%\win\appveyor_skip_tests.txt --mysqld=--loose-innodb-flush-log-at-trx-commit=2
 
 image: Visual Studio 2019
diff --git a/win/appveyor_skip_tests.txt b/win/appveyor_skip_tests.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3f0a0874064
--- /dev/null
+++ b/win/appveyor_skip_tests.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+main.mysql_upgrade : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.mysqlslap : Takes long time
+mysql.upgrade_view : Takes long time
+main.check : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.mrr_icp_extra : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.derived_opt : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.trigger : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.index_merge_myisam : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.mysqldump : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.derived : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.multi_update : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.index_merge_innodb  : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.count_distinct2  : Takes long time on Appveyor
+main.mysqltest : Takes long time on Appveyor