By default, MySQL Server will be installed with root superuser without any password. You can connect to MySQL server as root without requiring password or by keying in blank password. However, if you have set the password for root and forget or unable to recall the password, then you will need to reset the root password for MySQL.

Login as root to the Unix-like (Unix, Linux or BSD) machine with the MySQL server.

Stop the MySQL server by using either of the following command

#/etc/init.d/mysql stop

Now you need to Start MySQL server without the password

# mysqld_safe –skip-grant-tables &

Connect to the mysql server using mysql client with the following command

# mysql -u root

Now you should have a mysql prompt

mysql>

Now you need to Setup a new MySQL root user password

mysql> use mysql;
mysql> update user set password=PASSWORD(”newrootpassword”) where user=’root’;
mysql> flush privileges;
mysql> quit

Note: Replace newrootpassword with the new root password for MySQL server. Flush Privileges is needed to making the password change effect immediately.

Now you need to Stop MySQL Server by using the following command

# /etc/init.d/mysql stop

Test Your New Mysql root password
First you need to start mysql server using the following command

# /etc/init.d/mysql start
# mysql -u root -p

Now it will prompt for root password and enter your new root password

Tags | Databases, Disaster Recovery