How to Reset the MySQL Root Password

Follow the steps below if you have forgotten your mysql root password and wish to reset it.

1.  Create a text file with the following information in it.

UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD(’NEW_PASSWORD’) WHERE User=’root’;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Replace “NEW_PASSWORD” with your desired mysql password.  Save the file to /etc/mysql-pass-reset

2.  Stop MySQL

/etc/init.d/mysqld stop

3.  Start mysqld_safe with the –init-file option like so:

mysqld_safe –init-file=/etc/mysql-pass-reset &

This will start mysql and execute the query in the text file you created.

4.  Now stop and start mysql back up normally without the –init-file option.

/etc/init.d/mysqld stop
/etc/init.d/mysqld start

Don’t forget to delete the “mysql-pass-reset” file when you are done!

rm /etc/mysql-pass-reset