[MySQL/MariaDB] Reset MySQL Root Password

Reset Root Password in MySQL(MariaDB)

Let's check how to Reset Root Password for MySQL or MariaDB.

The script can be slightly different depending on OS and MySQL Editions.

Stop current running MySQL(MariaDB)

OS: Red Hat, Centos etc. DB: MySQL

sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop

OS: Ubuntu, Debian. DB: MariaDB

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

-- OR 

sudo service mysql stop

-- OR

sudo systemctl stop mysql

Start MySQL(MariaDB) skipping permission check

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

Note! From MySQL 8.0, you need to use "--init-file" option instead. From MariaDB 10.4, this way will not work.

Set new Password for Root User

Connect to MySQL without a password.

mysql -uroot

Update Root Password.

UPDATE mysql.user
SET
  authentication_string=PASSWORD("<new strong password>")
WHERE User='root';

-- OR

UPDATE mysql.user
SET
  PASSWORD=PASSWORD("<new strong password>")
WHERE User='root';

-- OR 
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY VIA mysql_native_password USING PASSWORD('<new strong password');

Apply changes.

flush privileges;

Exit from MySQL

quit;

Stop & Start MySQL(MariaDB)

OS: Red Hat, Centos etc. DB: MySQL

sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop

sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld start

OS: Ubuntu, Debian. DB: MariaDB

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

-- OR 
sudo service mysql stop

-- OR
sudo systemctl stop mysql

And

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start

-- OR 
sudo service mysql start

-- OR
sudo systemctl start mysql

Connect to MySQL(MariaDB) with the new password

mysql -u root -p

References

• MySQL mysqld_safe
• MariaDB mysqld_safe
• Authentication from MariaDB 10.4