How do I find out my root MySQL password?

Question

I just installed MySQL on Ubuntu and the root user can't log in :)

How can I recover or find out my password? Using blank for password does not work.

Answer 1

You can reset the root password by running the server with --skip-grant-tables and logging in without a password by running the following as root (or with sudo):

# service mysql stop # mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables & $ mysql -u root 

mysql> use mysql; mysql> update user set authentication_string=PASSWORD("YOUR-NEW-ROOT-PASSWORD") where User='root'; mysql> flush privileges; mysql> quit 

# service mysql stop # service mysql start $ mysql -u root -p 

Now you should be able to login as root with your new password.

It is also possible to find the query that reset the password in /home/$USER/.mysql_history or /root/.mysql_history of the user who reset the password, but the above will always work.

Note: prior to MySQL 5.7 the column was called password instead of authentication_string. Replace the line above with

mysql> update user set password=PASSWORD("YOUR-NEW-ROOT-PASSWORD") where User='root';