How to Change or Reset MySQL Root User Password On CentOS

If you are forgot the MySQL server root password easily update it. This post sections provide password-resetting steps on Linux system.

MySQL provide an option "--skip-grant-tables" restart or update new password, This option is insecure. Using this anyone able to connect without password and with all privileges and disables ALTER user and SET PASSWORD.

Note : 

MySQL 5.7.6 and later Version:

mysql >  ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'root-password';

MySQL 5.7.5 and earlier Version:

mysql >  SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('root-password');

Stop the MySQL server if necessary,
 

Stopping mysqld:             [  OK  ]

mysqld_safe command to start mysql server with --skip-grant-tables,
 

[1] 6010

 150529 18:06:39 mysqld_safe Logging to '/var/log/mysqld.log'.

150529 18:06:39 mysqld_safe Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql

Enter into MySQL Server,
 

Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.

Your MySQL connection id is 2

Server version: 5.7.7-rc MySQL Community Server (GPL)



Copyright (c) 2000, 2015, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.



Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its

affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective

owners.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

Now, reset password,

mysql >  FLUSH PRIVILEGES;



mysql >  ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'root-password';



mysql >  exit

Finally, stop and start the MySQL server again,
 

150529 18:08:05 mysqld_safe mysqld from pid file /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid ended

Stopping mysqld:                                           [  OK  ]

[1]+  Done                    mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables

 
Now, try to login with new password,
 

Enter password: 

mysql> show databases;

+--------------------+

| Database           |

+--------------------+

| information_schema |

| mysql              |

| performance_schema |

| sys                |

+--------------------+

4 rows in set (0.01 sec)