MySQL root password change

Question

I have been trying to reset my MySQL root password. I have run the mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables, updated the root password, and checked the user table to make sure it is

Answer 1

On MySQL 8.0.4+

To update current root user:

select current_user();
set password = 'new_password';

To update other user:

set password for 'otherUser'@'localhost' = 'new_password';

To set password policy before updating password:

set global validate_password.policy = 0;
set password = 'new_password';
set password for 'otherUser'@'localhost' = 'new_password';

Other / better way to update root password:

mysql_secure_installation

Want to stick with 5.x authentication so you can still use legacy apps?

On my.cnf

default_authentication_plugin = mysql_native_password

To update root:

set global validate_password.policy = 0;
alter user 'root'@'localhost' identified with mysql_native_password by 'new_password';