How do I change the password of the root user in MySQL?

Question

I have long since forgotten the password for the root user on one of my boxes. Is there a way I can change it without having to log in to the instance, or will I have to rei

Answer 1

Step 1

Stop database:

shell> /etc/init.d/mysql stop

Step 2

Restart database

• without password autentification
• without connection to the network

Access to database is only possible through it's sock file '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock'.

shell> mysqld --user=mysql --pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/mysqld.pid \
       --socket=/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock --datadir=/var/lib/mysql \
       --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking  &

Step 3

Connect to the database and change password:

shell> mysql --database mysql --socket=/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

If you want to, show all users:

mysql> select User, password from user;

Set new password:

mysql> update user set password=password('NEW PASS') WHERE User='USERNAME';

Leave database connection:

mysql> exit

Step 4

Restart database server "normally".

shell> kill `cat /var/lib/mysql/mysqld.pid`
shell> /etc/init.d/mysql start