How to reset MySQL root password on RedHat/CentOS 7

Table of Contents

Reset MySQL root password

Use the following steps to reset MySQL root password by using the command line interface.

Step 1: Prerequisites

You must have (Linux) root or (Windows) Administrator access to the Cloud Server to reset the MySQL root password.

Step 2: Stop MySQL Service

You need to stop the mariadb service first using below command.

[root@localhost ~]# service mariadb stop
Redirecting to /bin/systemctl stop mariadb.service

Step 3: Start MySQL in Safe Mode

Run the following command. Do not forget to put ampersand (&) at the end of the command.

[root@localhost ~]# sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
[1] 27027
[root@localhost ~]# 191212 13:34:50 mysqld_safe Logging to '/var/log/mariadb/mariadb.log'.
191212 13:34:51 mysqld_safe Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql

Step 4: Connect to MySQL

Run the following command to connect to mysql:-

[root@localhost ~]# mysql -u root
Welcome to the MariaDB monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MariaDB connection id is 2
Server version: 10.1.20-MariaDB MariaDB Server

Copyright (c) 2000, 2016, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others.

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

MariaDB [(none)]>

Step 5: Set a new MySQL root password

Run the following command to reset mysql root password:-

MariaDB [(none)]> use mysql;
Reading table information for completion of table and column names
You can turn off this feature to get a quicker startup with -A

Database changed
MariaDB [mysql]> update user set authentication_string=PASSWORD("root@123$") where User='root';
Query OK, 4 rows affected (0.03 sec)
Rows matched: 4 Changed: 4 Warnings: 0

MariaDB [mysql]> flush privileges;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.24 sec)

MariaDB [mysql]> quit
Bye

Step 6: Stop and start the MySQL service

Stop mariadb service

[root@localhost ~]# service mariadb stop

Start mariadb service

[root@localhost ~]# service mariadb start

Step 7: Log in to the database

Test the new password by logging in to the database.

[root@localhost ~]# mysql -u root -p
Enter password:

Welcome to the MariaDB monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Server version: 10.1.20-MariaDB MariaDB Server

Copyright (c) 2000, 2016, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others.

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

MariaDB [(none)]>

Also Read: How to install MySQL 5.5 on CentOS

Reference: MySQL 5.5 Manual

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