Modify the MySQL administrator password

Change the MySQL root password

NOTE: When setting a new password, avoid the use of special characters or quotes, as this can sometimes cause issues when accessing the database through shell scripts.

Linux and Mac OS X

You can modify the MySQL password using the following command at the shell prompt. Replace the NEW_PASSWORD placeholder with the actual password you wish to set.

$ installdir/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -p -u root password NEW_PASSWORD

Windows

You can modify the MySQL password using the following command at the shell prompt. Replace the NEW_PASSWORD placeholder with the actual password you wish to set.

installdir\mysql\bin\mysqladmin.exe -p -u root password NEW_PASSWORD

Reset the MySQL root password

Linux and Mac OS X

If you don’t remember your MySQL root password, you can follow the steps below to reset it to a new value:

• Create a file in /tmp/mysql-init with the content shown below (replace NEW_PASSWORD with the password you wish to use).

  If your stack ships MySQL v5.7.x or MySQL v8.x, use this content:

  ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'NEW_PASSWORD';
  

  If your stack ships MySQL v5.6.x or earlier, use this content:

  UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('NEW_PASSWORD') WHERE User='root';
  FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
  

  TIP: Check the MySQL version with the command installdir/mysql/bin/mysqladmin --version or installdir/mysql/bin/mysqld \--version

• Stop the MySQL server:

  $ sudo installdir/ctlscript.sh stop mysql
  

• Start MySQL with the following command:

  If your stack ships MySQL v8.x, use this command:

  $ sudo installdir/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --pid-file=installdir/mysql/data/mysqld.pid --datadir=installdir/mysql/data --init-file=/tmp/mysql-init --lower_case_table_names=1 2> /dev/null &
  

  If your stack ships an older version of MySQL, use this command:

  $ sudo installdir/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --pid-file=installdir/mysql/data/mysqld.pid --datadir=installdir/mysql/data --init-file=/tmp/mysql-init 2> /dev/null &
  

• Restart the MySQL server:

  $ sudo installdir/ctlscript.sh restart mysql
  

• Remove the script:

  $ rm /tmp/mysql-init
  

Windows

If you don’t remember your MySQL root password, you can follow the steps below to reset it to a new value:

• Stop the MySQL server using the graphic manager tool. Learn how to start or stop the services.

• Check the MySQL version:

  installdir\mysql\bin\mysqladmin.exe --version
  

• Create a file named mysql-init.txt with the content shown below depending on your MySQL version (replace NEW_PASSWORD with the password you wish to use):

  • MySQL 5.7.x or MySQL 8.x:

    ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'NEW_PASSWORD';
    

  • MySQL 5.6.x or earlier:

    UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('NEW_PASSWORD') WHERE User='root';
    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
    

• Start MySQL server with the following command. Remember to replace PATH with the location in which you have saved the mysql-init.txt file:

  If your stack ships MySQL v8.x, use this command:

  installdir "installdir\mysql\bin\mysqld.exe" --defaults-file="installdir\mysql\my.ini" --init-file="\PATH\mysql-init.txt" --console --lower_case_table_names=1
  

  If your stack ships an older version of MySQL, use this command:

  installdir "installdir\mysql\bin\mysqld.exe" --defaults-file="installdir\mysql\my.ini" --init-file="\PATH\mysql-init.txt" --console
  

  • The --init file option is used by the server for executing the content of the mysql-init.txt file at startup, it will change each root account password.
  • The --defaults-file option is specified since you have installed MySQL using the Bitnami installer.
  • The --console option (optional) has been added in order to show the server output at the console window rather than in the log file.

• After some minutes, hit Ctrl-C to force the shutdown.

• Restart the MySQL server from the graphic manager tool.

• After the server has restarted successfully, delete the mysql-init.txt file.