MySQL Error: : 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'

Question

Consider:

./mysqladmin -u root -p** '_redacted_'  

Output (including typing the password):

Enter password:

mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed error:
'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)'

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

1. Open and edit /etc/my.cnf or /etc/mysql/my.cnf, depending on your distribution.
2. Add skip-grant-tables under [mysqld]
3. Restart MySQL
4. You should be able to log in to MySQL now using the below command mysql -u root -p
5. Run mysql> flush privileges;
6. Set new password by ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'NewPassword';
7. Go back to /etc/my.cnf and remove/comment skip-grant-tables
8. Restart MySQL
9. Now you will be able to login with the new password mysql -u root -p