How to Reset the MySQL or MariaDB Root Password

​

Before you start

• You need sudo or root on the Linux server. This guide resets the database root password, not your Linux login. For a lost Linux root password on a VPS, see reset your VPS root password.
• Websites lose database access for a minute or two during the reset. Do it at a quiet time.
• Take a snapshot or back up the data folder if you can.

​

Step 1: Try socket login first

sudo mariadb      # MySQL: sudo mysql

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED VIA unix_socket OR mysql_native_password USING PASSWORD('N3w-Root-Pass!');

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'N3w-Root-Pass!';

​

Step 2: Reset the password with skip-grant-tables

sudo nano /etc/mysql/conf.d/99-reset.cnf

sudo nano /etc/my.cnf.d/99-reset.cnf

[mysqld]
skip-grant-tables
skip-networking

sudo systemctl restart mariadb

sudo mariadb -u root      # MySQL: sudo mysql -u root

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED VIA unix_socket OR mysql_native_password USING PASSWORD('N3w-Root-Pass!');
EXIT;

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'N3w-Root-Pass!';
EXIT;

sudo rm /etc/mysql/conf.d/99-reset.cnf      # AlmaLinux / Rocky: /etc/my.cnf.d/99-reset.cnf
sudo systemctl restart mariadb

​

How to check it worked

mariadb -u root -p -h 127.0.0.1 -e "SELECT CURRENT_USER();"
# MySQL: mysql -u root -p -h 127.0.0.1 -e "SELECT CURRENT_USER();"

​

What if I cannot log in to the server at all?

​

Frequently asked questions

​

Why does the server not start after adding skip-grant-tables?

​

Can I reset a normal user’s password the same way?

​

Should root have a password at all?

​

Does resetting the root password delete any data?

​

Related guides