Mac OS X - Reset MySQL Root Password – RDB IT Support

Have you forgotten your Mac OS X 'ROOT' password and need to reset it? Follow these 4 simple steps:

1. Stop the mysqld server.

Typically this can be done by from 'System Prefrences' > MySQL > 'Stop MySQL Server'

On macOS Sierra & OS to start/stop/restart MySQL post 5.7 from the command line:

sudo launchctl load -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist
sudo launchctl unload -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

On OS X to start/stop/restart MySQL pre 5.7 from the command line:

sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start
sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop
sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server restart

2. Start the server in safe mode with privilege bypass

From a terminal:

sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables

3. In a new terminal window:

For MySQL older than MySQL 5.7 use:

UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('your-password') WHERE User='root';

For MySQL 5.7+ use:

USE mysql;
UPDATE mysql.user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD("your-password") WHERE User='root';
Refresh and quit:
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
\q

4. Stop the mysqld server again and restart it in normal mode.