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

Question

In my server, everytime I try to access MySQL I get the error:

Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

when I try mysqladmin -u root -p password I get

Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)

How can I access MySQL in my Ubuntu server 12.04?

Solution 1

If you're running n localhost, just type the command below in terminal:

mysql -u root -p

If you're using an external server, enter the host IP (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) as well:

mysql -hxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -uroot -p

You will be prompted for your password, enter it and you will be able to access your MySQL prompt.

You can also look at this answer on how to reset your MySQL password.

Solution 2

I get the same symptoms when I update, but for me the fix (after killing mysql and restarting with --skip-grant-tables to get in) is to execute

update mysql.user set plugin = '';

The update process likes to set this column to "unix_socket". I don't know what that is supposed to accomplish, but for me it breaks everything.

Solution 3

The same as Ulrich Metzger, after upgrading my machine to Ubuntu 16.04 and Mysql-server-5.7, I couldn't log in with root because the plugin column changed.

My problem was not solved with sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.7 + removing + purging + cleaning.

I had to stop the mysql service:

# sudo service mysql stop

Then restart the mysql daemon with the --no-grant-tables option:

# sudo mysqld_safe --no-grant-tables &

Then in another terminal, enter the mysql console (which now doesn't need authentication) with the command mysql, and update the password and plugin columns via a SQL UPDATE:

UPDATE mysql.user 
  SET authentication_string=PASSWORD(''), 
      plugin='mysql_native_password'
WHERE User='root' AND Host='localhost';

Finally, kill the mysqld_safe command, restart mysql service and connect to mysql normally:

# sudo service mysql start
# mysql

Solution 4

I solved my problem with this:

sudo apt-get remove --purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean
sudo apt install mysql-server

Be extremely responsible. With this solution, you are removing MySql server and all of its data.

Solution 5

Set a password for mysql

sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.x

Now open the terminal and type

mysql -uroot -p

give password and press enter

View more solutions

Comments

[Amias]

Try to avoid typing your password as a parameter on the command line, other users can find it via process listings. Much better to type it direct into the program or use a key

[Melebius]

The syntax -p password is wrong, it has to be -ppassword but is not recommended. More info: stackoverflow.com/questions/5131931/…

[Rathish Kumar B]

Check this page for possible causes of this error and workarounds to fix this error. rathishkumar.in/2017/04/…. It may help you.

[user253867]

i got in but i still don't know how to change or chose a password

[Parto]

In the answer I linked to, you have to replace the 5.x at the end with the version of the MySQL server you're using. I'm using 5.5 so my command will be sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.5

[onalbi]

This solve my problem on Ubuntu 16 LTS, after trying everything.. permissions, group user. Thanx.

[phil294]

so, the problem is that OP sees Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'. You suggest calling mysql -u root -p. The result of this command is: Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'.

[TheVillageIdiot]

yes, I had run hardening script and it changed the plugin to mysql_socket so whatever I was set to using PASSWORD('xxxxxx'), was not working.

[Ivan Black]

Doesn't work for me.

[Ivan Black]

sudo mysql -u root -p works for me, but mysql -u root -p does not

[Matiss]

!! Be extremely responsible. With this solution you are removing MySql server and all of it's data.

[SteveFromAccounting]

This is the one that's worked for me, and seems to be the root of the problem. Uninstalling and reinstalling won't do anything to fix the "problem".

[Rodrigo]

"...and you will be able to access your MySQL prompt." No, we're not!

[Bruno Leveque]

This was the only solution which worked for me! However, there's a typo, I had to use --skip-grant-tables instead of --no-grant-tables