How to Reset and Recover MySQL or MariaDB Root Password on SystemD Linux

This article will come in handy. We will explain how to reset or recover forgottent MySQL or MariaDB root password in Linux. If you forgot root password for your MySQL database server running under Linux, there is still a way to reset mysql root password using this commands. In order to recover the password, you simply have to follow these steps:

1. Stop mysql:

systemctl stop mysqld

2. Set the mySQL environment option

systemctl set-environment MYSQLD_OPTS="--skip-grant-tables"

3. Start mysql usig the options you just set

systemctl start mysqld

4. Login as root

mysql -u root

5. Update the root user password with these mysql commands

mysql> UPDATE mysql.user SET authentication_string = PASSWORD('MyNewPassword') WHERE User = 'root' AND Host = 'localhost';
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
mysql> quit

replace MyNewPassword with actual password

6. Stop mysql

systemctl stop mysqld

7. Unset the mySQL envitroment option so it starts normally next time

systemctl unset-environment MYSQLD_OPTS

8. Start mysql normally:

systemctl start mysqld

Now Try to login using your new password:

mysql -u root -p