Stop the MySQL process
# service mysqld stop
Once MySQL has stopped, restart it with the --skip-grant-tables option
# mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
or edit your /etc/my.cnf file to add the line
skip-grant-tables
Connect to MySQL using the root user.
mysql -u root
Once logged in, you should see the following prompt:
mysql>
Enter the following commands:
mysql> use mysql;
mysql> UPDATE user SET password=PASSWORD("YOUR NEW PASSWORD HERE") WHERE User='root';
mysql> flush privileges;
mysql> quit
Now stop MySQL again:
# service mysqld stop
If you edited your /etc/my.cnf file, delelete the skip-grant-tables line.
Now restart MySQL and test your new login.
# service mysqld restart
# mysql -u root -p
