What is the Default Username and Password?

The default user for MySQL is root and by default it has no password.

This applies to MySQL 5.7, 8.0 and the latest 8.4 release.

If you set a password for MySQL and you can’t recall it, you can always reset it and choose another one.

Windows

1. Make sure that MySQL Server is not running. Open Task Manager, search for the MySQL process and force stop it.

2. Create a new text file that will contain the statement below:

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password';

-- or, for older versions:

    SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('new_password');

Replace the password with the new one

3. Save the file with the mysql-init name in C:. The path should look like this:

    C:\mysql-init.txt
   

4. Open the Start menu, enter Run then write cmd to open the command prompt

5. Go to the MySQL server bin folder

    cd "C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.4\bin"
   

   If you installed MySQL with a different path, adjust the cd

6. Run it with the mysql-init file

    mysqld --init-file=C:\\mysql-init.txt
   

   If MySQL was installed using the Wizard, add the defaults file command:

    mysqld
          --defaults-file="C:\\ProgramData\\MySQL\\MySQL Server 8.4\\my.ini"
          --init-file=C:\\mysql-init.txt
   

7. After MySQL server started, delete the mysql-init file.

General Method

Alternatively, you can use a more general method that works on every system, but it's less secure.

1. Stop MySQL

2. Restart it with the --skip-grant-tables option

    sudo /usr/sbin/mysqld --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &
   

3. Connect to MySQL server using the mysql client

    mysql -u root
   

4. Reload all grant tables by executing:

    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
   

5. Set the new password for your account:

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password'; -- or, in older versions: SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('new_password');

6. Stop the server and restart it normally. Now you should be able to connect using the root username and your new password.

Do You Need a Visual Design Tool for MySQL?

Working with root and passwords is only the first step. You can learn how to create a new user here.

If you want to design schemas visually, explore data, and generate documentation for MySQL, try DbSchema - a universal database designer.