✅ How to Recover the MySQL 8.0 root Password on Ubuntu

If you forget the MySQL 8.0 root password on Ubuntu, you can reset it by starting MySQL with skip-grant-tables. Below is the safest method with commands you can copy and run directly.

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Step 1: Stop the MySQL Service

sudo systemctl stop mysql

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Step 2: Start MySQL with Skip-Grant-Tables (No Password Required)

Create a temporary directory (MySQL 8.0 requires a writable directory):

sudo mkdir /var/run/mysqld sudo chown mysql:mysql /var/run/mysqld

Then start MySQL while skipping the grant tables:

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &

Explanation:

* --skip-grant-tables skips password verification

* --skip-networking disables network access for added security

* mysqld_safe keeps MySQL running in the background

Wait a few seconds until you see “ready for connections”.

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Step 3: Log Into MySQL Without a Password

mysql -u root

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Step 4: Refresh Privileges and Reset the root Password

Run the following inside the MySQL shell:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'new_password';

For example:

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'MyNewPass123!';

If you prefer MySQL’s default caching_sha2_password (default in MySQL 8):

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'MyNewPass123!';

Finish with:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Then exit:

exit;

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Step 5: Kill mysqld_safe and Restore Normal Service

Find the mysqld_safe PID:

ps aux |
grep mysqld

Terminate it:

sudo kill -9 PID

Then start MySQL normally:

sudo systemctl start mysql

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Step 6: Test Login

mysql -u root -p

Enter the new password you just set.

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🔧 Common Issues

❗ 1. Error: Access denied

This means privileges weren’t refreshed. Run:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

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❗ 2. mysqld_safe Cannot Be Started

Some Ubuntu systemd installations don’t include mysqld_safe. You can start MySQL manually:

sudo mysqld --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking --user=mysql &

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