How to Change the MySQL root Password on Mac OS

Step 1: Stop MySQL service: Typically this can be done from ‘System Preferences‘ > MySQL > ‘Stop MySQL Server‘

Step 2: Skipping Access Tables: Run the server in safe mode with privilege bypass.If you have installed MySQL5, fire up the Terminal window and execute

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables 

For older versions of MySQL, execute the following command

/usr/local/mysql/bin/safe_mysqld --skip-grant-tables

Step 3: Reset MySQL root password

Now when safe_mysqld running in one Terminal window, open up another Terminal window and execute this command

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql mysql

This opening up the MySQL console and opening the MySQL table so we can update MySQL root user. Write the reset query into the console as follows:

1. For MySQL 5.7+

As of MySQL 5.7, the password field has been renamed authentication_string. When changing the password, use the following query to change the password.

mysql> UPDATE user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD("NEWPASSWORD") WHERE User='root';mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;mysql> quit

Change out NEWPASSWORD with whatever password you want. Should be all set!

2. For MySQL 5.6 and below:

mysql> UPDATE user SET password=PASSWORD("NEWPASSWORD") WHERE User='root'; mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES; mysql> quit

Change out NEWPASSWORD with whatever password you want. Should be all set!

Step 4: Restart MySQL service: Once you’ve done that just exit the console “exit;” close the safe_mysqld execution and restart your MySQL server. Typically this can be done from ‘System Preferences‘ > MySQL > ‘Start MySQL Server‘