How to change the MySQL root account password on CentOS7?

 

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;

for 5.7.6 and later, you should use 

mysql> ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'MyNewPass';

mysql> quit

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

Try to login using your new password:

7. mysql -u root -p