Reset a MySQL root password for Debian

Use the following steps to reset a MySQL root password by using the command line interface.

Stop the MySQL service
(Ubuntu and Debian) Run the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

(CentOS, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux) Run the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop

Start MySQL without a password
Run the following command. The ampersand (&) at the end of the command is required.

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

Connect to MySQL
Run the following command:

mysql -uroot

Set a new MySQL root password
Run the following command:

use mysql;
update user set password=PASSWORD("mynewpassword") where User='root';
flush privileges;
quit

Stop and start the MySQL service
(Ubuntu and Debian) Run the following commands:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
...
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start

(CentOS, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux) Run the following commands:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop
...
sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld start

Log in to the database
Test the new password by logging in to the database.

mysql -u root -p

You are prompted for your new password.