MySQL changing authentication type from standard to caching_sha2_password

I had the same problem today. The only way I found to fix it was:

1. executing the install file
2. select "Reconfigure" over the mysql server
3. In Authentication Method tab, select "Use Legacy Authentication Method"

It should fix your problem.

Reset the user password with mysql_native_password

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password' PASSWORD EXPIRE NEVER; ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY '{NewPassword}';

Run

mysql> CREATE USER ‘username’@‘localhost’ IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY ‘password’;

For those of you that are using MySQL Workbench 8.0 CE and still struggling, the following worked for me:

1. Under Navigator, click on Administration Administration under Navigator preview, then select Options File.
2. Administration - Options File will open. Under the security tab, scroll down until you see "default authentication plugin". Mine was on caching_sha2_password. Changing it to mysql_native_password, clicking apply and restarting MySQL Workbench worked for me.

Administration - Options File preview

I had to delete and re-add the user. It did not automatically change the user's authentication type back to caching_sha2_password, it kept it on standard.