phpMyAdmin says no privilege to create database, despite logged in as root user

Login using the system maintenance user and password created when you installed phpMyAdmin.
It can be found in the debian.cnf file at /etc/mysql then you will have total access.

sudo nano /etc/mysql/debian.cnf

Just look - don't change anything!

[mysql_upgrade]
host     = localhost
user     = debian-sys-maint       <----use this user
password = s0meRaND0mChar$s       <----use this password
socket   = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock

Worked for me.

If you are using Chrome. try some other browser. there where previous posts on this issue saying that phpmyadmin didnot provide privileges for root on chrome.

or try this

name: root

password: password