unable to reset root password of mysql

First please try using

mysql -u root -p

and enter your password (if you remember) at the prompt to login as the sql-root user (note the switch -p is for password).

If you really have to reset your root password for mysql, here's an easy way - reconfigure the package with dpkg-reconfigure.

Check the version of your mysql-server;
```
apt-cache policy mysql-server
```
and see for the line which shows the installed version among other information. e.g. for my install it's:
```
Installed: 5.5.37-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
```
(From this I know that I have mysql-server-5.5 installed in my system.)
Start the reconfiguration with:
```
sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-*.*
```
where mysql-server-*.* should be replaced by the version that you have. (for me it'd be mysql-server-5.5). This will stop the database daemon. A prompt will then appear where you'd have to enter your new password and confirm the reconfiguration.

The daemon will be automatically started after the reconfig completes.
You can then log in with:
```
mysql -u root -p
```
and start your database admin tasks.

References:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MysqlPasswordReset [Which would soon be cleaned up as indicated in the page.]
Ubuntu Server Guide related to your specific version.

Reference taken from this blog:

Step 1: Stop MySQL Service.

sudo service mysql stop

Step 2: Kill all running mysqld.

sudo killall -9 mysqld

Step 3: Starting mysqld in Safe mode.

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &

Step 4: Start mysql client

mysql -u root

Step 5: After successful login, please execute this command to change any password.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Step 6: You can update mysql root password .

UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('newpwd') WHERE User='root';

for mysql > 5.7 use this instead of above:

UPDATE mysql.user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD('newpwd') WHERE User='root';

Step 7: Please execute this command.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

exit

Step 9: Kill mysqld_safe and start mysql

sudo killall mysqld_safe && sudo service mysql start

Under Ubuntu 16.04 and mysql-server-5.7, the correct answer is the last comment of olafure, dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.7 no longer works.

sudo service mysql stop
sudo killall mysqld
sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &
mysql -u root

Now in mysql console >mysql

USE mysql;
UPDATE user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD('newpass') WHERE user='root';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
\q

Restart the good mysql process

sudo killall mysqld
sudo service mysql start

Check your new password

mysql -u root -p
Enter password: newpass
mysql>

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