If you’ve forgotten your MySQL root password on XAMPP, don’t worry — it can easily be reset. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you reset the password and regain access to your MySQL server.

Step 1: Stop the MySQL Service

First, you need to stop the MySQL service. This will prevent any conflicts while resetting the password.

1. Open XAMPP Control Panel.
2. Click on the Stop button next to MySQL.

Step 2: Start MySQL in Safe Mode

Next, we’ll run MySQL without loading the privilege tables, allowing us to reset the password.

1. Open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the XAMPP directory. This is typically located at C:\xampp (for Windows users).
2. Navigate to the MySQL folder within XAMPP:

cd C:\xampp\mysql\bin

Run the following command to start MySQL in safe mode:

mysqld --skip-grant-tables

1. This command starts MySQL without loading the authentication system, which allows you to change the password without entering the current one.

Step 3: Log in to MySQL

Now that MySQL is running in safe mode, you can log in without a password.

1. Open another command prompt or terminal window.
2. Log into MySQL with the following command:

mysql -u root

1. You should now be logged into the MySQL prompt.

Step 4: Reset the Password

Once you’re logged into MySQL, follow these steps to reset the root password:

1. Select the mysql database:

use mysql;

Update the root user’s password using this query. Replace newpassword with the password you want to set:

UPDATE user SET password=PASSWORD('newpassword') WHERE user='root';

Note: If you’re using MySQL 5.7 or newer, the query to change the password may look like this instead:

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'newpassword';

tep 5: Restart MySQL

Now that the password has been reset, exit MySQL and restart the MySQL service in XAMPP:

1. Exit MySQL:

exit;

1. Go back to the XAMPP Control Panel.
2. Start MySQL again by clicking Start next to MySQL.

Step 6: Log in with the New Password

Now that MySQL is running with the new root password, you can log in as usual.

1. Open a command prompt or terminal.
2. Log in using the new password:

mysql -u root -p