Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: MySQL reinstalling gives error

MySQL reinstall error fix

Quick Answer: Check MySQL configuration files for root user permissions and update them accordingly.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)' occurs when the MySQL root user is unable to connect to the server, despite providing the correct password. This issue affects users who have installed MySQL on their system and are trying to access it using the root user.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents users from accessing their MySQL database, which can lead to data loss or corruption. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this issue and successfully install MySQL.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the password set during the installation process may not be correct. When the MySQL server starts, it creates a new user with a random password and stores it in the authentication file. If the provided password does not match this stored password, the root user will not be able to connect to the server.
  • Another possible reason is that the MySQL server is running on a non-standard port, or the socket path is incorrect. In some cases, the installation process may have used a different configuration option, which can lead to authentication issues.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Check and update the password

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check the stored password in the MySQL authentication file. The location of this file varies depending on the Linux distribution being used. On Ubuntu-based systems, it is usually located at /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf or /etc/mysql/my.cnf.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Use the command 'mysqladmin -u root -p status' to check the stored password. If the provided password does not match the stored password, update the password using the command 'mysqladmin -u root password '.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Restart the MySQL server after updating the password to ensure it takes effect.

Check and correct socket path or port

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check the current socket path used by the MySQL server. The default socket path is usually /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock, but it can vary depending on the installation process.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: If the socket path is incorrect or non-standard, update the configuration file to use the correct path. On Ubuntu-based systems, edit the /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf file and change the socket path as needed.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)' error, you can try checking and updating the password or correcting the socket path or port. If neither of these methods work, it is recommended to reinstall MySQL using a fresh installation process.

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