Enable passwordless access to MySQL

Solution 1:

Personally, I think instead it's better to set a password and save it in /root/.my.cnf:

First:

mysqladmin -u root password 'asdfghjkl'

Then edit root's .my.cnf file:

[client]
password = asdfghjkl

Make sure to chmod 0600 .my.cnf.

Now you have a password but you're no longer prompted for it. My default MySQL server install is a totally random unique password for each MySQL server, saved in the .my.cnf file like this.

Solution 2:

Yes, less passwords can be a good thing. But don't just open the database for everybody.

via unix_socket:

grant usage on *.* to 'root'@'localhost' identified via unix_socket;

This gives you passwordless mysql acces for a locally logged in root user. Btw. this is the default in recent ubuntu / debian releases.

some_user@box: mysql -u root  # denied
root@box: mysql               # good
some_user@box: sudo mysql     # good, if "some_user" has sudo rights.

Explanatory slides: https://www.slideshare.net/ottokekalainen/less-passwords-more-security-unix-socket-authentication-and-other-mariadb-hardening-tips.

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Solution 3:

If you DO have a password set for MySQL, follow the instructions at Recover MySQL root Password, and then set your password to null:

For 5.7.6 and later

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'MyNewPass'

For 5.7.5 and earlier

update user set password=PASSWORD("") where User='root';

* needs a DB restart (see instructions at the link) for this to take effect.

sudo service mysql restart

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Solution 4:

You can also do:

grant all privileges on *.* to 'root'@'localhost' identified by '';

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Solution 5:

I'm pretty sure that by default there is no password if your the admin user and accessing it locally. Are you finding something different than that?

Does this work?

#> mysqladmin -u root password ''