How to reset or change the MySQL root password

1. Stop the MySQL Server.

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

2. Start the mysqld configuration.

sudo mysqld –skip-grant-tables &

3. Login to MySQL as root.

mysql -u root mysql

4. Replace YOURNEWPASSWORD with your new password!

UPDATE user SET Password=PASSWORD(‘YOURNEWPASSWORD’) WHERE User=’root’; FLUSH PRIVILEGES; exit;

http://stackoverflow.com/a/16556534/3703855