“Understand and resolve MySQL error: SET PASSWORD for 'root'@'localhost' with insights on the importance of ALTER USER for authentication method adjustments.”
If you encounter the error "SET PASSWORD has no significance for user 'root'@'localhost'" in MySQL, it suggests an issue with the authentication method used for the 'root' user. This problem often arises when MySQL is using the caching_sha2_password plugin, which doesn't store authentication data in the MySQL server.
To resolve this issue, consider using the ALTER USER statement to update the authentication method for the 'root' user. Here's a step-by-step solution:
Step 1: Access MySQL
Open a terminal and access the MySQL shell with the following command:
mysql -u root -p
Enter your MySQL root password when prompted.
Step 2: Check Current Authentication Method
Run the following query to check the current authentication method for the 'root' user:
SELECT user, host, plugin FROM mysql.user WHERE user = 'root';
If the plugin is set to 'caching_sha2_password', proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Update Authentication Method with ALTER USER
Use the ALTER USER statement to update the authentication method for the 'root' user. Replace 'your_new_password' with the desired password:
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'your_new_password';
Step 4: Confirm Changes
Run the following query to confirm the changes:
SELECT user, host, plugin FROM mysql.user WHERE user = 'root';
The plugin should now be set to 'mysql_native_password'.
Step 5: Exit MySQL Shell
Exit the MySQL shell:
EXIT;
Step 6: Restart MySQL Service
Restart the MySQL service for the changes to take effect:
sudo systemctl restart mysql
Now, you should have successfully resolved the "SET PASSWORD" error by updating the authentication method for the 'root' user using ALTER USER. This ensures compatibility with authentication plugins like 'mysql_native_password'.
