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gAMBOOKa
Asked: 2012-01-25 22:12:13 +0800 CST

MySQL wants a password but it's empty

  • 772
mysql -uroot
ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)

mysql -uroot -p
Enter password:       <-- leave blank, hit enter without entering anything

mysql>                <-- i am logged in

NOTE: This is a new mysql instance installation

So if the password is blank, why won't it log me in without a -p flag?

For a little clarification. I am running into this issue when attempting to change the password using a script:

We're using a bash script to do that.

  • mysqladmin -u root password abc wouldn't work (access denied)
  • mysqladmin -u root -p password abc cannot be used because it prompts for a password and we need to automate this.
  • mysqladmin -u root -p'' password abc is not working either
linux centos mysql authentication password

3 Answers

  1. it's a default behavior for blank password.There is nothing wrong with it.

    To allow yourself to log in to MySQL without having to type a password at the prompt, add your password to a file called .my.cnf in your home directory.

    [client]
user=root
password=

    Now change the permission of .my.cnf file to either 400 or 600.

    chmod 400 .my.cnf

    OR

    chmod 600 .my.cnf

    Now 

    mysql

    command will automatically log you in.

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  2. It's sending a password, despite not being given one; it's getting that from somewhere.

    Check for a file at ~/.my.cnf.

    But, set a password for your root user ASAP - unless you're perhaps being logged in anonymously (select current_user();)?

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  3. Because MySQL is set to use password auth, and if you don't provide the password on the command invocation (leaving it at "-p"), it would prompt you to then enter your MySQL password.

    It may be easier to think of your password as being a carriage-return rather than being blank

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