1. cPanel & WHM Documentation
  2. WHM
  3. SQL Services
  4. MySQL Root Password
databases whmui mysql

MySQL Root Password

Valid for versions 82 through the latest version

Version:

82

Last modified: February 28, 2024

Overview

This interface allows you to set the MySQL® root password.

Warning:

  • Ensure that you set a complex password. If an attacker were to compromise this password, they would have access to any of your server’s databases.

  • By default, cPanel & WHM’s implementation of MySQL stores the MySQL root account password in the /root/.my.cnf configuration file. Do not edit this file manually.

Note:
  • You do not need to remember this password unless you plan to log in to MySQL as the root user.
  • In cPanel & WHM version 120 and later, we renamed this interface to Change Database Root Password and its section in the WHM interface to Database Services.

Create password

To set the MySQL root password, perform the following steps:

  1. Enter and confirm the new password in the appropriate text boxes.

    Note:
    • The system evaluates the password that you enter on a scale of 100 points. 0 indicates a weak password, while 100 indicates a very secure password.
    • Some web hosts require a minimum password strength. A green password Strength meter indicates that the password is equal to or greater than the required password strength.
    • Click Password Generator to generate a strong password. For more information, read our Password & Security documentation.
    Warning:
    Do not use asterisks ( * ), periods ( . ), or any other special characters in your MySQL root password. If you do, phpMyAdmin will not function. If you use the Password Generator feature, select the Numbers button under advanced.

  2. Click Change Password.

Remote MySQL

If you use a remote MySQL server, you must choose whether you change the local or the remote server’s root password. By default, the system selects the remote MySQL server.

Note:

When the remote MySQL server is also a cPanel & WHM server, you must perform additional steps:

  • If you change the remote MySQL root password on the hosting server, you must update the remote MySQL server’s /root/.my.cnf configuration file.

  • If you change the remote MySQL root password on the remote MySQL server, you must update the MySQL profile on the hosting server, and then reactivate the profile.

More:

For more information, read our Troubleshoot MySQL® Profiles documentation.

Additional Documentation