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The MySQL installation process involves initializing the data directory, including the grant tables in the mysql  system schema that define MySQL accounts. For details, see Section 2.10.1, “Initializing the Data Directory” . 

This section describes how to assign a password to the initial root  account created during the MySQL installation procedure, if you have not already done so. 

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## Note 

Alternative means for performing the process described in this section: 

•On Windows, you can perform the process during installation with MySQL Installer (see Section 2.3.3, “MySQL Installer for Windows” ). 

•On all platforms, the MySQL distribution includes mysql_secure_installation , a command-line utility that automates much of the process of securing a MySQL installation. 

•On all platforms, MySQL Workbench is available and offers the ability to manage user accounts (see Chapter 31, MySQL Workbench  ). 

A password may already be assigned to the initial account under these circumstances: 

•On Windows, installations performed using MySQL Installer give you the option of assigning a password. 

•Installation using the macOS installer generates an initial random password, which the installer displays to the user in a dialog box. 

•Installation using RPM packages generates an initial random password, which is written to the server error log. 

•Installations using Debian packages give you the option of assigning a password. 

•For data directory initialization performed manually using mysqld --initialize , mysqld  generates an initial random password, marks it expired, and writes it to the server error log. See Section 2.10.1, “Initializing the Data Directory” . 

The mysql.user  grant table defines the initial MySQL user account and its access privileges. Installation of MySQL creates only a ’root’@’localhost’  superuser account that has all privileges and can do anything. If the root  account has an empty password, your MySQL installation is unprotected: Anyone can connect to the MySQL server as root without a password  and be granted all privileges. 

The ’root’@’localhost’  account also has a row in the mysql.proxies_priv  table that enables granting the PROXY  privilege for ’’@’’ , that is, for all users and all hosts. This enables root  to set up proxy users, as well as to delegate to other accounts the authority to set up proxy users. See Section 6.2.18, “Proxy Users” . 

To assign a password for the initial MySQL root  account, use the following procedure. Replace root- password  in the examples with the password that you want to use. 

Start the server if it is not running. For instructions, see Section 2.10.2, “Starting the Server” . 

The initial root  account may or may not have a password. Choose whichever of the following procedures applies: 

•If the root  account exists with an initial random password that has been expired, connect to the server as root  using that password, then choose a new password. This is the case if the data directory was 

