On Windows:
0) shut down service mysql56
1) go to C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6, note that ProgramData is a hidden folder
2) looking for file my.ini, open it and add one line skip-grant-tables below [mysqld],save
[mysqld]
skip-grant-tables
3) start service mysql56
4) by right, you can access the database, run mysql
5) and use the query below to update the password
update mysql.user set password=PASSWORD('NEW PASSWORD') where user="root";
note: for newer version, use authentication_string instead of password
6) shut down the service again, remove the line skip-grant-tables save it, and start the service again. try to use the password you set to login.
On Mac:
0) stop the service
sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop
1) skip grant table
sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables
once it’s running, don’t close it, and open a new terminal window
2) go into mysql terminal
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql -u root
3) update the password
UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('password') WHERE User="root";
for newer version like 5.7, use
UPDATE mysql.user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD('password') WHERE User="root";
4) run FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
5) run \q to quit
6) start the mysql server
sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start