How To Import and Export Databases and Reset a Root Password in MySQL

How to Import and Export Databases

Export

To Export a database, open up terminal, making sure that you are not logged into MySQL and type,

mysqldump -u [username] -p [database name] > [database name].sql

The database that you selected in the command will now be exported to your server instance.

Import

To import a database, first create a new blank database in the MySQL shell to serve as a destination for your data.

CREATE DATABASE newdatabase;

Then log out of the MySQL shell and type the following on the command line:

mysql -u [username] -p newdatabase < [database name].sql

With that, your chosen database has been imported into your destination database in MySQL.

How to Reset a Root Password

When you first install MySQL, you have to set up your root password. However, should you forget it at any point, you can still recover it.

Step One—Shut Down MySQL

In terminal, stop the MySQL process

 /etc/init.d/mysql stop

Step Two—Access MySQL Safe Mode

In safe mode, you will be able to make changes within the MySQL system with a root password alone, without the need for MySQL root password.

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

Once safe mode has started up, log into MySQL and when prompted, use your standard root password.

mysql -u root mysql

Step Three—Set Up a New Password

Finally, set up the new MySQL root password by typing the command below. Replace "newpassword" with the password of your choice.

update user set password=PASSWORD("newpassword") where User='root';

Be sure to reload everything:

 FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

and you now have a new root password.

Article ID: 187
Created On: Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 10:32 PM
Last Updated On: Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Authored by: ASPHostServer Administrator [[email protected]]

Online URL: http://faq.asphosthelpdesk.com/article.php?id=187