title: What is the default MySQL 5.7.18 root password?
body: <p>I've struggled with this problem for years and I always end up having to mess around for a long time with different reset methods or a combination of other crap.</p>
  
  <p>On a new MySQL server install, what's the default root password? It's not <code>admin</code>, <code>root</code>, blank etc... I have no <code>/var/log/mysql.log</code> file to look for a temporary password:</p>
  
  <pre><code>brandon@brandon:~$ ls -la /var/log/mysql/ total 112 drwxr-x---  2 mysql adm     4096 Jun 24 21:14 . drwxrwxr-x 16 root  syslog  4096 Jun 24 21:14 ..
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm    66416 Jun 24 22:15 error.log
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     1768 Jun 24 21:10 error.log.1.gz
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     1755 Jun 20 17:05 error.log.2.gz
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     2231 Jun 15 20:53 error.log.3.gz
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     3204 Jun  6 21:42 error.log.4.gz
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     2347 Jun  5 09:24 error.log.5.gz
  -rw-r-----  1 mysql adm     8289 Jun  2 18:33 error.log.6.gz
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I looked at the mysql config file (which is now at <code>/etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf</code> and not <code>/etc/mysql/my.cnf</code>??) and found that the logs to <code>/var/log/mysql/mysqld.log</code> were disabled by default. Enabled them hoping for a miracle to no avail. No temporary password in there.</p>
  
  <p>Starting MySQL with <code>skip-grant-tables</code> (per <a href="https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/resetting-permissions.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the MySQL docs on the subject</a>) to force-reset the password isn't working now either. </p>
  
  <p>Running <code>sudo mysql_secure_installation</code> and setting the password didn't reset the password either.</p>
  
  <p>How do I get in?</p>