How to Fix MySQL 1045 Error: A Complete Technical Guide

MySQL Error 1045: Access Denied is one of the most common database-related issues developers and WordPress administrators face. It appears when MySQL rejects a login attempt due to incorrect credentials, insufficient privileges, or configuration issues, and understanding how to Fix MySQL 1045 Error is essential for resolving these problems efficiently.

What Is the MySQL 1045 Error?

MySQL Error 1045 typically looks like this:

Error 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'

It means the MySQL server has blocked your authentication request. This is common when attempting to connect to your database from WordPress or command-line tools.

Common Causes of MySQL 1045

Here are the most frequent reasons:

• If no host is defined, MySQL defaults to localhost. If your database is remote or using a custom port, login fails.
• Your MySQL user doesn’t have the correct permissions.
• MySQL may not recognize the user you’re trying to log in with.
• passwords or usernames don’t match MySQL records.

How to Fix MySQL 1045 Error

Below are methods that resolve almost all cases.

Method 1: Verify User Privileges

Insufficient privileges is one of the top causes.

Step 1: SSH into the server

Step 2: Log into MySQL

mysql -u root -p

Step 3: Grant privileges

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

Method 2: Confirm Username & Password (wp-config.php)

Incorrect database credentials inside WordPress cause immediate failure.

Steps:

1. Open your site files via File Manager or SFTP.
2. Navigate to public_html.
3. Open the file: wp-config.php

Check these two lines:

define('DB_USER', 'root');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');

If unsure, check your hosting control panel for the actual values.

Method 3: Reset MySQL Password

If you cannot recall the password, reset it.

Steps via phpMyAdmin:

1. Open phpMyAdmin.
2. Select your WordPress database.
3. Open the table: wp_users.
4. Edit the relevant user.
5. Under user_pass, delete the existing password and enter a new one.
6. Set Function to MD5 to encrypt it.
7. Click Go to save.

Now you can log in again.

Conclusion

MySQL 1045 Error prevents you from accessing your database, often halting WordPress entirely. But it is usually easy to resolve using one of the methods:

1. Verify user privileges
2. Correct username & password in wp-config.php
3. Reset the MySQL password
4. Ensure MySQL is running on the correct port

With these steps, you can restore database access and get back to managing your site.

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