To completely uninstall and reinstall MySQL, please follow the following steps: 1. Stop the MySQL service, set the system or use the terminal command sudo mysql.server stop; 2. Use the terminal to delete MySQL-related files and directories, including binary files, support files and configuration files; 3. Download the MySQL version suitable for Mac from the official website and install it, and record the temporary root password; 4. Change the root password immediately after logging in, and verify the installation to confirm that the database is running normally.
If you're having issues with MySQL on your Mac or just want to start fresh, a full uninstall and reinstall can help. It's not as simple as dragging an app to the Trash—there are several components involved like services, configuration files, and data directories. Here's how to do it right.

1. Stop MySQL Service
Before doing anything else, make sure MySQL is not running in the background.

- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Services
- Look for MySQL in the list
- Click it and then click Stop
Alternatively, you can use the terminal:
sudo mysql.server stop
This ensures that no active processes are writing to files while you try to delete them.

2. Uninstall MySQL Using Terminal
MySQL doesn't fully remove itself when you delete the application. You need to manually delete related files. Open Terminal and run the following commands (be careful with rm
commands—they permanently delete files):
# Remove MySQL binaries sudo rm -rf /usr/local/mysql* # Remove MySQL support files sudo rm -rf /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM sudo rm -rf /Library/PreferencePanes/My*
You'll also want to check for and delete these common directories if they exist:
-
/var/db/mysql
-
/usr/local/var/mysql
-
/etc/my.cnf
-
~/Library/Preferences/com.oracle.mySql*
Some of these might require elevated permissions to delete, so using sudo rm -rf [path]
may be necessary.
3. Reinstall MySQL from Official Source
Now that it's clean, download the latest version of MySQL from the official site:
http://m.miracleart.cn/link/06d86297d6e28d4637d60c86c2a2f5b6
Make sure to pick the correct macOS version (Intel vs Apple Silicon). Once downloaded:
- Double-click the
.dmg
file - Run the
.pkg
installer - Follow the prompts — during installation, it will set up a temporary root password, which will be shown at the end or in the system logs
After installation completes, go back to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Services and turn on the MySQL service again.
4. Reset Root Password and Verify Installation
Once MySQL is installed, open Terminal and try logging in:
mysql -u root -p
Use the temporary password provided during installation. Then immediately change the password:
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_new_password';
To confirm everything is working, run:
SHOW DATABASES;
You should see the default databases listed.
Also, consider installing MySQL Workbench or another GUI tool if you prefer visual management over command-line tools.
That's basically all there is to it. It takes a few steps but isn't overly complicated once you know where to look. Just don't skip deleting those hidden config files — they can cause conflicts if left behind.
The above is the detailed content of How to completely uninstall and reinstall MySQL on Mac. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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