[SOLVED] ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; Want to configure a password as root being the user

Issue

I have just downloaded WAMP. I want to configure a password for the MySQL root user using MySQL console. No password has been set previously.

The following is the input

    mysql-> use mysql
    Database changed
    mysql-> UPDATE user
         -> SET Password=PASSWORD<'elephant7'>
         -> WHERE user='root';

ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the
manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right
syntax to use near ‘WHERE user=’root” at line 3

Solution

You can use:

SET PASSWORD FOR 'root' = PASSWORD('elephant7');

or, in latest versions:

SET PASSWORD FOR root = 'elephant7' 

You can also use:

UPDATE user SET password=password('elephant7') WHERE user='root';

but in Mysql 5.7 the field password is no more there, and you have to use:

UPDATE user SET authentication_string=password('elephant7') WHERE user='root';

Regards

Answered By – White Feather

Answer Checked By – Jay B. (BugsFixing Admin)