ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/tmp/mysql.sock'

Question

I installed MySQL on Mac OS X Mountain Lion with homebrew install mysql, but when I tried mysql -u root I got the following error:

Answer 1

You'll need to start MySQL before you can use the mysql command on your terminal. To do this, run brew services start mysql. By default, brew installs the MySQL database without a root password. To secure it run: mysql_secure_installation.

To connect run: mysql -uroot. root is the username name here.

Answer 2

In my case it was simply a matter of deleting a lock file.

sudo rm -f /tmp/mysql.sock.lock

Answer 3

I keep coming back to this post, I've encountered this error several times. It might have to do with importing all my databases after doing a fresh install.

I'm using homebrew. The only thing that used to fix it for me:

sudo mkdir /var/mysql
sudo ln -s /tmp/mysql.sock /var/mysql/mysql.sock

This morning, the issue returned after my machine decided to shut down overnight. The only thing that fixed it now was to upgrade mysql.

brew upgrade mysql

Answer 4

Ough, that took me a while to figure out. I saw it in a comment. After installing mysql using brew, and starting the service (perhaps using sudo brew services start mysql) then run:

$ mysqld

And MySQL should be running for your thereafter.

Answer 5

only this has made the trick for me brew services start --all (after trying all answers)

Answer 6

1. Uninstall MySQL.
2. Remove /usr/local/var/mysql/.
3. Install MySQL.