How to manage MySQL databases and users in cPanel

This article describes how to use cPanel to manage MySQL databases and users. You can add, modify, and delete databases and users, as well as manage user database permissions.Table of Contents

Managing database users

To access MySQL databases, you must first create at least one user. The following procedures describe how to manage MySQL database users using cPanel.

Creating a database user

To create a MySQL database user, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Add New User, in the Username text box, type the MySQL username.
4. In the Password text box, type the user password.
5. In the Password (Again) text box, retype the user password.
   You can click Password Generator and cPanel generates a random, strong password for you.
6. Click Create User. cPanel creates the database user.

Changing a user’s password

You can change a database user’s password. You may want to do this for security reasons (changing passwords periodically is a good security practice), or you may need to do this if you forget the password.

To change a MySQL user’s password, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Current Users, locate the user for which you want to change the password, and then click Change Password.
4. In the Password and Password (Again) text boxes, type the new password.
   You can click Password Generator and cPanel generates a random, strong password for you.
5. Click Change Password. The new password takes effect immediately.

Renaming a user

To rename a MySQL user, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Current Users, locate the user that you want to rename, and then click Rename.
4. In the New name text box, type the new name, and then click Proceed. cPanel renames the user.

Deleting a user

When you delete a user, the user and its database permissions are deleted.

Make sure you do not have any applications that currently use the database user!

To delete a MySQL user, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Current Users, locate the user that you want to delete, and then click Delete.
4. Click Delete User to confirm the deletion.

Managing databases

After you create a database user, you are ready to create a database and associate the user with the new database.

Creating a database

To create a MySQL database, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Create New Database, in the New Database text box, type the name of the database.
4. Click Create Database. cPanel creates the database.
   When you create a database, your username is prefixed to the database name. For example, if your username is username, and you create a database named database, the actual MySQL database name is username_database.

Adding a user to a database

To add a MySQL user to a database, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Add User to Database, in the User list box, select the user that you want to add.
4. In the Database list box, select the database.
5. Click Add.
6. Select the check boxes to grant the user specific privileges, or select the ALL PRIVILEGES check box to grant the user all permissions to the database.
7. Click Make Changes. cPanel adds the user to the database.

Checking and repairing a database

You can check MySQL databases for errors or possible corruption. If a database check reveals problems, you can repair the database as well.

To check and repair a database, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. To check a database:
   • Under Modify Databases, in the Check Database list box, select the database.
   • Click Check Database.
4. If a database check indicates problems with a database, you can repair it:
   • Under Modify Databases, in the Repair Database list box, select the database.
   • Click Repair Database.

Revoking privileges from a database user

When you revoke a database user’s privileges, the user can no longer access the database. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Current Databases, locate the user for which you want to revoke privileges, and then click the trash can  icon.
4. Click Revoke User Privileges from Database.

Deleting a database

Before you delete a database, make sure that you have a backup copy if you want to save any information that it contains.

When you delete a database, any associated users are not deleted. However, all privileges users have for that database are revoked.

To delete a MySQL database, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the MySQL Databases tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Databases section, click MySQL Databases:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the DATABASES section of the cPanel home page, click MySQL Databases:
     
3. Under Current Databases, locate the database that you want to delete, and then click Delete.
4. Click Delete Database. cPanel deletes the database.

More Information

For more information about MySQL, please visit http://www.mysql.com.