I got a solution!
When resetting the root password at step 2), also change the auth plugin to mysql_native_password:
use mysql;
update user set authentication_string=PASSWORD("") where User="root";
update user set plugin="mysql_native_password" where User="root"; # THIS LINE
flush privileges;
quit;
This allowed me to log in successfully!
Full code solution
1. First, run these bash commands
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop # stop mysql service
sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables & # start mysql without password
# enter -> go
mysql -uroot # connect to mysql
2. Then run mysql commands => copy paste this to CLI manually
use mysql; # use mysql table
update user set authentication_string=PASSWORD("") where User="root"; # update password to nothing
update user set plugin="mysql_native_password" where User="root"; # set password resolving to default mechanism for root user
flush privileges;
quit;
3. Run more bash commands
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start # reset mysql
# try login to database, just press enter at password prompt because your password is now blank
mysql -u root -p
4. Socket issue (from your comments)
When you see a socket error, a community came with 2 possible solutions:
sudo mkdir -p /var/run/mysqld; sudo chown mysql /var/run/mysqld
sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
(thanks to @Cerin)
Or
mkdir -p /var/run/mysqld && chown mysql:mysql /var/run/mysqld
(thanks to @Peter Dvukhrechensky)
Blind paths and possible edge errors
Use 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost
mysql -uroot # "-hlocalhost" is default
Can lead to “missing file” or slt error.
mysql -uroot -h127.0.0.1
Works better.
Skip the socket issue
I’ve found many ways to create mysqld.sock file, change access rights, or symlink it. It was not the issue after all.
Skip the my.cnf file
The issue also was not there. If you are not sure, this might help you.