Remove MySQL completely from Mac OSX

rm_mysql.md

Remove MySQL completely

1. Open the Terminal

2. Use mysqldump to backup your databases

3. Check for MySQL processes with: ps -ax | grep mysql

4. Stop and kill any MySQL processes

5. Analyze MySQL on HomeBrew:

   brew remove mysql
   brew cleanup
   

6. Remove files:

   sudo rm /usr/local/mysql
   sudo rm -rf /usr/local/var/mysql
   sudo rm -rf /usr/local/mysql*
   sudo rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist
   sudo rm -rf /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM
   sudo rm -rf /Library/PreferencePanes/My*
   

7. Unload previous MySQL Auto-Login:

   launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist
   

8. (Optional) Remove previous MySQL Configuration:

   subl /etc/hostconfig` 
   # Remove the line MYSQLCOM=-YES-
   

9. (Optional) Remove previous MySQL Preferences:

   rm -rf ~/Library/PreferencePanes/My*
   sudo rm -rf /Library/Receipts/mysql*
   sudo rm -rf /Library/Receipts/MySQL*
   sudo rm -rf /private/var/db/receipts/*mysql*
   

10. Restart your computer just to ensure any MySQL processes are killed

11. Try to run mysql, it shouldn't work

Reinstall

brew install mysql

To connect run:

mysql -uroot

To have mysql started now and at login

brew services start mysql

Or to start it manually (if you don't want/need a background service)

mysql.server start