Troubleshooting phpMyAdmin: Fixing the MySQL "Access Denied" Error (HY000/1045) Setting up your local web development environment can occasionally run into configuration hiccups. One of the most common issues occurs after installing XAMPP when you attempt to open phpMyAdmin and are greeted by a glaring red error box like the one in image_5dbd95.png : MySQL said: Cannot connect: invalid settings. mysqli::real_connect(): (HY000/1045): Access Denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO) This message can feel frustrating, but it means something very specific: phpMyAdmin is attempting to log in to your MySQL database with a blank password, but the database server is actively rejecting it because a password actually exists. Here is a comprehensive guide to understanding why this happens and exactly how to fix it. Why Is This Error Happening? By default, a brand-new XAMPP installation configures both MySQL and phpMyAdmin to use the username root with a completely blank password.…