How to start MySQL server from command line on Mac OS Lion?

Simply:

mysql.server start

mysql.server stop

mysql.server restart

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Try /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe

Example:

shell> sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe
(Enter your password, if necessary)
(Press Control-Z)
shell> bg
(Press Control-D or enter "exit" to exit the shell)

You can also add these to your bash startup scripts:

export MYSQL_HOME=/usr/local/mysql
alias start_mysql='sudo $MYSQL_HOME/bin/mysqld_safe &'
alias stop_mysql='sudo $MYSQL_HOME/bin/mysqladmin shutdown'

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I like the aliases too ... however, I've had issues with MySQLCOM for start ... it fails silently ... My workaround is akin to the others ... ~/.bash_aliases

alias mysqlstart='sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start'
alias mysqlstop='sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop' 

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As this helpful article states: On OS X to start/stop MySQL from the command line:

sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start 
sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop 

On Linux start/stop from the command line:

/etc/init.d/mysqld start 
/etc/init.d/mysqld stop 
/etc/init.d/mysqld restart 

Some Linux flavours offer the service command too

# service mysqld start 
# service mysqld stop 
# service mysqld restart

or

 # service mysql start 
 # service mysql stop 
 # service mysql restart 

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If you installed it with homebrew, the binary will be somewhere like

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/bin/mysqld

which means you can start it with

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/support-files/mysql.server start

and stop it with

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/support-files/mysql.server stop

Edit: As Jacob Raccuia mentioned, make sure you put the appropriate version of MySQL in the path.

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Maybe your mysql-server didn't start.

You can try

/usr/local/bin/mysql.server start

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sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM start
sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM stop

make alias in .bash_profile

alias start_mysql="/Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM start"
alias stop_mysql="/Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM stop"

and if you are trying to run as root use following safe mode

sudo ./bin/mysqld_safe

if you are still having issues starting, a recommended read: mysql5.58 unstart server in mac os 10.6.5

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For me this solution worked on mac Sierra OS:

sudo /usr/local/bin/mysql.server start
Starting MySQL
SUCCESS!

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My MySQL is installed via homebrew on OS X ElCaptain. What fixed it was running

brew doctor

which suggested that I run

sudo chown -R $(whoami):admin /usr/local

Then:

brew update
mysql.server start

mysql is now running

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If it's installed with homebrew try just typing down mysql.server in terminal and that should be it. AFAIK it executable will be under /usr/local/bin/mysql.server.

If not you can always run following "locate mysql.server" which will tell you where to find such file.

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If you have MySQL installed through Homebrew these commands will help you:

# For starting
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist

# For stoping
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist

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MySql server startup error 'The server quit without updating PID file '

if you have installed mysql from homebrew

close mysql server from preferences of mac

ps ax | grep mysql

#kill all the mysql process running
sudo kill -9 pid

which mysql
/usr/local/bin/mysql
Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ sudo mysql.server start

Starting MySQL
. SUCCESS! 

Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ which mysql

/usr/local/bin/mysql

Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ ps ax | grep mysql

54916 s005  S      0:00.02 /bin/sh 
/usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/bin/mysqld_safe --datadir=/usr/local/var/mysql --pid-file=/usr/local/var/mysql/Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.pid
55012 s005  S      0:00.40 /usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/bin/mysqld --basedir=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1 --datadir=/usr/local/var/mysql --plugin-dir=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/lib/plugin --user=mysql --log-error=Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.err --pid-file=/usr/local/var/mysql/Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.pid
55081 s005  S+     0:00.00 grep mysql

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On mac Big Sur and MySQL 5.7, I needed to stop/start with:

sudo launchctl load -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

and

sudo launchctl unload -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

This answer came from https://coolestguidesontheplanet.com/start-stop-mysql-from-the-command-line-terminal-osx-linux/

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111028 16:57:43 [ERROR] Fatal error: Please read "Security" section of the manual to find out how to run mysqld as root!

Have you set a root password for your mysql installation? This is different to your sudo root password. Try /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql_secure_installation

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