Docker + MySQL + HeidiSQL - fix for login to mysql client - error: Authentication plugin 'caching_sha2_password' cannot be loaded

Hi, in this article I would like to show you how to solve the problem:

Authentication plugin 'caching_sha2_password' cannot be loaded

Problem

I use docker and I can't connect to MySQL with SQL client.

I use MySQL version 8.0

I tried 3 different MySQL clients:

• HeidiSQL
• MySQL Workbench
• IntelliJ IDEA SQL client

For all of them I get error:

Authentication plugin 'caching_sha2_password' cannot be loaded:
The specified module cannot be found.

I use default root / root username and password for localhost.

Error screenshot:

Solution

# 1. Connect to docker container, open windows cmd:
docker exec -it PUT_CONTAINER_ID_HERE bash
# eg:
docker exec -it 3c4172634rd3 bash
# to get CONTAINER_ID use docker ps


# 2. Login to MySQL with root account
mysql --user=root --password=root


# 3. Set root account to use MySQL native password 
ALTER USER 'root' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'root';


# if we want to use user different then root, we just change it in above command

Step 1, 2 and 3 on screenshot - windows cmd:

And now we are able to login to MySQL via HeidiSQL client (or any other SQL client).