# How to Manage MySQL User Privileges

> Canonical: https://jethost.com/kb/how-to-manage-mysql-user-privileges/ · Last modified: 2026-10-21T16:52:33+00:00

**Privileges** decide what a MySQL user is allowed to do with a database. On **shared hosting** you manage them in cPanel – no SQL needed. On a **VPS or dedicated server** with root access, you can also use SQL commands. This guide covers both, starting with the cPanel way most people need. Every [JetHost web hosting plan](https://jethost.com/web-hosting/) includes cPanel for managing database users.

## On shared hosting: manage privileges in cPanel

Shared hosting has no root access, so you don’t use SQL to grant privileges – you do it through cPanel, which is simpler and safer. To give a user access to a database:

1. Open [**Manage My Databases**](https://jethost.com/kb/creating-a-mysql-database-and-user-in-cpanel/) under the **Databases** section.
2. Scroll to **Add User To Database**, choose the user and the database, and click **Add**.
3. On the privileges screen, tick **ALL PRIVILEGES** (right for most apps) or just the ones you need, then click **Make Changes**.

![Assign SQL privilegies](https://jethost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/assign-sql-privilegies.png)To change privileges later, click the user under the database in the **Current Databases** list, adjust the ticks, and save again.

## Fixing “SELECT command denied to user”

This common error simply means the user isn’t allowed to read that database. On shared hosting the fix is the steps above: open **Manage My Databases**, make sure the user is added to the database under **Add User To Database**, and grant **ALL PRIVILEGES**. That restores the missing `SELECT` permission – no SQL required.

## Check what access a user has

In **Manage My Databases**, the **Current Databases** table shows each database with its assigned users under [**Privileged Users**](https://jethost.com/kb/how-to-find-your-mysql-database-details-on-cpanel/) – the quickest way to confirm who has access. If you prefer SQL, you can connect as your own user over SSH or in [phpMyAdmin](https://jethost.com/kb/phpmyadmin/)’s **SQL** tab and run `SHOW GRANTS;` to list your own privileges.

## On a VPS or dedicated server: SQL commands

With root access you can manage users and privileges directly in SQL. Connect as root:

```
mysql -u root -p
```

Grant a user full access to a database, then reload the privilege tables:

```
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON database_name.* TO 'user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
```

Other useful root commands: list every user with `SELECT DISTINCT User, Host FROM mysql.user;`, inspect one user’s access with `SHOW GRANTS FOR 'user'@'localhost';`, and fix a “SELECT denied” error with `GRANT SELECT ON database_name.* TO 'user'@'localhost';`.

## JetHost Experts Tip

On shared hosting, always use cPanel for privileges – trying to run GRANT or read the mysql.user table will simply fail, because those need root access you don’t have on a shared plan. The SQL section above applies only to a VPS or dedicated server.

## Need more help?

Not sure which privileges a user needs, or seeing an access error you can’t clear? Open a ticket through **Client Area → Support Tickets** and our team will sort it out.