mysql> drop database DB_NAME; ERROR 1010 (HY000): Error dropping database (can't rmdir './DB_NAME', errno: 66) Find the database directory: mysql -e "select @@datadir" -> /usr/local/mysql/data/ Go to the DataBase folder: cd /usr/local/mysql/data/ Delete DB folder of the DB with the issue (in this case: sudo rm -rf DB_NAME)