Config file changes are required to enable connections via localhost.

To connect through remote IPs, Login as a “root” user and run the below queries in mysql.

CREATE USER 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'username'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

CREATE USER 'username'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'username'@'%' WITH GRANT OPTION;

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

This will create a new user that is accessible on localhost as well as from remote IPs.

Also comment the below line from your my.cnf file located in /etc/mysql/my.cnf

bind-address = 127.0.0.1

Restart your mysql using

sudo service mysql restart

Now you should be able to connect remotely to your mysql.

Source: grant remote access of MySQL database from any IP address – Stack Overflow