WordPress: How To Fix the Error Establishing a Database Connection
Are you encountering the “Error establishing a database connection” message on your WordPress website? This is a severe issue that prevents users from accessing your website.
The “Error establishing a database connection” error in WordPress occurs when the platform cannot connect to the database. This problem can be caused by various factors, making it challenging for beginners to troubleshoot.
This article will discuss all the factors that help to solve this error.
What are the reasons for the “Error establishing a database connection” in WordPress?
There are several reasons why the “Error establishing a database connection” error can occur in WordPress. The most frequent reasons include:
- Incorrect WordPress Database credentials (e.g. wrong username or password)
- Issues with the server that is hosting the database (e.g. server down or not accessible)
- A mismatch between the PHP and MySQL versions of the server and the version of WordPress being used
- Conflicts with recently updated plugins or themes
- Incorrectly configured wp-config.php file
- The database server is not running
- Outdated version of WordPress
- Incompatibility issues with web hosting service
- Corrupted database
- Server overload
Incorrect WordPress Database Credentials
One of the most common causes of the “Error establishing a database connection” error is an issue with the login credentials for the database. This can include a wrong username, password, or hostname.
To fix this, check your wp-config.php file and make sure that the database name, username, and password are correct.
Open your WordPress project directory and navigate the wp-config.php file. You will need to check the following lines in the wp-config.php file:
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define('DB_NAME', 'database name here');
/** Database username */
define('DB_USER', user name here);
/** Database password */
define('DB_PASSWORD', ' password here');
/** Database hostname */
define('DB_HOST', host here);
It is essential to ensure that the database name, username, password, and host information are accurate.
Issues with the server
The error can also occur if there is a problem with the server that is hosting the database. This can include the server being down or not accessible.
To fix this, contact your hosting provider to check the server status or if the issue persists.
Update WordPress Site URL
An alternative solution to try is updating the WordPress site URL via phpMyAdmin. To do this, access phpMyAdmin through your hosting account and select your WordPress database.
Click on the SQL menu on the top and paste the following query to change your site URL.
UPDATE wp_options SET option_value='YOUR_SITE_URL' WHERE option_name='siteurl'
OR you can change your URLs manually. Open the wp_options table of your database and change the option_value of siteurl and home.
A mismatch between PHP and MySQL versions
If you recently moved your site to a new server or host, it’s possible that the new server doesn’t have the necessary PHP and MySQL versions to support your version of WordPress.
To fix this, check the PHP and MySQL versions of your new server and make sure they match the requirements for your version of WordPress.
Conflicts with recent updates
Another possible cause of the error is conflicts with recently updated plugins or themes. To fix this, check for any recent updates to plugins or themes, and if any were made, try deactivating or removing them to see if the error goes away.
Database server is not running
The error message can also occur if the database server is not running. To fix this, restart the server or contact your hosting provider for assistance.
Outdated version of WordPress
The error message can also occur if you are running an outdated version of WordPress. To fix this, check for updates and update to the latest version of WordPress.
Incompatibility issues with web hosting service
If you have recently switched to a new web hosting service, it’s possible that the new service is not fully compatible with your version of WordPress. To fix this, check with your web hosting service to see if they have any known compatibility issues with WordPress.
Corrupted Database
The corrupted database can create an error message. To fix this, you can try running a database repair tool or contact your web hosting service for assistance.
Server overload
An error message can occur when the server is overloaded. To fix this, you can try to reduce the load on the server by optimizing your site or by adding more resources to the server.
Seek Assistance
If you are unable to resolve the issue, reaching out to your web hosting provider may be necessary. A reliable WordPress hosting provider will assist you in identifying and resolving the problem or even fixing it for you.
