Error Establishing Database Connection

Quick Fix

Check wp-config.php for correct DB credentials, ensure MySQL server is running, and clear any corrupted tables. Restart the server and refresh the site.

What it Means

The 'Error Establishing Database Connection' message appears when WordPress cannot connect to its MySQL database. It usually means the credentials in wp-config.php are wrong, the database server is down, or the database file is corrupted.

Possible Causes

• 1
  Wrong database name, username or password in wp-config.php
• 2
  MySQL server stopped or unreachable
• 3
  Corrupted database tables
• 4
  Insufficient file permissions on wp-config.php
• 5
  Server resource limits (memory, connections) exceeded

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Verify wp-config.php Credentials

   Open wp-config.php and confirm DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, and DB_HOST match your hosting settings. A typo will block the connection.

2. Check MySQL Service

   On the server, run a status check. If it’s stopped, start it. This ensures the database is listening for connections.

   systemctl status mysql
3. Repair Database Tables

   Use phpMyAdmin or WP-CLI to run a repair. Corrupted tables often trigger the error.

   wp db repair
4. Restore from Backup

   If the database is beyond repair, import a recent backup to restore site data.

   wp db import backup.sql

Commands You Can Try