Error Establishing a Database Connection in WordPress

The "error establishing a database connection" issue occurs when your website can no longer access your WordPress database. This can have serious consequences if left unattended, directly affecting your website traffic and leading to revenue and sales loss. In this blog, we'll look into the common reasons for this error and the possible ways to resolve it.

What You'll Learn

Causes of "Error Establishing a Database Connection" in WordPress

1. Wrong Database Information The database helps organize, retrieve, and store data. When someone visits the website, it connects to the database automatically. However, a database connection error can occur when the site can’t access the WordPress database due to incorrect login credentials.

2. Corrupted Files in WordPress Failed updates of WordPress plugins, themes, or the WordPress software can result in corrupted files. This can be due to internal database issues, rogue plugins, hacker attacks, and other reasons.

3. Corrupted Database in WordPress Database corruption or accidental deletion of information can also cause the "error establishing a database connection" issue. Third-party plugins may auto-delete content or break file paths, leading to database connection errors.

Steps to Fix the "Error Establishing a Database Connection" in WordPress

Before starting, take a backup of your WordPress site to be on the safer side.

1. Get the Database Information Correct Incorrect database login information is the most common cause of this error, especially after moving to a new web host. The credentials for your WordPress database are stored in the wp-config.php file located at the root of your WordPress website. This file contains all your database information and important settings.

   Access the wp-config.php file via SFTP or cPanel and ensure that the database name, password, username, and host details are correct. Here’s how you can check and update the file:

   php Copy

   
   define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');
   define('DB_USER', 'database_user');
   define('DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password');
   define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
                                       

   If the credentials are incorrect, update them with the correct information.

2. Fix Issues with WordPress Files A failed plugin, theme, or software update can corrupt WordPress files. To resolve this, connect to your site via FTP and navigate to the root directory. Go to wp-content and locate the plugins folder. Rename it to something else, like plugins_old.

   sh Copy

   
   mv wp-content/plugins wp-content/plugins_old
                                       

   Check your site to see if the error persists. If the error was due to a plugin issue, the site should now work. If the error persists, check the theme files. Download a new copy of the theme and see if that resolves the issue.

3. Fix the Corrupted Database If your database is corrupted, you might see an error like "one or more database tables are unavailable" in the wp-admin area. To resolve this, connect to your site via FTP and download the wp-config.php file to your desktop. Edit the file and add the following code at the bottom:

   php Copy

   
   define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
                                       

   Then go to the WordPress database repair page:

   Copy

   
   https://example.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
                                       

   Replace example.com with your website’s domain. Once there, follow the instructions to repair your database.

Other Solutions to Fix the "Error Establishing a Database Connection" Issue

1. Restore Core WordPress Files Replace your core WordPress files by downloading a clean version from WordPress.org. This should be your last resort, and if you’re not comfortable doing this, seek help from a WordPress support provider.

2. Seek Help from Technical Support Service Providers Troubleshooting involves technical steps, so consider getting help from a technical support provider. They have the expertise to resolve the issue quickly and efficiently.

Conclusion

The "error establishing a database connection in WordPress" can result from various issues, such as wrong database credentials or corrupted files. This article provides steps to troubleshoot and resolve the error. We hope these methods help you fix the database connection error in WordPress.