When your website loses access to your WordPress database, the error establishing a database connection occurs. If left unattended, this issue can have serious consequences. It can have a direct impact on your website’s traffic, resulting in revenue and sales losses.
We will look at some of the possible causes of the error establishing a database connection and possible solutions in this blog.
Error Establishing a Database Connection in WordPress
1. Inaccurate database data
The database facilitates data organization, retrieval, and storage. When someone visits the website, it connects to the database automatically. However, when the site is unable to access the WordPress database due to incorrect login credentials provided, a database connection error appears in the WordPress website.
2. WordPress Files That Have Been Corrupted
WordPress files can be corrupted if an update fails. WordPress files can become corrupted as a result of failed updates of WordPress plugins, themes, or software. A corrupt WordPress file could be the result of an internal database mess caused by a rogue plugin, a hacker attack, or other factors.
3. WordPress database corruption
Other causes of the “error establish a database connection” issue on your WordPress website include database file corruption or the accidental deletion of some information. Third-party WordPress plugins may also remove content or break file paths, resulting in database connection issues.
Steps to Resolve the Problems Causing “WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection”
The steps outlined below will assist you in resolving database connection issues. Before you begin troubleshooting the error, you should make a backup of your WordPress site to be safe.
1. Get the Database Information Correct
As previously stated, the most common cause of this error is incorrect database login information. Your login credentials may have changed as a result of moving your website to a new web host.
The wp-config.php configuration file stores the credentials for your WordPress database. This file is stored in the WordPress website’s root. All of your database data and essential settings are stored in this WordPress file. Database information in the configuration file, such as database name, password, username, and host details, should be correct. If not, edit the configuration file and replace the old credentials with the new ones to fix the problem.
Connect to your website via SFTP and navigate to the root directory to find the configuration file. On cPanel, you can also edit the file by going to the root directory.
2. Troubleshoot WordPress Files
A corrupted file can be caused by a failed WordPress plugin, theme, or software update. You can connect to your site via FTP and navigate to the root directory to resolve any plugin-related issues.
Choose “wp-content”. Another folder called plugins can be found inside the wp-content folder. This is where WordPress saves all of the plugins you’ve installed on your website. Choose that and rename it to anything else you want.
Finally, return to your WordPress site to see if the problem is still present. If the error was caused by a plugin problem, the site will not display the error message.
If you’re still getting the “error establishing a database connection in WordPress” message, look for any problems in the theme files. You can try reinstalling the theme files to see if that helps.
If you are still unable to resolve the issue, it is recommended that you seek assistance from a WordPress management services provider. Skynats has a team of WordPress experts who can assist you in quickly resolving this problem.
3. Repair the Database That Has Been Corrupted
It’s possible that your database has become corrupt. So, if you’re getting an error message on the wp-admin page that says “one or more database tables are unavailable,” there could be a problem with the database.
To fix the problem, use FTP to connect to your WordPress site and navigate to the WordPress root directory, as mentioned earlier. You can now save the “wp-config.php” configuration file to your desktop from there.
Add the following code to the bottom of the downloaded file after editing it.
define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);
Go to the WordPress database repair page after you’ve added the code – https://example.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
The name of your website is represented by example.com.
You’ll see an option to repair your database once you’ve logged in. Your website will be up and running without any problems once you finish the process.
Other Ways to Resolve the Error Establishing a Database Connection Issue
- Restore Core WordPress files
Download a clean version of WordPress software from WordPress.org to replace your core WordPress files. This is the final type of method you can employ to solve the problem on your own. If you don’t have the necessary technical knowledge, any WordPress support company can assist you.
- Use the Services of Technical Support Providers
Many technical tasks are required during the troubleshooting process. As a result, you should seek the assistance of a technical support service provider. They have the experts to assist you in quickly and effectively fixing the problem.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why you might get the warning “problem creating a database connection in WordPress.” Some of the most typical causes of this problem are incorrect database credentials in the configuration file and database file corruption.
We’ve gone over several troubleshooting procedures to fix the problem in this article. We hope that these solutions will assist you in resolving the database connection error in WordPress.
Are you stuck in-between? Our technical experts will solve it for you. Contact us.