Resolving the “Error Establishing Database Connection” in WordPress

If you’ve encountered the “Error Establishing Database Connection” message while trying to access your WordPress site, it typically points to one of the following issues:

• The database has crashed
• Incorrect database login details in your WordPress configuration file
• Corrupted WordPress database tables

Let’s explore these potential problems and how to address them step by step.

Step 1: Repair the WordPress Database

Database corruption can happen due to various reasons, such as a failed update, a plugin malfunction, or a crash. This can lead to a database connection error. The first step you should take is to attempt a database repair.

If you’re using cPanel, you can easily repair your database via phpMyAdmin.

WordPress also has a built-in database repair feature, though it’s disabled by default due to security concerns. Here’s how to enable, use, and then disable this feature:

1. Open your wp-config.php file in any text editor.
2. Add the following code to a blank line in the file: 

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

This defines a variable that WordPress looks for when determining if it should enable the repair feature.

1. Save the changes and close the file.
2. In your browser, navigate to the following URL, replacing it with your domain name: 

http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php

This will take you to a database repair page. Click the “Repair Database” button to start the process. Once completed, revisit the wp-config.php file to remove the line you added earlier.

After repairs, check your site to see if the issue is resolved.

Step 2: Verify Database Login Details

If you’ve recently migrated your WordPress site to a different server or hosting provider, you may need to update your database connection settings stored in the wp-config.php file.

1. Open the wp-config.php file in your preferred text editor.
2. Locate the database connection information:

/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');

/** MySQL database username */
define('DB_USER', 'database_username');

/** MySQL database password */
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password');

Ensure that the details match your current database credentials. If any information is incorrect, update it accordingly, save the file, and exit.

If the problem persists, restoring the database from a backup may be necessary.