How to Fix Database Connection Errors in WordPress (Simple Guide)

1. Check Your Database Login Details
   

   WordPress needs the right username, password, and database name to connect properly. If any of these are wrong, your site won’t load.

   • Open your wp-config.php file (you can find this in your website’s main folder using FTP or File Manager).
   • Look for these lines:
     
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     define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your_database_name’);
     define(‘DB_USER’, ‘your_database_user’);
     define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘your_database_password’);
     define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);
   • If these details are incorrect, update them with the correct ones from your hosting provider.
2. See If Your Hosting Provider Is Having Issues
   

   Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your site but with your hosting provider. To check:

   • Log in to your hosting account and go to phpMyAdmin (or your database section).
   • If your database isn’t loading there either, it might be a temporary issue with your hosting provider.
   • Try contacting your host’s support team and ask if the database server is down.
3. Repair Your Database
   

   If your database has a minor issue, WordPress has a built-in tool to fix it.

   1. Open your wp-config.php file and add this line:
      
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      define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);
   2. Go to this URL in your browser:
      
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      yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
   3. Click Repair Database and follow the steps.
   4. Once it’s fixed, remove that line from wp-config.php.
4. Restore a Backup

   If you have a backup of your site (either from your hosting provider or a plugin like UpdraftPlus), restoring it could bring your site back online quickly.

   • Check if your host offers automatic backups and try restoring one.
   • If you use a backup plugin, follow its restore process.
5. Reinstall WordPress Core Files

   Sometimes, WordPress files get corrupted, causing connection issues.

   • Download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org.
   • Unzip the file and upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders to your site via FTP, replacing the existing ones.
6. Ask Your Hosting Provider for Help

   If nothing works, don’t stress. Your hosting provider should be able to help.