Database Error
"Error establishing a database connection" — fixed.
The actual reasons your site can't talk to its database, and how to fix each one.
This error means exactly what it says: WordPress can't reach your MySQL database. The whole site goes down because every page is generated from database queries. It's a five-minute fix when you know which of the five common causes you're looking at — and a stressful all-day saga when you don't.
Walk through these in order. If none apply, it's almost certainly your host's MySQL server — and worth getting eyes on it fast.
What you get
1. Verify wp-config credentials
DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_HOST — match against hosting panel. 60% of cases stop here.
2. Test database server
From hosting panel, check MySQL is running. Many shared hosts pause DBs during maintenance.
3. Repair the database
WP_ALLOW_REPAIR flag + /wp-admin/maint/repair.php fixes most corruption automatically.
4. Check connection limits
Shared hosts throttle. SHOW STATUS LIKE 'Threads_connected' tells you if you're at the cap.
5. Reset DB user password
Wrong password from a stealth host change is more common than you'd think. Reset in hosting panel, update wp-config.
6. Restore from backup or migrate
If the DB is truly broken, restore from your last backup — or migrate to better hosting permanently.
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