How to Fix “Error Establishing a Database Connection”

If your WordPress site shows “Error Establishing a Database Connection,” don’t panic. It just means your website can’t talk to the database properly. This is one of the most common WordPress errors.

In this post, you’ll learn what this error means, why it happens, and how to fix it — even if you’re a beginner.

📌 What Does This Error Mean?

WordPress stores everything — your posts, users, settings — in a database. When it can’t connect to that database, it shows this error.

🚨 Common Reasons for the Error

Wrong database login info
Database server is down
Corrupt WordPress files
Too much traffic crashing the server
Web hosting issues

🔧 How to Fix “Error Establishing a Database Connection”

Follow this table for step-by-step help:

Step	Action	Why It Helps
1	Check wp-config.php file	Ensures database name, username, and password are correct
2	Contact your web host	They can tell you if the database server is down
3	Repair the database	Fixes corrupt database tables
4	Disable plugins and themes	Rules out plugin or theme issues
5	Upgrade your hosting plan	Fixes the error if caused by traffic overload

🛠️ How to Check Database Settings in wp-config.php

Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager
Open the wp-config.php file
Look for the following lines:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Make sure they match your hosting database details.

📖 WordPress.org: Editing wp-config.php

🧹 How to Repair the Database

Add this line to your wp-config.php file just before /* That's all, stop editing! */:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

Then visit:

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

Follow the instructions to repair your database.

🔌 Try Disabling All Plugins

If a plugin is causing the issue:

Rename the plugins folder using FTP or File Manager
This will deactivate all plugins at once
If your site works again, rename the folder back and activate plugins one by one

🔗 Internal Resources from Gbcodies

🌐 Helpful External Resources

💡 Final Thoughts

Don’t let this error scare you. Most of the time, it’s a small mistake like a wrong password or a busy server. Just go step-by-step, and you’ll be back online soon!