Fix WordPress "Error Establishing a Database Connection"
Error establishing a database connectionwp-configdatabase is downThis WordPress error means it couldn't reach its database. The cause is almost always the credentials in wp-config.php, the database being down, or corrupted tables. Here's how to fix each.
Cause 1: wrong credentials in wp-config.php
After a migration or password change, the details in wp-config.php stop matching the database. Confirm all four:
define('DB_NAME', 'your_db');
define('DB_USER', 'your_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // sometimes 127.0.0.1If the login itself is denied, see MySQL access denied (1045).
Cause 2: the database server is down
If MySQL/MariaDB isn't running, every site on it shows this error. Restart it and check why it stopped — see MySQL/MariaDB won't start:
systemctl status mariadb && systemctl restart mariadbCause 3: corrupted database tables
A crash can corrupt tables. WordPress has a built-in repair tool — enable it temporarily in wp-config.php, run it, then remove the line:
define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
// then visit /wp-admin/maint/repair.phpIf every site on the server is down, the database server itself is the problem. If just one WordPress site is, it's that site's credentials or tables.
Check wp-config credentials first, confirm the DB server is running, then repair tables if needed. One site = config; all sites = the DB server.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes "Error establishing a database connection" in WordPress?
WordPress can't reach its database — usually wrong credentials in wp-config.php, the MySQL/MariaDB server being down, or corrupted tables. Check the credentials and that the database is running.
How do I know if it's the database server or just my site?
If every site on the server shows the error, the database server is down — restart it. If only one WordPress site does, it's that site's wp-config credentials or corrupted tables.
How do I repair a corrupted WordPress database?
Add define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); to wp-config.php, visit /wp-admin/maint/repair.php, run the repair, then remove the line. Back up the database first.
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