Over the years, many users have reached out to us and our partner companies to ask about fixing broken WordPress databases.
Keeping your WordPress website running smoothly requires a healthy database. If your database gets corrupted, then it can lead to many problems, including error messages, white screens, and even a complete loss of functionality.
We have experience with quickly repairing a WordPress database, and we will teach you how to get your site up and running in no time. For instance, you can check the login credentials or use different tools and plugins to fix WordPress databases.
In this article, we will show you how to repair a WordPress database in a few simple steps.
Here’s a quick overview of everything we will cover in this guide. You can click the links below to jump ahead to any section:
How to Tell If Your WordPress Database Needs Repairs
A WordPress database is a collection of all the information needed to run your website properly. This includes all your blog posts, pages, registered users, media files, and settings.
If your database is corrupted and needs repairs, then here are some common signs to watch out for:
- White Screen of Death (WSoDs): This is a general term for a situation where your website displays a blank white page instead of its usual content. A corrupted database can be one reason why you’re seeing a WSoD.
- Error Messages: You might see error messages related to the database. For example, errors like ‘Error establishing a database connection‘ or ‘Unable to select database’ show that something is not right with the database.
- Missing Content or Formatting Issues: If your website’s content appears to be missing or the formatting is out of place, then it could be a sign of database corruption.
- Plugin or Theme Malfunctions: Similarly, if plugins or themes suddenly stop working properly, then it’s possible that the underlying database is to blame.
That said, let’s see what could cause your WordPress database to corrupt.
What Causes Damage to WordPress Databases?
By understanding common causes that can damage your WordPress database, you can take steps to prevent them and keep your database healthy.
For instance, problems with your web server, such as a sudden power outage or hardware malfunction, can corrupt your database. Or a malicious attack on your website could target your database, potentially leading to corruption.
On the other hand, if the database credentials (username, password, etc.) stored in your wp-config.php file are incorrect, then it can lead to database connection problems.
Similarly, if your website is trying to use more memory than your web server allows (PHP memory limit), then it can also lead to database errors and potential corruption.
Now, let’s look at different ways you can easily repair a WordPress database.
1. Check and Edit WordPress Database Credentials
One of the most common and easy ways to repair your WordPress database is by checking the credentials. Usually, incorrect usernames and passwords lead to database connection errors, especially if you recently moved your site to a new host.
The WordPress database credentials are stored in the wp-config.php file. To edit the file, you’ll need to use an FTP client or File Manager tool. If you haven’t edited the file before, then please see our guide on how to edit the wp-config.php file.
Once you open the file, look for the following lines:
// ** MySQL settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name_here' );
/** MySQL database username */
define( 'DB_USER', 'username_here' );
/** MySQL database password */
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here' );
/** MySQL hostname */
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
Next, you must ensure that the information for the database name, username, password, and database host is correct.
You can confirm this information from your WordPress hosting provider. For example, in Bluehost, you can head to your site’s settings.
From here, switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab and scroll down the Database section.
Then click the ‘Manage’ button to continue.
This will open the MySQL Database page in the cPanel.
From here, you can find the username and password in the ‘Current Database’ section. If the credentials don’t match, copy and paste them into a Notepad (.txt) file so you can add them to the wp-config.php file.
