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“Error establishing a database connection” is an error message that occurs when WordPress is unable to connect to the database. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Incorrect login credentials: The most common cause of this error is incorrect login credentials in the
wp-config.phpfile. Check that the database name, username, and password are correct and match the details provided by your hosting provider. - Corrupted database: The database may have become corrupted, which can cause this error to occur. You can try repairing the database using a plugin such as WP-DB Manager or by running a repair query through phpMyAdmin.
- Server overload: Your server may be experiencing high traffic and is unable to handle the load. This can cause the database to become unavailable, resulting in this error.
- Incompatible plugin or theme: A plugin or theme that is not compatible with your version of WordPress can cause this error. Try disabling all plugins and switching to a default theme to see if that resolves the issue.
- Server issues: The problem may be related to your hosting provider’s server. Contact them and ask them to check the server status, and if necessary, escalate the issue to their technical team.
- Outdated version of PHP or MySQL: Make sure your hosting provider is running the latest version of PHP and MySQL. If they are not, contact them to update the server.
To fix this problem, you can try renaming the “plugins” folder located in the wp-content directory to “plugins_old” and then try accessing the website. If this fixes the problem, then the problem was caused by a plugin and you can start renaming the folders back to the original name and activating the plugins one by one to find the problematic plugin. It’s important to backup your website before making any changes to the database or server.