Update WordPress database connection string

If your WordPress site is out of sync with your database and displays the following error: "Error Connecting to the Database", you'll need to update the connection strings on your WordPress site.

  1. You should always backup your site before performing any troubleshooting.
  2. Locate your database details. (cPanel / Plesk / Web Hosting / Managed WordPress).
  3. Edit the wp-config.php for your website. (cPanel / Plesk / Web Hosting / Managed WordPress / VPS)
  4. In wp-config.php file, locate the section that looks like this example:
    /** The name of the database for WordPress */
    define('DB_NAME', 'putyourdbnamehere');
    /** MySQL database username */
    define('DB_USER', 'usernamehere');
    /** MySQL database password */
    define('DB_PASSWORD', 'yourpasswordhere');
    /** MySQL hostname */
    define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
  5. Confirm the information in this file matches the database details you found earlier.
    • putyourdbnamehere is your MySQL Database Name
    • usernamehere is your MySQL User Name
    • yourpasswordhere is your MySQL password
    • localhost is your MySQL Host Name
  6. If any of the information in the wp-config.php file doesn't match your database details, then update the file with the correct information.
  7. Save the updated file.
  8. Check your website to verify it's back online.

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