Title: Error establishing database connection Last modified: August 22, 2016 --- # Error establishing database connection * Resolved [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/) * I haven’t logged into my site for a few weeks, but I just went in and tried and was met with the “error establishing a database connection” message. I have no idea what to do. I don’t know code, and even if I did, I have no way of accessing the back end of my site because I get this message when I add the /wp-admin to my site’s name. * What can I possibly do to get my site back? I’m paid up on it, and I want to start generating content again. I know from reading around there’s something with the config file that should be done but, again, I can’t even access the back end of my site to even reach any of the code in the first place. * Is there a direct “help” line for anyone who actually works at WP who could help me sort this out? * Thanks Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) * [Walter Lopez](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lopwalj/) * (@lopwalj) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5322969) * Hello Jekelish, Sorry you are having troubles here! Could you let us know your site URL? It is strange since error only occurs in the backend and not at front end. * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5322971) * Oh no, sorry about the confusion – I’m getting the message on the front AND back end of the site, so I can’t access any portion of it. The site is ottosgrove. com…I just went through my host and upgraded to WP 4.0 to see if that would help but I’m getting the same message, still. I quite literally have no idea what to do to solve this issue so any help (that a complete novice) could understand would be tremendously appreciated. * [Walter Lopez](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lopwalj/) * (@lopwalj) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5322979) * Okay… there are two possible reasons: 1.Mysql server at your hosting is down( you may need to contact them). 2.You have an issue at your wp-config.php file which you should fix via FTP. This is a tutorial where you can find useful information on how to fix the issue: [http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php#Configure_Database_Settings](http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php#Configure_Database_Settings) * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323236) * So, I have absolutely no idea how to resolve this via FTP. I don’t suppose there’s anyone who would be willing to help me out? * I really appreciate the feedback, lopwalj, believe me. I’m basically clueless on all of this other than the general WP stuff, so I really don’t have the slightest idea of how to even open any FTP stuff, so the tutorial is pretty much Greek to me. * I’m so out of my depth here it’s absurd. I don’t have even the slightest clue where to begin. * [LyleChamney](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lylechamney/) * (@lylechamney) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323237) * If it was working before and now it is not (and you for SURE have not done anything to the site or hosting in the interim), then I would also suggest it is as lopwalj says in his 1. response. * One would normally have to had made a manual change to the wp-config file for that to be the cause; generally does not change on it’s own. * Contact your host to have them check that the database server for your account is up and running and that your hosting account is also functioning properly. * > I don’t suppose there’s anyone who would be willing to help me out? * You might want to have a look here: * [http://jobs.wordpress.net/](http://jobs.wordpress.net/) * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323239) * Thank you Lyle – I have not touched the site in about a month, front end or back end or any other end, it’s been sitting dormant so nothing should have changed. * I will definitely contact my hosting site (Host Duplex…they’ve been good the first few months I’ve used them, so hopefully it’s nothing major they can’t figure out) and if that doesn’t work, try to sort out another way. * Again, I really appreciate the feedback. It’s definitely very nice of all of you (and I apologize for not knowing more about all of this, so that it would be less like talking to a wall for you guys!). * [LyleChamney](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lylechamney/) * (@lylechamney) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323241) * > I apologize for not knowing more about all of this * No worries! … we all started in the same place 🙂 * Please post back if your host is able to get it sorted and what the issue was. * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323242) * Thanks! I sent an inquiry to my host server so if they are able to resolve it I will certainly post about that resolution here. * I’ve used WordPress for years and never had any issues like this, so I’m kind of at a loss, naturally. Thanks again all! * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323243) * Apparently, contacting my host server was the way to go. They’ve already resolved it in the 5 or so minutes since I e-mailed them. Holy crap. According to them,“ there was an issue with a specific table of the WordPress database on (my) account.” * Thanks again all. I can’t believe how easily they were able to fix it. * [micsugmx](https://wordpress.org/support/users/micsugmx/) * (@micsugmx) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323244) * 🙂 * [LyleChamney](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lylechamney/) * (@lylechamney) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323245) * Glad to hear it’s been sorted! 🙂 * [Walter Lopez](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lopwalj/) * (@lopwalj) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323248) * Glad to hear that! Do not forget to mark your topic as solved :). * Thread Starter [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * (@jekelish) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323266) * My host was able to fix this on the back end, so this has been resolved…thanks all! Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) The topic ‘Error establishing database connection’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [database](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 13 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [jekelish](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jekelish/) * Last activity: [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-establishing-database-connection-81/#post-5323266) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics