Title: “Error Unknown collation” in update Last modified: May 5, 2020 --- # “Error Unknown collation” in update * Resolved [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/) * Hi. * When trying to update Yoast SEO I received the famous error “Yoast SEO cannot create database tables”. After consulting my hosting, they confirmed that the database configuration is correct. The error the log returns is this: * > [05-May-2020 02:41:59 UTC] Error Unknown collation: ‘utf8mb4’ de la base de > datos de WordPress para la consulta ALTER TABLE esh_yoast_migrations CONVERT > TO CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4 realizada por require(‘wp-blog-header. > php’), require_once(‘wp-load.php’), require_once(‘wp-config.php’), require_once(‘ > wp-settings.php’), do_action(‘plugins_loaded’), WP_Hook->do_action, WP_Hook- > >apply_filters, wpseo_init, YoastSEO, Yoast\WP\SEO\Main->load, Yoast\WP\SEO\ > Loader->load, Yoast\WP\SEO\Loader->load_initializers, Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\ > Migration_Runner->initialize, Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\Migration_Runner->run_free_migrations, > Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\Migration_Runner->run_migrations, YoastSEO_Vendor\ > Ruckusing_Task_Manager->execute, YoastSEO_Vendor\Task_Db_Migrate->execute, > YoastSEO_Vendor\Task_Db_Migrate->prepare_to_migrate, * There are more than 20 queries with this same error. How can I solve that? * I’m back to version 13.5, but I wish I could fix it. I have been updating this plugin for days. Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) * [Ryan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nocean/) * (@nocean) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12784336) * Getting a very similar error on the yoast_migrations table. * `ALTER TABLE wp_yoast_migrations CONVERT TO COLLATE utf8_general_ci` * [marcanor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marcanor/) * (@marcanor) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12805293) * Hi [@efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) , [@nocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nocean/) * We apologize for the inconvenience. We realize that the update experience has not been the best so far. * Can you please try the following?: 1. Install & activate the [Yoast Test Helper plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/yoast-test-helper/) 2. Go to Tools -> Yoast Test 3. Hit the “Reset indexables & migrations” button 4. Delete your current Yoast SEO Premium installation. 5. Update to Yoast SEO 14.0.4. 6. Click the “Click here to speed up your site now” button. * Can you please let us know if this solves the issue on your site? * [stoffb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stoffb/) * (@stoffb) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12816005) * same error here Any idea how to fix? I followed the steps above and it didnt work - This reply was modified 6 years ago by [stoffb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stoffb/). * Thread Starter [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12818321) * Hi. Sorry for taking so long to reply. * I have followed the steps (except 4, I don’t have a premium version) and the error was the same: * > Yoast SEO was unable to create the required database tables and therefore will > not function properly. > Please read this help article to find out how to solve this problem. * (translation of the message in Spanish) * Log errors, the same ones I reported when opening the post. This is the last one in a long list: * > [12-May-2020 02:35:39 UTC] Error Unknown collation: ‘utf8mb4’ de la base de > datos de WordPress para la consulta ALTER TABLE esh_yoast_migrations CONVERT > TO CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4 realizada por require(‘wp-blog-header. > php’), require_once(‘wp-load.php’), require_once(‘wp-config.php’), require_once(‘ > wp-settings.php’), do_action(‘plugins_loaded’), WP_Hook->do_action, WP_Hook- > >apply_filters, wpseo_init, YoastSEO, Yoast\WP\SEO\Main->load, Yoast\WP\SEO\ > Loader->load, Yoast\WP\SEO\Loader->load_initializers, Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\ > Migration_Runner->initialize, Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\Migration_Runner->run_free_migrations, > Yoast\WP\SEO\Initializers\Migration_Runner->run_migrations, YoastSEO_Vendor\ > Ruckusing_Task_Manager->execute, YoastSEO_Vendor\Task_Db_Migrate->execute, > YoastSEO_Vendor\Task_Db_Migrate->prepare_to_migrate, YoastSEO_Vendor\Task_Db_Migrate- > >run_migrations, AddCollationToTables->up, YoastSEO_Vendor\Ruckusing_Migration_Base- > >query, Yoast\WP\Lib\Ruckusing_Adapter->query * Thread Starter [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12818365) * I forgot to say that since the first failed update, I have no access to Yoast SEO settings (blank screen in any of the menus) * Thread Starter [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12820288) * I rectify. After executing the steps in the previous message, there is a blank screen throughout the site. I needed to disable the plugin completely to access the web again. * [Pcosta88](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pcosta88/) * (@pcosta88) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12820850) * [@efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * We apologize for the difficulties the plugin is causing for you. We would like some more information. * 1. Verify your database has the Table and Index permissions along with Create, Drop, and Alter required to create these tables in your database: wp_yoast_indexable, wp_yoast_indexable_hierarchy, wp_yoast_migrations, wp_yoast_primary_term. If you are not sure, your host provider can help. * 2. Can you confirm your server has all the right requirements?  If you are not sure, speak to your host provider. This guide explains more: https://kb.yoast. com/kb/plugin-requirements/. * 3. Can you tell me which DB_CHARSET and DB_COLLATION are set in your wp-config. php? If you are not sure, your host provider can help. We ask as the charset would need to be utf8. It shouldn’t be empty or show a collation like utf8_general_ci or utf8mb4_unicode_ci. * [@stoffb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stoffb/) [@nocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nocean/) If you are still experiencing the issue per the [forum guidelines](https://wordpress.org/support/forum-user-guide/faq/#i-have-the-same-problem-can-i-just-reply-to-someone-elses-post-with-me-too), we ask that you please create separate topics for the issues you are experiencing. * That way it’s easier to track issues and provide assistance on your specific concerns on your specific site. Plus, you will get your own alerts for the issue rather than someone else’s. You may make a new topic here: [https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/#new-post](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/#new-post). * Thanks! * Thread Starter [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12821230) * Hi. * Thanks for answering so quickly. * > 1. Verify your database has the Table and Index permissions along with Create, > Drop, and Alter required to create these tables in your database: wp_yoast_indexable, > wp_yoast_indexable_hierarchy, wp_yoast_migrations, wp_yoast_primary_term. If > you are not sure, your host provider can help. * Yes, it has all the permissions: alter, alter routine, create, create routine, create temporary tables, create view, delete, drop, event, execute, index, insert, lock tables, references, select, show view, trigger and update. * Screenshot: [https://tinyurl.com/yb5akj5q](https://tinyurl.com/yb5akj5q) * The first day I asked my hosting to review it and confirm that everything is correct. * > 2. Can you confirm your server has all the right requirements? If you are not > sure, speak to your host provider. This guide explains more: [https://kb.yoast.com/kb/plugin-requirements/](https://kb.yoast.com/kb/plugin-requirements/). * WP Version: 5.4 PHP Version: 7.1 PHP Memory: 512M Database management systems: 10.3.22-MariaDB Browser (desktop): Chrome 80.0.3987.149 (Build oficial) (64 bits) * > 3. Can you tell me which DB_CHARSET and DB_COLLATION are set in your wp-config. > php? If you are not sure, your host provider can help. We ask as the charset > would need to be utf8. It shouldn’t be empty or show a collation like utf8_general_ci > or utf8mb4_unicode_ci. * ‘DB_CHARSET’, ‘utf8’ ‘DB_COLLATE’, ‘utf8mb4’ * Thanks again. * [Jeroen Rotty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeroenrotty/) * (@jeroenrotty) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12832928) * Hi [@efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/), * Thank you for your reply. * The COLLATE being set on ‘utf8mb4’ is incorrect, as that is a charset and not a collation. Can you please empty it so it reads `‘DB_COLLATE’, ‘’`. * After doing so, can you then please do the same steps Rafael mentioned earlier: * 1. Install & activate the Yoast Test Helper plugin 2. Go to Tools -> Yoast Test 3. Hit the “Reset indexables & migrations” button 4. Update to Yoast SEO 14.1. 6. Click the “Click here to speed up your site now” button. * Can you please let us know if this works? * Thread Starter [efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/) * (@efquintana) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12834129) * I hate when serious problems go through something so stupid ¬ ¬ * Indeed, with this change the problem was solved and after the update everything seems to work correctly again. I mark the topic as resolved. * Thank you very much for the help and for the work you do 🙂 * [Jeroen Rotty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeroenrotty/) * (@jeroenrotty) * [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12834307) * Awesome, thanks for your reply [@efquintana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/efquintana/). Happy to hear it’s fixed. Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) The topic ‘“Error Unknown collation” in update’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/wordpress-seo/assets/icon-256x256.gif?rev=3419908) * [Yoast SEO - Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wordpress-seo/reviews/) * 11 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [Jeroen Rotty](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeroenrotty/) * Last activity: [6 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-unknown-collation-in-update/#post-12834307) * Status: resolved