The error “MySQL server has gone away” is a common problem that can occur when your website tries to communicate with your database and the connection fails. There are several possible causes and solutions for this error, depending on your situation. Here are some of the most common methods to fix it:
Method 1: Edit Your WordPress wp-db.php File
If your website’s PHP timeout setting is too low and your database is too large, fetching the data you need during that window can be a problem. As we mentioned before, this can trigger the “MySQL server has gone away” error.
To fix this, you can try increasing the PHP timeout limit by editing your WordPress wp-db.php file. This file is located in the wp-includes folder within your WordPress root directory. You can access it using an FTP client or a file manager tool.
Once you open the file, look for the following line of code:
$this->ready = true;
Right below it, add this line:
$this->query("set session wait_timeout=300");
This will increase the PHP timeout limit to 300 seconds, which should be enough for most cases. However, you can adjust this value according to your needs.
Save the changes and check if the error is gone.
Method 2: Repair Your WordPress Database
Sometimes, the “MySQL server has gone away” error can be caused by a corrupted or broken table within your database. This can happen due to various reasons, such as a power outage, a malware attack, or a faulty plugin.
To fix this, you can try repairing your WordPress database using the built-in repair tool. To do this, you need to edit your wp-config.php file, which is also located in your WordPress root directory.
Open the file and add this line of code at the bottom:
define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
Save the changes and then visit this URL:
Replace “yourwebsite.com” with your actual domain name. You should see a screen like this:
WordPress database repair tool
Click on Repair Database and wait for the process to finish. Once it’s done, check if the error is gone.
Don’t forget to remove the line of code you added to your wp-config.php file after repairing your database, as leaving it there can pose a security risk.
Method 3: Restore Your Website Using a Backup
If none of the above methods work for you, you might have to resort to restoring your website using a backup. This can help you revert your website to a previous state when it was working properly and without errors.
However, this method depends on whether you have a recent backup of your website or not. If you don’t have one, you might lose some of your data or changes.
There are different ways to restore your website using a backup, depending on how you created it. For example, if you used a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy, you can follow their instructions to restore your website.
Alternatively, if you have a backup created by your hosting provider, you can contact them and ask them to restore your website for you.
We hope this article helped you fix the “MySQL server has gone away” error in WordPress. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
