WordPress: Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL extension which is required by WordPress
PHP doesn’t have the mysqli extension loaded, so WordPress can’t talk to the database.
Exact message you may see
Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL extension which is required by WordPressmissing the MySQL extension
Seen on:
WordPress
Meaning
Fresh servers or PHP version switches often lack php-mysql. The CLI and web PHP can be different versions with different extensions.
Common causes
- php-mysql (mysqli) package not installed for this PHP version
- PHP upgraded/switched without extensions
- Web server using a different PHP than expected
⚡ Quick fix
- Install the extension for the PHP version in use
- Restart PHP-FPM/Apache
- Check phpinfo() for mysqli
Detailed fix by platform
Ubuntu
- php
php -v sudo apt install php8.3-mysql sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpm
How to diagnose
- Version — PHP used by the web server
- Extension — mysqli in phpinfo?
🔧 Still not fixed?
Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:
Similar errors
Most viewed in WordPress
- Critical error WordPress: There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website
- 403 Forbidden wp-admin WordPress: 403 Forbidden on wp-admin, wp-login.php or admin-ajax.php
- There was an error trying to send your message Contact Form 7: There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later.
Other ways to find it
Where this error sits
Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):
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Last updated 12 Oct 2026