Hi, WordPress wizards!
I’m getting messages via the WP admin side for a site I maintain for a small non-profit saying that the SQL server is outdated. The site is currently using mySQL version 5.6.0. WP is recommending that I should be using version 8.0 or higher. It helpfully suggests that I “contact the web hosting company to correct this.” I’d prefer not to spend tons of time on hold to talk with the tech support folks at the hosting company if I can avoid it. I’d also like to not knock the site over out of not knowing what I’m doing.
I’m assuming that changing the mySQL version of the live database is a bad choice. I was thinking that I could create a new database (which would be version 8.0), and “migrate” the site to it. Do I have to then rebuild it (install a new instance of WP, add the necessary themes and plugins, migrate the site content with a migration plugin/upload a backup of the current database)? Is there a plugin I can use to streamline the process? And once it’s migrated, what’s the best way to point the site to the new database so that the live site is using the newer version of SQL?
Is there a better solution?
Thank you for your expertise!
Depends entirely on your hosting. Do you have MySQL 8.x installed? If so, then yes it’s as simple as exporting your sql file from 5.x, creating an empty db in 8.x (as well as a user) and importing the sql file. Then update the connection strings in wp-config.php.
That said, if you aren’t technical, speak to your host.