Title: SQL error database gone away.
Last modified: August 21, 2016

---

# SQL error database gone away.

 *  Resolved [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/)
 * I a reviewed other posts on this, but I am creating a new one. Because I am not
   versed in this type of thing and I did not see all of the events I encountered.
   I get this error, and variations, intermittently. Especially when I update/install
   anything. Shorter errors come in when a Page Loads – when I am in the WordPress
   admin area – then goes away. And a line may appear in one of the boxes on the
   Edit Screens.
 * I backed up my database – but if it has errors I don’t know if it is helpful.
 * Strange and scary: At one point I got a Word Press screen to install a site. 
   Then later my site reappeared.
 * Here is the error message after I installed a plugin:
 *     ```
       Downloading install package from https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wp-pro-quiz.0.28.zip…
   
       Unpacking the package…
   
       Installing the plugin…
   
       Successfully installed the plugin Wp-Pro-Quiz 0.28.
   
       Activate Plugin | Return to Plugin Installer
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":4:{s:7:\"updates\";a:1:{i:0;O:8:\"stdClass\":10:{s:8:\"response\";s:6:\"latest\";s:8:\"download\";s:41:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1.zip\";s:6:\"locale\";s:5:\"en_US\";s:8:\"packages\";O:8:\"stdClass\":5:{s:4:\"full\";s:41:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1.zip\";s:10:\"no_content\";s:52:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1-no-content.zip\";s:11:\"new_bundled\";s:53:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1-new-bundled.zip\";s:7:\"partial\";b:0;s:8:\"rollback\";b:0;}s:7:\"current\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:7:\"version\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:11:\"php_version\";s:5:\"5.2.4\";s:13:\"mysql_version\";s:3:\"5.0\";s:11:\"new_bundled\";s:3:\"3.8\";s:15:\"partial_version\";s:0:\"\";}}s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048324;s:15:\"version_checked\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_core'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       SELECT COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"administrator"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"editor"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"author"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"contributor"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"subscriber"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"bbp\_keymaster"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"bbp\_spectator"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"bbp\_blocked"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"bbp\_moderator"%', false)), COUNT(NULLIF(<code>meta_value</code> LIKE '%"bbp\_participant"%', false)), COUNT(*) FROM wp_usermeta WHERE meta_key = 'wp_capabilities'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":4:{s:7:\"updates\";a:1:{i:0;O:8:\"stdClass\":10:{s:8:\"response\";s:6:\"latest\";s:8:\"download\";s:41:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1.zip\";s:6:\"locale\";s:5:\"en_US\";s:8:\"packages\";O:8:\"stdClass\":5:{s:4:\"full\";s:41:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1.zip\";s:10:\"no_content\";s:52:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1-no-content.zip\";s:11:\"new_bundled\";s:53:\"https://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.8.1-new-bundled.zip\";s:7:\"partial\";b:0;s:8:\"rollback\";b:0;}s:7:\"current\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:7:\"version\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:11:\"php_version\";s:5:\"5.2.4\";s:13:\"mysql_version\";s:3:\"5.0\";s:11:\"new_bundled\";s:3:\"3.8\";s:15:\"partial_version\";s:0:\"\";}}s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048325;s:15:\"version_checked\";s:5:\"3.8.1\";s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_core'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":4:{s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048325;s:7:\"checked\";a:42:{s:26:\"secure-wordpress/index.php\";s:5:\"3.0.1\";s:35:\"advanced-iframe/advanced-iframe.php\";s:3:\"5.4\";s:45:\"advanced-menu-widget/advanced-menu-widget.php\";s:3:\"0.3\";s:47:\"advanced-page-manager/advanced_page_manager.php\";s:3:\"1.2\";s:19:\"akismet/akismet.php\";s:5:\"2.5.9\";s:61:\"breadcrumb-navigation-widget/breadcrumb-navigation-widget.php\";s:3:\"1.4\";s:19:\"bbpress/bbpress.php\";s:5:\"2.5.3\";s:49:\"content-aware-sidebars/content-aware-sidebars.php\";s:5:\"2.0.3\";s:43:\"contextual-nav-menu/contextual-nav-menu.php\";s:5:\"1.1.1\";s:34:\"custom-sidebars/customsidebars.php\";s:3:\"1.4\";s:37:\"disable-comments/disable-comments.php\";s:5:\"1.0.3\";s:19:\"zemanta/zemanta.php\";s:5:\"1.2.4\";s:27:\"exam-matrix/exam-matrix.php\";s:3:\"1.5\";s:41:\"sem-external-links/sem-external-links.php\";s:5:\"5.2.1\";s:29:\"fetch-tweets/fetch-tweets.php\";s:7:\"1.3.3.9\";s:37:\"fiat-sidebar-nav/fiat-sidebar-nav.php\";s:3:\"1.0\";s:36:\"google-sitemap-generator/sitemap.php\";s:3:\"3.4\";s:79:\"image-pro-wordpress-image-media-management-and-resizing-done-right/imagepro.php\";s:4:\"0.31\";s:33:\"importyourpost/importyourpost.php\";s:3:\"1.0\";s:65:\"intelliwidget-per-page-featured-posts-and-menus/intelliwidget.php\";s:5:\"1.4.6\";s:45:\"internal-link-widget/internal-link-widget.php\";s:3:\"0.1\";s:33:\"ix-show-latest-youtube/loader.php\";s:3:\"2.2\";s:34:\"jc-navigation-page/jc-nav-page.php\";s:3:\"1.3\";s:29:\"link-library/link-library.php\";s:7:\"5.8.1.2\";s:39:\"multiple-sidebars/multiple-sidebars.php\";s:5:\"1.2.9\";s:38:\"multi-plugin-installer/mpinstaller.php\";s:5:\"1.0.0\";s:44:\"php-image-editor-lite/phpimageeditorlite.php\";s:3:\"0.7\";s:39:\"pinterest-widgets/pinterest-widgets.php\";s:5:\"1.0.0\";s:26:\"plugnedit/PlugNedit-WP.php\";s:5:\"4.3.4\";s:31:\"posts-to-page/posts-to-page.php\";s:3:\"1.7\";s:47:\"wp-rss-multi-importer/wp-rss-multi-importer.php\";s:6:\"2.67.4\";s:63:\"shortcodes-in-sidebar-widgets/shortcodes-in-sidebar-widgets.php\";s:3:\"1.1\";s:65:\"sidebar-content-from-shortcode/sidebar-content-from-shortcode.php\";s:3:\"2.0\";s:45:\"simple-page-sidebars/simple-page-sidebars.php\";s:5:\"1.1.5\";s:44:\"simple-sidebar-navigation/simple-sidenav.php\";s:5:\"2.2.0\";s:25:\"subheading/subheading.php\";s:5:\"1.7.3\";s:13:\"watu/watu.php\";s:5:\"2.3.6\";s:53:\"widget-importer-exporter/widget-importer-exporter.php\";s:5:\"1.1.1\";s:45:\"widgetize-pages-light/otw_sidebar_manager.php\";s:4:\"1.10\";s:43:\"widget-manager-light/otw_widget_manager.php\";s:3:\"1.8\";s:25:\"wp-wrapper/wp-wrapper.php\";s:5:\"1.1.2\";s:35:\"youtube-channel/youtube-channel.php\";s:5:\"1.5.1\";}s:8:\"response\";a:0:{}s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_plugins'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":3:{s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048325;s:8:\"response\";a:0:{}s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_plugins'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":4:{s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048326;s:7:\"checked\";a:8:{s:8:\"ascetica\";s:5:\"0.3.5\";s:5:\"exray\";s:5:\"1.4.2\";s:6:\"hybrid\";s:3:\"1.2\";s:7:\"my-life\";s:3:\"0.3\";s:8:\"platform\";s:5:\"1.4.3\";s:14:\"twentyfourteen\";s:3:\"1.0\";s:14:\"twentythirteen\";s:3:\"1.1\";s:12:\"twentytwelve\";s:3:\"1.3\";}s:8:\"response\";a:0:{}s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_themes'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       UPDATE <code>wp_options</code> SET <code>option_value</code> = 'O:8:\"stdClass\":4:{s:12:\"last_checked\";i:1392048327;s:7:\"checked\";a:8:{s:8:\"ascetica\";s:5:\"0.3.5\";s:5:\"exray\";s:5:\"1.4.2\";s:6:\"hybrid\";s:3:\"1.2\";s:7:\"my-life\";s:3:\"0.3\";s:8:\"platform\";s:5:\"1.4.3\";s:14:\"twentyfourteen\";s:3:\"1.0\";s:14:\"twentythirteen\";s:3:\"1.1\";s:12:\"twentytwelve\";s:3:\"1.3\";}s:8:\"response\";a:0:{}s:12:\"translations\";a:0:{}}' WHERE <code>option_name</code> = '_site_transient_update_themes'
   
       WordPress database error: [MySQL server has gone away]
       SELECT autoload FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = '_site_transient_update_plugins'
       ```
   

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596706)
 * > [MySQL server has gone away]
 * These are hosting issues. Try asking your hosts about them.
 *  Thread Starter [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596707)
 * I backed up the entire file of my site as well as the database. But if the database
   goes away -will I still be able to use the site files?
 * Thank you
 *  Thread Starter [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596712)
 * I thought it may be a host issue. I have already notified them. The site functions
   so far, so it does not warrant much action I guess.
 * Thank you for responding so quickly.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596714)
 * > will I still be able to use the site files?
 * Yes but virtually all of your site’s content is in your database, so the files
   by themselves will be of no use.
 *  Thread Starter [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596720)
 * Let me clarify. I do not have meaningful content yet. I am setting up the backend.
   So if I reinstall WP can I use the files? I am interested in the structure. And
   plugins.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596722)
 * Sorry – yes. You can re-use the WordPress core files to re-install.
 *  Thread Starter [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596724)
 * Thank you again. I so appreciate your patience and expertise.
 *  Thread Starter [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * (@tools4toni)
 * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596728)
 * I shall close this now.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘SQL error database gone away.’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [Database Error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database-error/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 8 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Toni](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tools4toni/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-error-database-gone-away/#post-4596728)
 * Status: resolved

## Topics

### Topics with no replies

### Non-support topics

### Resolved topics

### Unresolved topics

### All topics