Installer fails because the database is not empty.
Database Already Exists
Key Points: Installer fails because the database is not empty.
You hit install and WordPress says the database already exists. Uh-oh. It won’t overwrite — it’ll just stall.
🔍 Common Triggers
- Configuration mistakes specific to this issue
- Server settings not aligned with WordPress needs
- Missing files or incorrect paths
🛠️ How to Solve It
- Review your installation environment (PHP, MySQL, permissions, file paths)
- Follow any specific error messages or debug logs
- Try installing on a fresh test environment to isolate the error
💡 Tips
- Double-check every detail — installation problems are often simple misconfigurations
- Use host-provided tools (cPanel, terminal, logs) to diagnose deeper server issues
- Keep backups, even at the installation stage, especially if reusing databases or files