How to fix “Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL extension which is required by WordPress”

The error is a common issue when upgrading PHP versions for WordPress sites. The message means that the mysqli extension, which is required by WordPress to communicate with MySQL databases, is either not installed or not enabled for the version of PHP you’re trying to use.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue:

1. Log into cPanel: Open your web browser and access your cPanel.
2. Locate “Select PHP Version”: Under the Software or Software/Services section, there should be an icon or link named “Select PHP Version” or something similar.
3. Select PHP 8.0: Make sure PHP 8.0 is selected in the dropdown list.
4. Check for mysqli Extension:
   • In the list of PHP extensions, look for mysqli.
   • If it’s unchecked or not listed, this is the cause of the problem.
   • If it’s unchecked, simply check the box next to mysqli.
   • If it’s not listed at all, it may mean that the PHP 8.0 installation on your server doesn’t include this extension, which would be unusual but not impossible.
5. Save Changes: If you’ve made any changes, make sure to save them, usually by clicking a “Save” or “Update” button at the bottom of the page.
6. Restart Web Server: This isn’t always necessary, but it can be helpful. If you have the ability to restart services like Apache or Nginx through your cPanel, you might consider doing so. Otherwise, this might be done automatically when you save changes.
7. Check Your Website: After you’ve made these changes, go back to your WordPress website and refresh the page. The error should now be gone, and your site should load as expected.

If the error persists, or if you encounter other issues, it could be due to:

• Other missing PHP extensions that your WordPress site or plugins require.
• Compatibility issues between PHP 8.0 and your WordPress plugins or themes. In this case, ensure all your plugins, themes, and WordPress itself are updated to the latest versions that support PHP 8.0.
• Server-side configurations that might be overriding your cPanel settings.

If you’re unable to resolve the issue using the above steps, it might be a good idea to contact your web hosting provider’s support for assistance. They should be familiar with these types of issues and can provide guidance specific to their hosting environment.