How to Manage MySQL Databases

Managing MySQL Databases for Your Website

MySQL databases are the backbone of most modern websites. They store all of the dynamic content your site relies on — blog posts, user accounts, product listings, form submissions, settings, and more. Nearly every popular web application, including WordPress, Joomla, and WooCommerce, requires at least one MySQL database to function. The FREAKHOSTING Web Hosting Control Panel makes it easy to create and manage databases directly from your browser.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Time

5 Minutes

When Do You Need a Database?

If you are new to web hosting, you might be wondering whether you actually need a database. Here is a simple way to think about it: You need a database if your website stores or displays content that changes. A plain HTML page with static text and images does not need one. But the moment your site needs to remember things — like user logins, blog posts, product inventory, or form submissions — a database is required.

You Need a Database For

WordPress, Joomla, or any CMS. Online stores (WooCommerce, PrestaShop). Forums, membership sites, or booking systems. Any app with a login system or search feature.

You Don't Need a Database For

A simple HTML/CSS portfolio page. A static landing page with no forms. A site built entirely with static files and no backend logic.

If you are installing WordPress or any similar application, the installer will ask you for database details. That is your cue — you need to set one up here first.

Accessing the Databases Section

Navigate to https://web.freakhosting.com and sign in with the credentials provided in your welcome email.

Open the Databases Tab

Click on Databases in the top navigation bar. This section is where you create and manage all MySQL databases and database users associated with your hosting account.

If this is your first time here, you will see an empty state with a database icon and the message “No databases or users” along with the text: “Add MySQL databases with users that have different levels of access.” Two buttons are available: a teal Add database button and an outlined Add user button.

If you do not see the Databases tab, your hosting plan may not include MySQL database access. Please check your plan details or contact support for assistance.

Real-World Example: Setting Up a Database for WordPress

Before diving into the individual steps, let’s walk through a complete, real scenario. Say you just purchased hosting and you want to install WordPress. Here is exactly what you would do:

Go to the Databases tab and click Add database. Name it something like wordpress (the panel may prefix it with your account name, making it something like fh_wordpress).
Click Add user. Create a user called wpadmin with a strong password like G7$kLm9!pQx2. The panel may prefix this too, giving you fh_wpadmin.
Assign the fh_wpadmin user to the fh_wordpress database with All Privileges.
Head to your dashboard and find the MySQL IPv4 Address in the At a Glance panel (for example, 191.96.94.5) — click the copy button next to it.
When the WordPress installer asks for your database details, enter:
- Database Name: fh_wordpress
- Username: fh_wpadmin
- Password: G7$kLm9!pQx2
- Database Host: 191.96.94.5

That is it. WordPress connects, creates its tables, and you are up and running. The steps below break down each part in more detail.

Write down your database name, username, and password somewhere safe before starting your app installation. You will need all three, and there is nothing worse than having to reset credentials mid-setup.

Creating a New Database

Click Add Database

On the Databases page, click the teal Add database button.

Enter a Database Name

Type a name for your new database. Choose something descriptive that helps you identify what the database is used for (e.g., wordpress, shop, or blog). The system will automatically add a prefix based on your account name, so wordpress might become fh_wordpress.

Confirm Creation

Click Save or Create to finish. Your new database will appear in the list immediately.

Use short, lowercase names without spaces or special characters for your databases. This makes them easier to type when configuring applications and avoids compatibility issues. Good examples: wordpress, store, myapp. Bad examples: My Website DB!, test 123.

Creating Database Users

A database on its own is like a locked room with no key. You need to create a database user and assign it to the database before anything can actually read or write data inside it.

What Are Database Users and Privileges?

Think of it this way: the database is a filing cabinet, and a database user is a person with a key. Privileges determine what that person is allowed to do — just read the files, add new ones, edit existing ones, or throw everything away and start over. Here are the common privilege levels you will encounter:

Privilege	What It Means
All Privileges	Full access — read, write, create tables, delete data, everything. Use this for apps like WordPress that need to manage their own database structure.
Read Only	Can view data but cannot change anything. Useful for reporting tools or backup scripts.
Read/Write	Can view and modify data, but cannot change the database structure itself.

For the vast majority of web applications (WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, etc.), you want All Privileges. When in doubt, grant all privileges to the user for its own dedicated database.

Creating a User Step by Step

Click Add User

On the Databases page, click the outlined Add user button.

Set a Username

Enter a username for the new database user. Keep it short and descriptive, like wpadmin or shopuser. The system may add a prefix automatically (e.g., fh_wpadmin).

Set a Strong Password

Create a strong password for the user. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — something like G7$kLm9!pQx2. Many applications will require you to enter this password later during setup, so save it somewhere secure.

Assign Access and Privileges

Select which database(s) this user should have access to, and choose the appropriate privilege level. For most website applications like WordPress, granting All Privileges to the user on its designated database is the correct choice.

Save the User

Click Save or Create to finalize the new database user. Make a note of the username and password — you will need them when configuring your website or application.

Keep your database passwords stored securely. If someone gains access to your database credentials, they can read, modify, or delete all of the data in your database. Never share credentials over unencrypted channels like plain-text email.

Managing Existing Databases

Once you have created databases and users, you can manage them at any time from the Databases page.

View Databases

All of your databases are listed on the Databases page with their names and associated users.

Manage Users

Click on a database or user to update passwords, change privilege levels, or reassign users to different databases.

Delete

Remove databases or users you no longer need. Deleting a database permanently erases all data stored inside it.

Connecting Your App to the Database

When configuring a website or application, you will need to provide your database connection details. Here is where to find each piece of information:

Detail	Where to Find It
Database Host / MySQL Address	Shown on the control panel dashboard under the At a Glance section as the MySQL IPv4 Address (e.g., `191.96.94.5`). Click the copy button next to it.
Database Name	The name you chose when creating the database, visible on the Databases page (including the prefix).
Database Username	The username you created for the database user (including the prefix).
Database Password	The password you set when creating the database user.

Use the MySQL IPv4 Address shown on your dashboard — not localhost. Because your database server may be hosted separately from your web server, using the correct IP address ensures a successful connection.

Example: WordPress wp-config.php

If you are configuring WordPress manually (rather than using the web installer), you would edit the wp-config.php file with your database details. The relevant section looks like this conceptually:

// ** Database settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //

/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define( 'DB_NAME', 'fh_wordpress' );

/** Database username */
define( 'DB_USER', 'fh_wpadmin' );

/** Database password */
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'G7$kLm9!pQx2' );

/** Database hostname — use the MySQL IPv4 Address from your dashboard */
define( 'DB_HOST', '191.96.94.5' );

Replace the example values with your actual database name, username, password, and MySQL IPv4 address. That is all WordPress needs to connect.

Most web applications ask for these details during installation. WordPress, for example, prompts you to enter the database host, name, username, and password in its setup wizard — you do not usually need to edit config files by hand.

Example: General PHP Connection

For a custom PHP application, connecting to your database would look something like this:

$connection = new mysqli('191.96.94.5', 'fh_wpadmin', 'G7$kLm9!pQx2', 'fh_wordpress');

if ($connection->connect_error) {
    die('Connection failed: ' . $connection->connect_error);
}
echo 'Connected successfully!';

The key takeaway is the same for any application: you need four pieces of information — host, username, password, and database name.

Using phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is a web-based tool that lets you browse, search, edit, and manage your MySQL databases through a visual interface. Think of it as a spreadsheet viewer for your database — you can see all your tables, click through rows of data, run searches, and even edit individual records. No command-line knowledge required. What can you do with phpMyAdmin?

Browse your database tables and see what is stored inside them
Run SQL queries if you need to fix something specific
Import a database backup (.sql file) when migrating from another host
Export your entire database as a backup file
Search across all tables for a specific value (handy for debugging)
Optimize or repair tables that have become slow or corrupted

Check for phpMyAdmin Access

Look for a phpMyAdmin link or button on the Databases page or in your control panel dashboard. If available, click it to launch the tool in a new browser tab.

Enter your database username and password when prompted. You will be connected directly to the databases that user has access to.

Browse and Manage Data

From here you can view tables, run SQL queries, import or export data, and perform administrative tasks like optimizing or repairing tables.

phpMyAdmin is especially useful for importing large SQL files (such as database backups) or quickly searching through your data without needing to install any software on your computer.

Common Use Cases

WordPress and CMS Installations

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and other content management systems all require a MySQL database. During installation, you will be asked to enter your database host, name, username, and password. Create a dedicated database and user for each CMS installation to keep your data organized and secure.

E-Commerce Applications

Online stores built with WooCommerce, PrestaShop, or OpenCart rely on a database to store products, orders, customer information, and inventory. Performance matters here — keep your database clean and consider regular optimization.

Custom Web Applications

If you are building a custom PHP, Python, or Node.js application, you can connect to your MySQL database using the connection details from your control panel. Use the MySQL IPv4 Address as the host, and reference your database name, username, and password in your application’s configuration file.

Migrating a Database from Another Host

To move a database from another hosting provider, export it as an .sql file from your old host (using phpMyAdmin or a command-line tool), create a new database and user in the FREAKHOSTING panel, then import the .sql file through phpMyAdmin.

Best Practices

One Database Per Application

Avoid sharing a single database between multiple websites or applications. Keeping them separate improves security and makes troubleshooting much easier.

Use Strong Passwords

Always use complex, unique passwords for each database user. Never reuse passwords from other accounts or services.

Back Up Regularly

Export your databases on a regular schedule using phpMyAdmin or an automated backup plugin. This ensures you can recover your data if something goes wrong.

Limit User Privileges

Only grant the permissions each user actually needs. If an application only reads data, do not give its database user full write or admin privileges.

If you are using WordPress, consider installing a backup plugin that automatically saves your database on a schedule. This way you always have a recent copy of your data without having to remember to export it manually.

Troubleshooting

Having trouble connecting? Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:

Error: Access denied for user

This means your username or password is wrong. Double-check that you are using the full prefixed username (e.g., fh_wpadmin, not just wpadmin) and that the password matches exactly, including capitalization and special characters. If unsure, reset the password from the Databases page.

Error: Can't connect to MySQL server

You are probably using localhost instead of the actual MySQL IPv4 address. Go to your dashboard, find the MySQL IPv4 Address in the At a Glance panel, and use that IP address as your database host.

Error: Unknown database

The database name you entered does not match any database on your account. Check the Databases page for the exact name, including the prefix. Remember, wordpress and fh_wordpress are different names.

My app installed but the site shows a database connection error

This usually happens when database credentials were entered correctly during installation but have since changed, or when the database server is temporarily unreachable. Verify your credentials in your app’s configuration file and confirm the MySQL IPv4 address has not changed.

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Last Updated: March 2026 | Web Hosting Support: MySQL database management simplified.

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How to Manage MySQL Databases

Managing MySQL Databases for Your Website

Difficulty

Time

When Do You Need a Database?

You Need a Database For

You Don't Need a Database For

Accessing the Databases Section

Real-World Example: Setting Up a Database for WordPress

Creating a New Database

Creating Database Users

What Are Database Users and Privileges?

Creating a User Step by Step

Managing Existing Databases

View Databases

Manage Users

Delete

Connecting Your App to the Database

Example: WordPress wp-config.php

Example: General PHP Connection

Using phpMyAdmin

Common Use Cases

Best Practices

One Database Per Application

Use Strong Passwords

Back Up Regularly

Limit User Privileges

Troubleshooting

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting

​Managing MySQL Databases for Your Website

Difficulty

Time

​When Do You Need a Database?

You Need a Database For

You Don't Need a Database For

​Accessing the Databases Section

​Real-World Example: Setting Up a Database for WordPress

​Creating a New Database

​Creating Database Users

​What Are Database Users and Privileges?

​Creating a User Step by Step

​Managing Existing Databases

View Databases

Manage Users

Delete

​Connecting Your App to the Database

​Example: WordPress wp-config.php

​Example: General PHP Connection

​Using phpMyAdmin

​Common Use Cases

​Best Practices

One Database Per Application

Use Strong Passwords

Back Up Regularly

Limit User Privileges

​Troubleshooting

​Need Extra Help?

​Save on Your Hosting

Managing MySQL Databases for Your Website

When Do You Need a Database?

Accessing the Databases Section

Real-World Example: Setting Up a Database for WordPress

Creating a New Database

Creating Database Users

What Are Database Users and Privileges?

Creating a User Step by Step

Managing Existing Databases

Connecting Your App to the Database

Example: WordPress wp-config.php

Example: General PHP Connection

Using phpMyAdmin

Common Use Cases

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting