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infoWordPress Core•webwordpresserrorerroradmin_panel_settingspermissionsfolderfilesystemhourglass_bottomloading-issue•star_halfUncommon•check_circleEasy

Error: The wp-config.php file is missing

WordPress looks for a readable wp-config.php file in the site root. If the file is absent, unreadable, or misnamed, WordPress stops loading and shows a missing-file error.

The error appears before any theme or plugin code runs. It prevents database connection and blocks access to the admin area.

Symptoms

[dashicons-warning]
White screen with error message
A blank page displays “Error: The wp-config.php file is missing”.
[dashicons-admin-site]
Login page does not load
Attempting to reach wp-admin shows the same error instead of the login form.
[dashicons-admin-network]
404 for wp-config.php in console
Browser console reports a 404 request for wp-config.php.

Common Causes

File deleted or never created
The wp-config.php file was removed during cleanup or was not generated during installation.
Incorrect permissions or ownership
Web server user lacks read permission, so PHP cannot include the file.
File placed in wrong location
The file resides outside the root directory without a custom loader.
Case‑sensitivity mismatch
File name uses different case on a Linux server, causing it to be ignored.
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