Fix WordPress "utf8mb4 requires a newer client library" error

Are you seeing "utf8mb4 requires a newer client library" in your WordPress site health screen, as shown in the screenshot below? You can solve this problem by adjusting the PHP options. You are going to disable 2 extensions and enable 2 new ones. Below we will explain the solution.

The cause

PHP extensions

You get this message if you have the extensions "mysqli" and "pdo_mysql" enabled in your PHP options.

The solution

Change PHP extensions

The most common solution is to adjust the PHP options. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin environment. (See also: https://mijn.host/kb/webhosting/hoe-log-ik-in-op-directadmin)
2. Once logged in, go to the menu and select "Extra Features > Select PHP version".

   

3. You will now see the overview of all PHP options. Here you disable the options "mysqli" and "pdo_mysql".
4. Once the options from step 3 are disabled, you can enable the options "nd_mysqli" and "nd_pdo_mysql".
   See the image below:

   

The message should now be gone from the site health screen.

If you cannot figure it out or if the message is still there, you can always contact our support department.