Run WordPress on SQLite.
The SQLite plugin is a community, feature plugin. The intent is to allow testing an SQLite integration with WordPress and gather feedback, with the goal of eventually landing it in WordPress core.
The plugin replaces the default MySQL database layer with an SQLite-backed implementation. WordPress continues to use its standard wpdb API while the plugin translates and emulates MySQL queries for SQLite.
What the plugin provides
- No database server. Your site’s data is stored in a local SQLite database.
- Guided setup. The installation screen checks for the required PHP extension, write access, and conflicting database drop-ins before enabling SQLite.
- Purpose-built compatibility. A MySQL parser and emulation layer adapt MySQL syntax and behavior for SQLite.
- Useful diagnostics. SQLite details appear in Site Health, and Query Monitor is supported.
Important: Enabling SQLite creates a separate, empty database; it does not migrate an existing site. If you enable it on a site that uses MySQL or MariaDB, WordPress will ask you to set up the site again. Disabling the plugin reconnects WordPress to the previous database with its data unchanged. Changes made while using SQLite are not transferred.
The plugin requires the PDO SQLite PHP extension and SQLite 3.37.0 or newer.