My SQL version "upgrade"

I am unable to use mysql ver 5.5 on local even though it is set in preferences. It “upgrades” to 5.6. I need 5.5 as my host uses 5.5
When I begin new site with mysql set to 5.5 in preferences it “upgrades” to 5.6 automatically.

Because of this I am unable to move sites from local to my host because of this. Host is on 5.5 and will not update.

Getting this error when importing database into host

Error
SQL query:

CREATE TABLE wp_commentmeta (
meta_id bigint(20) unsigned NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
comment_id bigint(20) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT ‘0’,
meta_key varchar(255) COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_520_ci DEFAULT NULL,
meta_value longtext COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_520_ci,
PRIMARY KEY (meta_id),
KEY comment_id (comment_id),
KEY meta_key (meta_key(191))
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_520_ci;
MySQL said: Documentation

#1273 - Unknown collation: ‘utf8mb4_unicode_520_ci’

Hi Ken,

Imports default as MySQL 5.6 to avoid that exact error when importing sites.

To make sure sites are created with MySQL 5.5, you can use the normal Add Site flow in the bottom left and then import the site manually.

Also, if your host is still on 5.5 then I would strongly advise asking them to upgrade MySQL or switching hosts since MySQL 5.5 is 7 years old.

Thanks for reply, wish I could switch hosts but not possible at this time.

Unfortunately, locking me into 5.6 is what is causing the error.

I am creating sites using bottom left + icon. How do I force 5.5? It gives me a message during creating it “upgrading to 5.6”

Cannot get it to use 5.5 and a blueprint.

If you’re using a Blueprint then it uses the MySQL version that the Blueprint was created with. Blueprints not only contain the site files and database, but also the configuration that you created the site with.

Makes sense, is there a way for me to create a blueprint site with 5.5. I just want a certain number of plugins and pages as base to start from to save a little time but unfortunately need 5.5.

Definitely!

Just create a new site using the Custom environment with MySQL 5.5 (it shouldn’t force the upgrade) selected and then you can save the Blueprint.

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