Repair SQLite Database Manually – SQLite Data Recovery from Corrupt Database

Do you know how important SQLite database is? But a sort of corruption can put your SQLite database at high risk. Like other database files, SQLite database is also prone to corruption. There are various reasons which cause SQLite database corruption in SQLite database and lead to data loss. You must repair SQLite database, so that you can save your crucial data. There’s an easy manual trick you can use here to repair SQLite database. Also, you can use a professional recovery solution like SQLite Database Recovery tool, to perform SQLite data recovery from corrupt database files.

   

SQLite – Relational Database Management System

SQLite is a highly popular relational database management system or RDMS contained in a C programming library. Unlike other database management systems, SQLite is not a client-server database engine. In fact, it’s embedded into the end program. For those who are looking for an embedded database software for local/client storage in application software, SQLite would be the best choice.

As compared to others, SQLite is the most widely deployed database engine. And that’s why it’s excessively used by several widespread browsers, operating systems, and embedded systems (such as mobile phones). SQLite uses an embedded SQL database engine. But doesn’t have a separate server process unlike other SQL databases. It can read and write directly to ordinary disk files. In a single disk file, a complete SQL database is contained with multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views.

SQLite Database Corruption

Generally it’s said that an SQLite database is highly resistant to corruption. This means corruption doesn’t occur in SQLite database often. Do you know why? Whenever an application or operating system crashes, or even a sudden power failure takes place in the middle of a transaction, SQLite automatically rolls back the partially written transaction next time when you access the database file. This recovery process is fully automatic, hence it doesn’t require any action from the application or end-user. However being so resistant, an SQLite database is not immune to corruption. There are various reasons which can cause SQLite database corruption in SQLite database. Some of the most common reasons are:

Reason #1

SQLite database file is being overwritten by a rogue (bad) thread or process. An SQLite database file is an ordinary disk file which means any process can open the file and overwrite it with any type of garbage. And unluckily the SQLite library can do nothing to defend against this.

Reason #2

Sometimes file locking problems can also cause SQLite database corruption in SQLite database. How? SQLite uses file locks on the database file as well as on the Write-Ahead Logging or WAL file. And the reason is just because to coordinate access between concurrent processes. Without such coordination, two threads or processes may cause incompatible changes to a database file at the same time, which will result in SQLite database corruption.

Reason #3

Failure in disk drive and flash memory is another common reason for SQLite database corruption. Whenever a file content changes due to a disk drive or flash memory failure, SQLite database may become corrupt.

Reason #4

The configuration errors occurred in SQLite database can lead to corruption. There are many built-in protections in SQLite which work against database corruption. But sometimes the configuration options can disable many of these protections. And such an inappropriate action may cause SQLite database corruption.

Reason #5

The internal bugs in SQLite are also harmful for its database. Though it’s said that SQLite is as bug-free as possible, but no software is 100% perfect. Few bugs which caused SQLite database corruption in earlier days, have been fixed now. But there might be some bugs which are still undiscovered.

Reason #6

Sometimes the memory corruption problem can cause corruption in SQLite database. How? Since SQLite is a C-library running in the same address space as the application, this means stray pointers, buffer overruns, heap corruption, or other malfunctions in the application can corrupt the internal structure of SQLite database. And ultimately, this will result in a corrupt database file.

Few other reasons which include virus infection, sudden system shutdown, abruptly power failure, software malfunction or collision, storage media failure, etc. can also cause SQLite database corruption.

Use Backup to Restore SQLite Database Content

Whenever you face SQLite database corruption, the chances are high for data loss. Whatever is corrupt, it can’t be opened or accessed. Corruption makes SQLite database inaccessible. You’re so lucky if you have a valid backup for your SQLite database. You can restore SQLite database from its backup. But make sure that backup is valid, i.e. not corrupt. But if your backup file is corrupt or you don’t have any backup, you have two options: either you can repair SQLite database manually or you can use a professional solution for SQLite data recovery.

Also view some more database file recovery tips:

How to Repair SQLite database?

If you’re facing SQLite database corruption and you to repair SQLite database, just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: First of all, open DB Browser for SQLite on your system.

Step 2: Now you need to run database check command. For that, click Execute SQL tab.

Step 3: Type PRAGMA integrity_check and click play button. If SQLite database is corrupt, you would see some errors there. But if your SQLite database is fine, you would see, “Query executed successfully: PRAGMA integrity_check (took 0ms)”.

Step 4: If you face any error in the database, you can export the database into SQL file. For that, click File tab on top > Export > Database to SQL file…

Step 5: Now select the objects you want to export on Export SQL… dialog box. Also, define other options as well.

Step 6: Then click OK to start the exporting process.

Once the database is successfully exported, you need to import the database back to SQLite browser. How?

Step 7: Click File tab on top > Import > Database from SQL file…

This action will repair SQLite database, and then you can easily open it.

Also Read: Corrupt SharePoint Server Database Recovery?

Professional Solution for SQLite Data Recovery

If you fail to repair SQLite database manually due to severe corruption, you must use a professional solution for SQLite data recovery. Download free demo version SQLite Database Recovery software to repair SQLite database and recover SQLite database. It supports SQLite database files created by SQLite2 and SQLite3. Via this software, you can restore SQLite database objects like tables, indices, views and triggers from corrupt SQLite database. And it can save all the recovered database objects into a new SQLite database or MDB database (MS Access). By using demo version, you can see what you could recover from the corrupt SQLite database before you can actually pay for the software.

Related Post