# Can't install or import a site: "Something bad happened"
**URL:** https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987
**Category:** Application Support
**Created:** [February 17, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987 "2026-02-17T20:25:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/1 "2026-02-17T20:25:35Z")
Apologies if this has been solved elsewhere, but I didn’t see a clear resolution on the other threads I found here. I am running:
MacOS: 26.2 (25C56)
DevKinsta: Version 2.13.6 (2.13.6.9096)
Docker: 4.60.1 (218372)
I am brand new to Kinsta coming over from Flywheel, for what that’s worth. Previously worked with their Local tool for local dev. I need to get this set up ASAP because I have a site I need to develop and deploy from local. Any help is appreciated.
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/2 "2026-02-17T22:51:08Z")
Hi @heyderek
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing these issues. If there is no active local site running on your DevKinsta, it may be easier to reset DevKinsta by deleting all associated containers in Docker Desktop. You can follow the steps provided by my colleague in this similar thread: [Kinsta Community Thread](https://community.kinsta.com/t/could-not-delete-site-config-file-dk0072/5975/5).
If the problem persists, please send us the main.log file from DevKinsta so we can investigate further.
Thank you!
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/3 "2026-02-17T23:30:24Z")
@heyderek Thank you for sharing your main.log file via direct message. I reviewed it and identified an error entry that appears to be causing the “Something bad happened” issue.
`[2026-02-12 17:14:18.302] [error] [ipcMainStep] Error in operation SITE_CREATION, step database: Error: Error (1): UERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES`
To resolve this, can you try the solution here: [Something bad happened: in create new site - #23 by dgilfillan](https://community.kinsta.com/t/something-bad-happened-in-create-new-site/2190/23)
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/4 "2026-02-17T23:40:49Z")
You can also try this solution here: [Error: Something bad happened - when trying to import site from myKinsta - #15 by VladimirM](https://community.kinsta.com/t/error-something-bad-happened-when-trying-to-import-site-from-mykinsta/5661/15)
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### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/5 "2026-02-18T00:47:43Z")
Well, we’re getting somewhere. I can create a new install now, but when I try to import from remote, I get the following. The error code says it’s an unstable internet connection, but I’m not having any other problems in that regard.
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2026, 1:42am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/6 "2026-02-18T01:42:47Z")
Can you please send me via private message again the updated main.log file and the domain of the Kinsta site that you’re trying to pull?
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/7 "2026-02-18T02:43:22Z")
@heyderek
I am showing this database error in the latest main.log file you shared. I also checked the site that you’re trying to pull and I don’t see any issue on the remote site.
```auto
274 [2026-02-17 17:50:01.329] [error] Error - DK0066: IMPORT_DB_DUMP: Error (1): CERROR 2005 (HY000): Unknown MySQL server host 'devkinsta_db' (-2)
275 at /Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:2:764805
276 at tryCatch (/Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:8:1843893)
277 at Generator. (/Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:8:1845538)
278 at Generator.next (/Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:8:1844442)
279 at asyncGeneratorStep (/Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:8:1836779)
280 at _next (/Applications/DevKinsta.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/main.prod.js:8:1836999)
281 at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
```
I am not sure if you have already tried this, but can you delete any pending or stuck pull action in DevKinsta and start a new pull?
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### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/9 "2026-02-18T17:26:20Z")
Yes, I am deleting from what I can tell. When it gives me the error, I hit cancel and it starts the process of deleting and asks me for my admin password.
I tried again with a smaller, simpler site. Same result.
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/10 "2026-02-19T02:49:59Z")
Could you please confirm whether you removed the DevKinsta folder at the following location when you uninstalled both DevKinsta and Docker Desktop? It is important to remove this folder before reinstalling the applications, as it contains the config.json file, which holds the database password that may cause conflicts.
`/Users//Library/Application Support/DevKinsta`
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### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/11 "2026-02-19T17:42:57Z")
Yes, I can confirm that file was removed. In fact, I went ahead and removed everything, then did a clean install. After walking through [your colleague’s steps here](https://community.kinsta.com/t/error-something-bad-happened-when-trying-to-import-site-from-mykinsta/5661/15), I was able to get back to where I can create a clean WP install, but can’t import. Now, when I try to import, I’m getting a DK0029 error. Sending you my most recent logs now.
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### Author:  [@merineth](https://community.kinsta.com/u/merineth)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2026, 6:10am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/12 "2026-02-20T06:10:57Z")
Hi @heyderek, thank you for the update.
Would you be able to share the recent logs with me or @jackirish for review? Adrian is currently unavailable as of the moment.
We’ll wait for your update so we can proceed with checking this further.
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### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/14 "2026-02-25T18:48:25Z")
Just wanted to follow up on this. Were you about to receive the logs I sent?
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### Author:  [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/16 "2026-02-26T00:12:52Z")
Hi @heyderek
I shared the main.log you sent to me via private message to our team since I was off during the time. However, it seems we may have overlooked it. I checked the log now and could see this error still causing the “something bad happen” failure.
`[2026-02-19 09:30:29.326] [error] [ipcMainStep] Error in operation SITE_CREATION, step database: Error: Error (1): UERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user ‘root’@‘localhost’ (using password: YES)`
This solution here should ideally fix that specific error message.
> [@Error: Something bad happened - when trying to import site from myKinsta](https://community.kinsta.com/t/error-something-bad-happened-when-trying-to-import-site-from-mykinsta/5661/15):
>
> Hello @wpcreative-jwwaving_hand As discussed in our chat, I’m posting a complete step by step instructions, if needed in the future. @Seyed My colleague and I gave you the steps in the other threads, but I wanted to tag you here as well. Note: This applies to fixing the issues with site creation that are caused by database access error (in DevKinsta main.log, it’s → ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user ‘root’@‘localhost’ (using password: YES) ). Part ONE - RESETING ‘root’ USER PASSW…
Could you please repeat those steps and if possible, provide screenshots of the outputs?
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@heyderek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/heyderek)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2026, 1:32am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/17 "2026-02-26T01:32:56Z")
Ok! Well, that worked. Thank you so much for the help and patience!
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.kinsta.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/cant-install-or-import-a-site-something-bad-happened/5987/18 "2026-02-28T13:33:00Z")
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