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Convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel: What I Learned the Hard Way

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Convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel — A Real-World Migration Story

Convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel sounds simple on paper. Change the database config, run migrations, and you are done.
That is exactly what I thought—until I actually did it in a real Laravel application.

This migration taught me lessons that documentation rarely mentions. In this article, I will walk you through what broke, why it broke, and how to avoid those mistakes when you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

This post is written from a practical, production-focused perspective, not a tutorial copied from docs.

Why I Initially Used SQLite in Laravel

SQLite is excellent for:

  • Local development
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Running automated tests
  • Small internal tools

Laravel makes SQLite extremely easy to set up. No server, no credentials, no hassle.

However, problems start when:

  • Your app grows
  • You move to production
  • You introduce concurrency
  • You need better indexing and performance

That is when you need to convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

Why Converting SQLite to MySQL in Laravel Is Not Trivial

On the surface, SQLite and MySQL are both relational databases.
Under the hood, they behave very differently.

Here is what caught me off guard:

  • SQLite is loosely typed
  • MySQL is strictly typed
  • Index handling is different
  • Foreign key enforcement behaves differently
  • Date and boolean fields work differently

These differences matter a lot when you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

Step 1: Preparing Laravel Before the Migration

Before you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, preparation is critical.

Things You Must Check First

  • Laravel version compatibility
  • Existing migration files
  • Seeders and factories
  • Raw SQL queries (if any)

I strongly recommend reviewing Laravel’s official database documentation:
https://laravel.com/docs/database

Step 2: Updating the Database Configuration

When you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, your .env file is the first stop.

Old SQLite Configuration

DB_CONNECTION=sqlite
DB_DATABASE=/absolute/path/database.sqlite

New MySQL Configuration

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=your_database
DB_USERNAME=your_user
DB_PASSWORD=your_password

This part looks easy—but this is where the illusion of simplicity ends.

Step 3: Migration Files Started Breaking

This is where I learned the hard way.

SQLite Allowed Things MySQL Did Not

  • string() columns without length
  • text() fields indexed accidentally
  • Boolean fields without defaults
  • Nullable foreign keys without constraints

When you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, migrations that worked perfectly before can suddenly fail.

Common Migration Issues When You Convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel

1. String Length Issues

MySQL requires index length limits.

Fix:

Schema::defaultStringLength(191);

Add this in AppServiceProvider.

2. Boolean Columns Behaving Incorrectly

SQLite treats booleans loosely.
MySQL does not.

Fix:

$table->boolean('is_active')->default(false);

Always define defaults when you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

3. Foreign Key Constraints Suddenly Failing

SQLite often ignores foreign keys unless explicitly enabled.

MySQL enforces them strictly.

Fix:

  • Ensure referenced columns exist
  • Ensure column types match
  • Ensure correct order of migrations

Step 4: Data Migration Was the Hardest Part

Schema migration is easy.
Data migration is painful.

Problems I Faced

  • Invalid date formats
  • Empty strings instead of NULL
  • Boolean values stored as 0 and 1 strings
  • JSON columns stored as plain text

When you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, your data must be cleaned before import.

Best Way to Migrate Data Safely

  1. Export SQLite data as SQL or CSV
  2. Clean data manually or using scripts
  3. Import into MySQL
  4. Validate row counts and relationships

For complex apps, I highly recommend using tools like:

Step 5: Query Performance Changed (A Lot)

After I converted SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, some queries became faster.
Others became slower.

Why?

  • Missing indexes
  • Poorly optimized queries
  • Differences in query planners

What Helped

  • Adding proper indexes
  • Using EXPLAIN
  • Refactoring Eloquent queries

Indexes Matter More in MySQL

SQLite is forgiving.
MySQL is not.

When you convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, you must explicitly define indexes.

$table->index('user_id');

This single change fixed multiple performance issues for me.

Step 6: Testing Broke Unexpectedly

Laravel tests often use SQLite in memory.

After converting to MySQL:

  • Tests passed locally
  • Failed in CI
  • Failed in staging

Solution

  • Keep SQLite for tests
  • Use MySQL for production
  • Maintain environment parity carefully

This hybrid approach works best.

Things I Wish I Knew Earlier

If you plan to convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel, remember this:

  • SQLite is not “MySQL-lite”
  • Strict typing will expose hidden bugs
  • Data cleanup is unavoidable
  • Migration order matters
  • Indexes are not optional

Final Thoughts on Converting SQLite to MySQL in Laravel

Converting SQLite to MySQL in Laravel is not difficult—but it is deceptively complex.If you are early in development, switching sooner will save you time.
If you are already in production, plan carefully and test thoroughly.

This experience made my Laravel app more stable, scalable, and production-ready.

If you are considering the same move, I hope this article helps you avoid the mistakes I made while trying to convert SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

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