The error arises when you create or alter a table with BLOB or TEXT columns while using a storage engine that lacks support for these large object types.
MySQL Error 1163 ER_TABLE_CANT_HANDLE_BLOB occurs when you define BLOB or TEXT columns on a table that uses an engine without large-object support. Change the table to InnoDB or another compatible engine, or convert the column to a smaller VARCHAR/VARBINARY to resolve the problem.
The used table type doesn't support BLOB/TEXT columns
MySQL throws “The used table type doesn't support BLOB/TEXT columns” with SQL STATE 42000 when a statement references a BLOB or TEXT column on a table that uses an incompatible storage engine such as MEMORY or older MyISAM versions.
The error stops CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, and some LOAD DATA operations.
It safeguards engines that cannot reliably store variable-length large objects.
The message surfaces during table creation, column addition, online schema change, or engine conversion if the chosen engine lacks BLOB/TEXT support.
It also fires when importing a dump into a server where the default storage engine cannot handle LOBs.
Developers often meet it after copying statements from another environment or when migrating tables to MEMORY for speed without checking datatype limits.
Ignoring the error leaves the table uncreated or altered, blocking application features that rely on LOB data such as images, logs, or JSON blobs. Fast resolution restores application functionality and keeps migrations on schedule.
.
MEMORY stores rows in RAM and only supports fixed-length types.
Any BLOB or TEXT definition triggers Error 1163.
Rare custom builds or very old MyISAM variants may disable large object handling and raise the error.
Developers sometimes force ENGINE=MEMORY or ENGINE=MyISAM in scripts copied across projects, unaware of datatype restrictions.
Servers with default_storage_engine set to MEMORY on temporary databases cause silent mismatches that surface only at execution time.
.
No. MEMORY cannot save variable-length BLOB or TEXT fields. Use InnoDB or store the file path instead.
For small payloads under 64 KB, VARBINARY offers better in-row storage and indexing than BLOB. Larger data still needs BLOB.
Yes. MariaDB retains MySQL error code 1163 and identical wording for this limitation.
Galaxy’s schema-aware linting flags unsupported datatypes during query composition and suggests compliant engines before execution.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
