MySQL Error 1185: ER_DUMP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED – How to Fix and Prevent

August 6, 2025

Error 1185 occurs when a dump or backup operation requests a binary format that the table’s storage engine does not support.

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What is MySQL error code 1185 (ER_DUMP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED)?

MySQL Error 1185: ER_DUMP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED appears when a dump or backup tool asks for a binary export that the table’s storage engine cannot provide. Switch to a text dump or migrate the table to an engine that supports binary export and the error disappears.

Error Highlights

Typical Error Message

ER_DUMP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED

Error Type

Storage Engine Error

Language

MySQL

Symbol

The storage engine for the table does not support binary

Error Code

1185

SQL State

HY000

Explanation

Example H2

Example H3

What is MySQL Error 1185 (ER_DUMP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED)?<\/h3>Error 1185 fires when you run mysqldump, mysqlpump, BACKUP TABLE, or another dump utility with a binary-format option against a table whose storage engine does not implement that feature. The server aborts the dump and returns SQLSTATE HY000.<\/p>

The message “The storage engine for the table does not support binary” means the engine plugin lacks the handler required to stream rows in native binary form.

MEMORY, CSV, BLACKHOLE, and some third-party engines frequently trigger the fault.<\/p>

When does the error surface?<\/h3>The error appears immediately after the dump command reaches the first unsupported table.

It can also arise during logical backups created inside Galaxy’s editor if the generated command includes the --tab or --hex-blob switches.<\/p>

Replication setups that use BACKUP TABLE for snapshotting non-InnoDB engines may also fail with 1185, stopping the pipeline until the snapshot step is corrected.<\/p>

Why is it critical to fix?<\/h3>Backups that halt on 1185 leave your data unprotected.

Automated CI jobs or Galaxy workflows that depend on consistent dumps will fail, causing downstream tests and deployments to break.<\/p>

Ignoring the warning risks data loss, because no dump file is produced for the affected tables, and the script’s exit code signals failure.<\/p>

Common Causes

Unsupported storage engine<\/h3>MEMORY, CSV, BLACKHOLE, Federated, and some plugin engines do not implement the binary dump interface, so any binary-oriented backup flag triggers 1185.<\/p>

Incorrect dump options<\/h3>Using mysqldump with --tab, --no-create-info combined with --hex-blob, or mysqlpump with --include-non-transactional-tables asks the server for a binary output path.<\/p>

Mixed engine schemas<\/h3>Schemas that mix InnoDB and non-InnoDB tables trip the error when global dump flags are applied indiscriminately during a full backup.<\/p>

Outdated engine plugin<\/h3>Custom storage engines compiled for older MySQL versions may declare binary dump support but lack the required handler in newer versions, triggering 1185 during runtime.<\/p>.

Related Errors

FAQs

Does the error affect logical text dumps?<\/h3>No. Regular SQL text dumps that omit binary options execute normally even on unsupported engines.<\/p>

Which engines support binary dumps?<\/h3>InnoDB, MyISAM, and NDB Cluster support native binary export starting from MySQL 5.7. Other engines vary.<\/p>

Can I ignore the error and still have a valid backup?<\/h3>Unwise. The dump stops at the first failure, so subsequent tables are not saved. Always correct 1185.<\/p>

How does Galaxy help avoid 1185?<\/h3>Galaxy’s context-aware AI warns when your dump command targets unsupported engines and offers corrected commands inside the editor before runtime.<\/p>

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