<p>Error 1816 signals that InnoDB could not import a tablespace during ALTER TABLE IMPORT TABLESPACE because of file, metadata, or version mismatches.</p>
<p>MySQL Error 1816: ER_INNODB_IMPORT_ERROR appears when InnoDB fails to attach an .ibd file during ALTER TABLE IMPORT TABLESPACE. Verify file paths, permissions, and matching table definitions, then retry the import to resolve the problem.</p>
ALTER TABLE %s IMPORT TABLESPACE failed with error %lu :
Error 1816 fires when the InnoDB engine cannot complete ALTER TABLE ... IMPORT TABLESPACE. MySQL reads the .ibd file, compares metadata, and aborts if anything differs from the current table definition or storage rules.
The accompanying message states: ALTER TABLE %s IMPORT TABLESPACE failed with error %lu : %s. The placeholders expand to the table name, a numeric sub-error, and a descriptive phrase.
The error surfaces during logical or physical migrations that rely on file-per-table tablespaces: moving data between servers, restoring from backup, or cloning a database in Docker or cloud environments.
Because the import halts, the table remains unavailable until the issue is fixed, making rapid resolution critical for production uptime.
Failed imports block data access, delay migrations, and risk data loss if the original source is removed. Addressing the root cause prevents repeat outages and ensures backup procedures remain reliable.
The .ibd file header does not match the table definition in the MySQL data dictionary, often due to ALTER TABLE changes after the file was copied.
The MySQL process cannot read or write the .ibd file because of incorrect ownership or Unix permission bits.
The log sequence number in the .ibd header is ahead of the current redo log, indicating the file was taken from a newer server instance.
Encrypted tablespaces cannot be imported without the same keyring plugin and key material.
Importing from a different MySQL or Percona Server version can introduce page format differences that block the operation.
Indicates InnoDB needs a crash recovery cycle; occurs after failed imports.
Generic InnoDB failure that can wrap import issues when metadata mismatch is detected.
Appears when the data dictionary lost the table entry after a discarded tablespace.
Shows up if the table is dropped or never created before attempting IMPORT TABLESPACE.
Yes, but the target server must load the same keyring plugin and contain the identical master key; otherwise ER_INNODB_IMPORT_ERROR occurs.
Import only works when innodb_file_per_table=ON on both source and target because shared system tablespaces cannot be moved independently.
Discard removes the link between MySQL and the .ibd file but does not delete the file itself, letting you copy or replace it safely.
Galaxy tracks schema changes, versions critical queries, and surfaces ALTER statements in shared collections, reducing rogue changes that trigger metadata mismatches during imports.
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