Topic on Project:Support desk

I am following the checklist for the Windows Server 2016 Installation, I have done the optional step for IIS as well. However I get this error after following the checklist exactly as it is ? please assist I receive the error above.

Message: mysqli::real_connect(): The server requested authentication method unknown to the client [caching_sha2_password]

You need to change the encryption on the mysql side.

What version of php and mysql do you have?

php 5.6 & php 7.2 And mysql 8.0.21

Also see here and here for a hint.

PHP 7.3.6 mySQL 8.0

After reading the articles I am confused if I should downgrade PHP or try a simple password for the MySQL Server ?

The problem isn't PHP, it is MySQL 8. I think changing your password so it uses the new format, might be enough to fix the problem. Read over the answers on the second link to Stack Overflow which suggest the same thing.