# Fix Illegal/Mismatched Collation Issue

1. **Log in to phpMyAdmin**
   - Open your web browser and navigate to your phpMyAdmin URL.
   - Enter your username and password to log in.

2. **Select the VLSM database**
   - On the left-hand side of the phpMyAdmin interface, locate and click on the vlsm database.

3. **Go to the "Operations" tab**
   - Click on the "Operations" tab at the top of the page.

4. **Locate the "Collation" section**
   - Scroll down to the "Collation" section on the "Operations" page.

5. **Select the desired collation**
   - In the "Collation" dropdown menu, choose the `utf8mb4_general_ci` collation.

6. **Check the options to change collation**
   - Check the checkbox next to "Change all tables collations" to apply the selected collation to all tables in the database.
   - Check the checkbox next to "Change all tables columns collations" to apply the selected collation to all columns within all tables in the database.

7. **Apply the changes**
   - Click the "Go" button to execute the collation change for all tables and columns in the database.

8. **Wait for the process to complete**
   - phpMyAdmin will now apply the selected collation to all tables and columns in the database.
   - Wait for the process to finish. The time taken may vary depending on the size of the database.

[![ScreenShot 2024-04-15 at 18.43.44@2x.png](https://docs.labsinformatics.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-04/scaled-1680-/aZVDqBmGKsQDJH67-screenshot-2024-04-15-at-18-43-44-at-2x.png)](https://docs.labsinformatics.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-04/aZVDqBmGKsQDJH67-screenshot-2024-04-15-at-18-43-44-at-2x.png)