After setting session_driver=file in env, I was able to access the database. Then I followed these directions:

To generate the table try calling the php artisan session:table then, migrate the table php artisan migrate this will create a session table for you.

This worked and I changed the session_driver back to database.

I had this problem because I switched from xampp to herd but only the free version. I installed mariadb directly and everything stopped working.

After hours of deep immersive learning, I finally got it all worked out and I have mariadb running on windows independently from xampp and am accessing it through phpmyadmin installed directly inside a herd subdirectory. It would have been much simpler to pay the $100 for herd pro, but at the moment, I have more time than money. Besides, I wouldn't have learned nearly as much.