Header Text - Configure WordPress Error Logs, Identify & Fix Issues title=Hosted.com Tutorial - How To Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues

When running a WordPress website, it’s common to encounter issues or errors that can disrupt the functionality of your site. Some of these errors may show as visible problems, while others can quietly affect your site in the background. To understand what’s going wrong and how to fix it, you should know how to track these issues. That’s where a WordPress error log comes in handy.

WordPress error logs keep a record of any problems or warnings happening behind the scenes on your website. By reviewing these logs, you can easily identify what’s causing problems and fix them before they escalate. Setting up error logging in WordPress helps you monitor and address issues such as plugin conflicts, theme problems, or even memory limits that could cause your site to crash.

Here we provide a step-by-step guide to configure WordPress error logs. This will help you track what’s happening on your site and find solutions for potential issues. Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced with WordPress, error logging is an essential tool for maintaining a smooth and functional website.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  1. WordPress error logs help identify problems like plugin conflicts and server issues.
  2. You can enable WordPress error logs using a plugin or editing the wp-config.php file.
  3. Error logs are accessed via the wp-content folder and stored in a debug.log file.
  4. Analyzing logs helps find issues such as PHP errors or database problems.
  5. After fixing issues, remember to turn off debug mode to enhance security.
  6. Regularly monitoring error logs can prevent small issues from becoming big problems.

WordPress Error Logs & Their Significance

WordPress error logs are special files that record the problems your website faces, like errors or warnings. However, this is only possible when the WordPress debug mode is on (we’ll show you how to enable this mode shortly).

These logs are like a diary for your website that keeps track of any problems it encounters. Just as you might write things down that went wrong during your day, WordPress error logs write down things that go wrong on your website.

These WordPress logs help you or a developer understand what’s causing problems and fix them. For example, if your website suddenly stops loading because a plugin isn’t working. WordPress error logs keep track of this exact problem, such as which plugin caused the issue and why it failed. This makes it easier to fix.

These logs not only track plugin-related problems but can also track various issues. They record problems with software, plugins, themes, databases, server errors, or any file that causes trouble. When an error happens, WordPress writes it down in the error log so you can review it later.

Some common problems that can be found in WordPress error logs include plugin conflicts, where one plugin might be blocking another from working, or theme issues, where a theme doesn’t load properly. Server errors, like low memory or broken connections, can also be identified through these logs.

These logs also help you troubleshoot the WordPress white screen of death, 404 errors, and server errors like the 500 Internal Server Error. By checking these WordPress log files, you can quickly spot these problems and fix them to keep your site running smoothly.

However, as we mentioned, you need to enable the debug mode to keep track of all the errors and warnings via WordPress log files. So, let’s show you how to enable this in WordPress.

How to Enable WordPress Error Logs?

Enabling WordPress debug mode is important because it helps you identify and fix errors on your website. When you turn on debug mode, WordPress shows you detailed error messages that explain what’s going wrong.

This can be useful, especially for developers, as it details issues like broken code, plugin or theme conflicts, and even server-related problems. If you don’t have debug mode, these issues might be hidden, making it hard to troubleshoot them.

However, if you use debug mode, you can easily track the source of problems and get your site working properly again. There are 2 main ways to enable debug mode in WordPress:

  1. Using WordPress Plugin
  2. Using wp-config.php File

Use wp-config.php File

This is the most common manual way to enable debug mode. Those with basic coding knowledge can also use this approach; however, we don’t recommend this method to absolute newbies. They can use plugins instead. Here’s how to enable debug mode using the wp-config.php file:

First, log in to your web hosting account and open the File Manager. Hosted.com users can navigate to cPanel Tools Files File Manager to access their website files.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Access File Manager

Now, if you don’t have access to your hosting account, use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your website.

Navigate to the WordPress installation’s root directory, usually the public_html folder where WordPress is installed. Click on this folder and locate the wp-config.php file.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Locate wp-config.php File

Now, click on the wp-config.php file to select it. Then, click Edit. This will open the wp-config.php file in the editor, where you can make changes.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Open wp-config.php File in cPanel’s Editor

Once the file is opened, look for the following line in the file:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

And change the value from false to true as follows:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

This will enable the WordPress debug mode.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Enable Debug Mode in WordPress

Keep in mind that when you set WP_DEBUG to true, WordPress can display error messages, warnings, and notices directly on the screen. This is useful for identifying problems while navigating your website.

But, displaying errors on the screen can be risky in a live environment because it exposes sensitive information, so this is mostly used in a development environment.

To avoid this, we recommend you log errors instead of displaying them on the screen. To do this, you need to add the following line after define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true);:

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Then, click Save Changes to save your modifications.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Enable Debug Mode and Log Errors in debug.log

When WP_DEBUG_LOG is set to true, it saves all error messages, warnings, and notices to a file called debug.log located in the wp-content folder. It logs the errors instead of displaying them on the website, making it safer for production sites because visitors won’t see the error messages.

This is especially useful for troubleshooting, as you can review all logged errors later without impacting the user experience on your live site.

Use a WP Debugging Plugin

If you prefer not to edit code, use a plugin to enable debug mode. friendly. To continue with this approach, go through the following steps: WordPress plugins make the process simpler and more user

Go to WordPress DashboardPluginsAdd New Plugin. Type “WP Debugging” in the search bar and click Install Now to install this plugin.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Install WP Debugging Plugin

After installing, click Activate to enable the plugin.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Activate WP Debugging Plugin

The plugin will automatically enable debug mode and set the following constants as soon as the plugin is activated. However, all of these will be removed if you deactivate the WP Debugging plugin.

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'SCRIPT_DEBUG', true );
define( 'SAVEQUERIES', true );

You can adjust the settings by heading for Tools WP Debugging on your dashboard. Don’t forget to click Save Changes to save your choices.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Adjust WP Debugging Settings

Going through the above steps fulfills the objective of enabling debug mode. However, you may install & activate the Query Monitor and Debug Bar plugins from the following prompts you may see after activating the WP Debugging plugin:

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Install and Activate Debar Bar and Query Monitor Plugins

The Debug Bar adds a debug menu to the admin bar that shows query, cache, and other helpful debugging information.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Debug Quick Look Menu

Additionally, the Query Monitor plugin provides developer tools for WordPress. The good thing is that you can access all these details from your WordPress dashboard.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Query Monitor Settings

Now you should understand the WordPress error logs, why they are so important, and how to keep track of these log files by enabling debug mode. Let’s explore how to access these WordPress error logs to easily identify the issues affecting your site and resolve them quickly, keeping your website running smoothly.

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How to Access & Analyze WordPress Error Logs

Once you’ve enabled WordPress error logs, you can access them using SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) or a File Manager provided by your hosting. For this tutorial, we use FileZilla, which provides a user-friendly interface and is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems.

FileZilla also supports the FTPS (the file transfer protocol secure) and the secure shell file transfer protocol (SSH FTP or SFTP) to ensure you can transfer the files securely. Here are the steps to use FileZilla to access WordPress error logs:

First, open FileZilla (if you haven’t installed FileZilla yet, download it from the FileZilla website and follow the on-screen instructions to install it). Then, at the top of the screen, fill in the FTP credentials provided by your hosting provider and click QuickConnect to establish a connection.

Hosted.com users can locate these FTP login details at cPanel Tools Files FTP AccountsConfigure FTP Client.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Connect to Website Using FileZilla

After you have successfully connected, you will see the files and folders on your server in the Remote site panel on the right side of the screen. However, the Local site panel shows the files on your computer.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Local and Remote Site Views

Now, navigate to the /public_html/wp-content to find a file called debug.log.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Locate debug.log File

The debug.log file contains all the recorded errors and warnings. It lists each issue line by line, helping you see exactly what went wrong, when, and where. To read this file, right-click on it and select the View/Edit option. This will download the debug.log file to your computer. Now, open and read this file to pinpoint the cause of many website issues.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - View debug.log File

Reading WordPress logs may seem tricky at first, but it’s quite simple once you know what to look for. Each log entry tells you where and when an error occurred. Common entries include PHP errors, which indicate problems with plugins or themes, and database issues, which point to connection problems.

To interpret the log, start by looking for keywords like Fatal Error or ‘Warning’. These highlight the specific issue. Once identified, you can focus on fixing the problem, whether it is a broken or incompatible plugin or a server misconfiguration.

How to fix Issues in WordPress Error Logs

Once you access your WordPress error logs, you can locate the specific error message recorded when the issue occurred on your website. Remember: the timestamps in the log are in Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), not your local time zone.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Errors in debug.log File

While the technical details of the error messages may be difficult for most users to understand, they are a great starting point for troubleshooting. After identifying the error code or message, you can search for solutions and how to resolve them.

For example, for plugin or theme conflicts, start by deactivating plugins or switching to the default theme to see which is causing the error. You can then update or replace it with a better option. If you encounter server-side issues, like memory limits or timeout errors, you can increase your PHP memory limit or adjust your server settings.

If you cannot fix the issue, contact the official WordPress forums, your hosting provider’s support team, or the plugin or theme developers. When seeking support, it’s a good idea to review guides on how to properly request help to ensure you provide the right information and ask questions effectively.

However, if you’re hosting your website on Hosted.com, you can refer to the Hosted.com articles and blogs covering common WordPress errors and their solutions. Moreover, you may contact us anytime, even from your Hosted Dashboard. Ensure to mention the specific error code or message when asking for help.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Support Tickets System in Hosted Dashboard

Disable Debug Mode

After resolving issues, you must turn off WordPress debug mode to keep your site safe. It’s necessary for various reasons, such as:

Security:

When debug mode is enabled, sensitive information like file paths, plugin names, and database queries can be displayed. This information is useful for hackers to exploit it to target your website. However, disabling debug mode hides these details from visitors and potential attackers.

Performance:

Debug mode can slow down your website by logging every error and warning as it happens. This can increase server load and reduce your site’s performance, especially when debug logs grow large over time.

User Experience:

With debug mode enabled, error messages can be displayed to your visitors, leading to a poor user experience. Disabling it ensures users won’t see unnecessary or confusing error messages while browsing your site.

Considering all these reasons, we recommend disabling debug mode once you have reviewed the WordPress error logs. To do this, open your wp-config.php file and find the line where you enabled logging:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Change both values from true to false as follows and save the file:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', false );

This will stop WordPress from recording errors and prevent sensitive information from being exposed. However, if you’ve used a plugin to enable debug mode, you need to go to WordPress DashboardPlugins Installed Plugins. Then, click Deactivate under the name of the plugin you used to enable WordPress debug mode.

Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues - Disable WP Debugging Plugin
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