When a WordPress site throws an error, checking the error logs is usually the fastest way to find the cause. You have two options to do this: the manual way or the easy way (i.e., using a plugin).

Let’s look at both approaches.

The Manual Way: Using WordPress’ Built-In Debug Logs

WordPress includes a native debugging system, but it’s disabled by default. To use it, you'll need to access your site files and follow these steps:

1. Enable Debug Mode

Edit your wp-config.php file and add (or update) the following lines:

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

This tells WordPress to log errors instead of showing them to visitors.

2. Locate the Error Log

Once enabled, WordPress writes errors to /wp-content/debug.log.

You’ll usually need FTP, SSH, or your hosting file manager to open and read this file.

3. Check Server Logs if Needed

If debug.log stays empty, your host may be logging errors elsewhere (for example, Apache or PHP error logs). These are often buried in hosting dashboards and can be cluttered with unrelated messages.

This approach works, but it’s slow, technical, and easy to forget to turn off. It also means jumping between files, dashboards, and downloads just to track down a single error.

The Easier Way: Using WP Debug Toolkit

For many site owners, manually editing config files and digging through logs isn’t ideal. This is where WP Debug Toolkit shines.

What’s Different?

Instead of editing wp-config.php, WP Debug Toolkit lets you:

• Enable WordPress debug mode directly from the admin
• View PHP errors, warnings, and notices inside your dashboard
• See issues as they happen, without downloading log files
• Quickly identify which plugin, theme, or file caused the error

All the underlying WordPress debug features are still being used—you just don’t have to manage them by hand.

Why It’s More Convenient

• No FTP or SSH access required
• No hunting for debug.log files
• Easier to toggle debugging on and off safely
• Faster feedback while developing or troubleshooting

Final Thoughts

Manually checking WordPress error logs gets the job done—but it’s very much the “old school” approach. If you only debug once in a blue moon, it may be fine. But if you troubleshoot sites regularly, using a tool like WP Debug Toolkit makes errors easier to spot, understand, and fix.

Either way, don’t guess. Check the logs!

For a complete list of debugging plugins, see the 7 Best WordPress Debug Plugins.