A random error that slows down or completely crashes your site is every WordPress user’s nightmare.
And when you can’t figure out the cause of the error easily, it can be rather frustrating. Your site’s performance, user experience, functionality, and even SEO ranking all tank if the error stays unresolved.
This guide will show you how to find and view WordPress error logs so you can quickly troubleshoot and fix those annoying errors when they appear.
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Why Are WordPress Error Logs Important?
A WordPress error log is a text file that records all the errors happening behind the scenes on your website. It includes details such as the error message, timestamps for when the error occurred, the line of code where the error happened, and the full path of the file containing the error.
WordPress error logs make troubleshooting your website much easier. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an issue with your theme, plugin incompatibility, or custom code conflicts; everything is captured in the log. They’re especially helpful when you get locked out of your site or see the white screen of death, and you have no clue what may have caused the error.
The WordPress error logs let you view all the details about the errors on your site, quickly identify the cause of the problem, and make an informed fix.
So, how do you find and view your WordPress error logs? Let’s take a look at the available options so you can choose the best one for you!
How To Find and View WordPress Error Logs (2 Methods)
By default, your WordPress site does not store error logs. While this feature exists, it is disabled to optimize your server's resource usage and minimize security risks associated with sensitive information being exposed. As a result, the information you need to troubleshoot an error on your site is not always readily available.
However, when you need to, you do have options for finding and viewing WordPress error logs. There are two main ways to do so, and we'll start with the easiest plugin-based approach first, then cover the manual method for those who prefer it.
Method 1: Using WP Debug Toolkit Plugin (Recommended)
If you want to avoid the complexities and risks that come with editing code, using a WordPress error log plugin is your best bet.
WP Debug Toolkit is the most user-friendly option for finding and viewing WordPress error logs. It lets you enable debug mode with a single click and provides a modern interface that makes debugging simple for users at all skill levels.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the features that this WordPress error logging plugin offers and see how to set it up and use it for easier debugging.
Why WP Debug Toolkit Makes Error Debugging Simple
WP Debug Toolkit is a modern WordPress error log viewer plugin that streamlines the debugging process.
It provides a sleek and user-friendly interface that lets you view all PHP and WordPress errors in real-time, without requiring SSH or FTP access.
One of its key features is the standalone Viewer App that allows you to keep track of errors on your WordPress site, even if it crashes entirely or you are locked out of your admin dashboard.
Other exciting features you get with the plugin include:
- Flexible filters that make it easy to search through logs and find precisely what you’re looking for.
- Error highlighting that makes identifying errors easier, so you can fix bugs faster.
- Keyboard shortcuts to navigate the app seamlessly if you’d rather not have to click so much while debugging.
- Integrated file viewer that lets you see the full context of an error, i.e., the exact file where the error occurred, what called it, etc.
- A crash recovery system that allows you to quickly disable all plugins and themes in a single click to recover your site when it crashes, and more.
- Instant email alerts that notify you the moment a critical error occurs so you can fix it before your visitors notice. These alerts work even during "Out of Memory" crashes where other plugins might fail.
- A database query monitor that records queries for each page load. This helps you spot slow queries or inefficient code patterns that might be dragging down your site’s performance.
How To Set Up and Use WP Debug Toolkit
Setting up and using WP Debug Toolkit is easy and safe. Here’s how to do it:
- Install and activate the WP Debug Toolkit plugin: First, you’d need to purchase and download the plugin file. Then, in your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins › Add Plugin › Upload Plugin › Choose file › Install Now › Activate Plugin. The plugin will immediately be activated on your site.
- Navigate to Debug Toolkit to set up your debugging environment: From the WordPress admin menu, select Debug Toolkit to open the setup page. First, activate your installation by clicking License on the menu and entering your license key.
- Next, go back to the Overview page to complete the setup of your debugging environment. WP Debug Toolkit comes with a Setup Installer that guides you through the setting up the Viewer app on your site. It lets you choose a custom URL for the viewer app, what to install and password protect the viewer on the frotnend.
- Once the installation completes, click Open Viewer (or press O on your keyboard). It'll ask you for the password and then open a user and developer-friendly viewer app that displays your WordPress error logs.
- From the app, you can view details about each error, search for specific strings across all log entries, filter the logs by error level, time period, or source, download the logs, access the crash recovery feature, and more! You can also switch to the Query Viewer tab to inspect database performance.
Method 2: Using Code To Enable WordPress Error Logs in wp-config.php and Downloading the Files via FTP
If you're comfortable with code and prefer not to use a plugin, you can manually enable debug mode using the method below. However, this approach requires editing WordPress core files and accessing files via FTP.
That said, to enable and view WordPress error logs using this method, you will need to follow two steps:
Step 1: Enable Debugging Mode and Error Logging in wp-config.php
To enable debugging mode and WordPress error logging, you can directly edit your site’s wp-config.php file from the control panel provided by your hosting service provider. Alternatively, you can access the file using an FTP client, such as FileZilla or Cyberduck.
The wp-config.php file can be found in your site’s root directory (/public_html/).
If you’re making changes from your cPanel, right-click on the file and then click Edit to reveal the built-in text editor.
First, search for “WP_DEBUG” in the code. You can easily find it by pressing the CTRL + F (PC) or CMD + F (Mac) shortcut keys.
If it exists, simply change its assigned value from “false” to “true” to enable WordPress debug mode.
If, however, the search doesn’t return any results, look for the line that reads /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */.
Right above it, paste the following code:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );This immediately enables WordPress debug mode, allowing error logs to be generated.
The “WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY” code is included to prevent WordPress from displaying error descriptions to your site visitors. Its value should ideally always be “false”.
Once you’ve made the edits, hit the save icon to proceed.
Step 2: Access and View WordPress Error Log Files via FTP
With debug mode enabled, you now need to reproduce the issue on your site so that WordPress error logs can be generated. Without doing this, your log file will be empty with no information to work with.
So, for example, if a specific plugin is causing issues on your website, you simply need to reactivate it so that the error is logged.
Once data is added to the debug.log file, you can access and view it via FTP.
Connect your site using your preferred FTP client. Next, open /public_html/ › /wp-content/, and scroll down to find the debug.log file.
Right-click on the file to see options to download, view, or edit it. Choose the best option for your needs, and you should see details about all the errors logged on your site.
Using this information, you can now address the issues on your site with confidence.
Remember to turn off debug mode once you’ve resolved the errors. This is important so you don’t unintentionally slow down your site or compromise its security.
To disable it, just go back to the wp-config.php file and change the values for the code you added from “true” to “false”.
Wrap-Up: Easily Find and View WordPress Error Logs
Troubleshooting issues on your WordPress site is easy when you have the right plugins to find and view error logs.
WP Debug Toolkit is the fastest and most user-friendly solution for most WordPress users. It eliminates the need for code editing and FTP access, letting you enable debug mode with one click and view errors through a clean, searchable interface. You also get built-in filtering, error-highlighting capabilities, a password protected independent viewer app, a crash recovery system, and more, making it the better option for easily finding and viewing WordPress error logs. It also includes an automated email alert system to help you stay ahead of site crashes before they become a bigger problem.
The manual method of editing wp-config.php and accessing logs via FTP still works if you're comfortable with code and only need occasional debugging. However, it requires more technical steps and doesn't offer the advanced features that make WP Debug Toolkit so efficient.
WordPress Error Logs – Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check a fatal error in WordPress?
A convenient way to check for fatal errors in WordPress is by using the WP Debug Toolkit plugin. Its user-friendly log viewer enables you to filter errors by level, such as Notice, Warning, Fatal, Parse, and Error. This makes finding fatal errors on your site quick and easy.
How can I clear error logs in WordPress?
WP Debug Toolkit also simplifies clearing WordPress error logs. After installing and activating the plugin on your site, go to WP Debug Toolkit › Open Viewer to access the log viewer interface. In the top right corner, you'll find the option to Clear Logs. Click it to delete your site’s error logs.
What is debugging in WordPress?
In WordPress, debugging means tracking down and fixing problems that affect how a site functions. This can include errors, warnings, broken features, performance issues, or conflicts between themes and plugins. For more details, see What is Debugging in WordPress.
How can I enable the WordPress debug mode?
To enable WordPress debug mode, update constants such as WP_DEBUG, WP_DEBUG_LOG, and WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY in the wp-config.php file. If you’re using a debugging plugin, you may also be able to manage these settings and review related error information from the WordPress dashboard. For more details, see How to Enable WordPress Debug Mode.
What is WP_DEBUG?
WP_DEBUG is a WordPress constant that enables debugging features. When activated, it allows WordPress to show or log PHP errors and warnings so you can troubleshoot problems on your site. To learn more, see What WP_DEBUG Does.
How can I view WordPress error logs?
WordPress error logs can be viewed either by accessing the log files manually or by using a debugging plugin. Manual access typically requires opening the log files through your hosting account or server tools, while a plugin allows you to review errors directly from the WordPress dashboard. See How to Check WordPress Error Logs.
How can I read the WordPress debug log?
To read the WordPress debug log, open the debug.log file in any basic text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit. You do not need special software, but you will need access to your site files through FTP, SSH, or your hosting file manager. For more details, see How Can I Debug a Log File in WordPress?
Which is the best debug plugin for WordPress?
One of the leading debug plugins for WordPress is WP Debug Toolkit, which provides real-time visibility into PHP and WordPress errors and makes them easier to review, search, and filter without requiring SSH or FTP access.
How can I use a debug plugin in WordPress?
To use a debug plugin in WordPress, install and activate the plugin, enable its debugging features, and use the plugin’s interface to review errors and investigate issues. For a more detailed explanation, see How to Use a Debug Plugin in WordPress.
How can I debug WordPress?
To debug WordPress, it helps to follow a structured troubleshooting process that identifies the source of an error, warning, notice, or other site issue. For a full explanation, see How to Debug WordPress.
How can I debug a WordPress theme?
To debug a WordPress theme, you need to identify which part of the theme is responsible for the issue, whether that’s a template file, a function in functions.php, or an asset loaded by the theme. For more details, see How to Debug a WordPress Theme.
How can I debug a WordPress plugin?
To debug a WordPress plugin, you need to isolate the specific part of the plugin that is causing the issue, such as a hook or filter callback, a shortcode or block, an AJAX or REST request handler, an admin settings page, or a database operation. See How to Debug a WordPress Plugin.
WordPress Error Logs — Related Information
