Having difficulty identifying problems with your WordPress website? Look no further than your WordPress error logs. These logs can be a valuable resource for troubleshooting and fixing any issues that may be affecting your site’s performance. In this article, we will guide you through the process of finding and accessing your WordPress error logs.
The Importance of Error Logs
Error logs are a collection of error messages generated by your website, along with the dates and times they occurred. By enabling the WordPress debug mode, you can record these messages into a log file, making it easier to identify issues caused by plugins, themes, or code on your site.
Some common issues that can be detected and resolved with error logs include:
- Slow website performance
- Malfunctioning plugins
- Website crashes
Enabling WordPress Debug Mode
Before you can access your error logs, you need to enable WordPress debug mode. There are two ways to do this: using a plugin or adding a code snippet to your website’s wp-config.php file.
Using a Plugin
If you have access to your WordPress admin area, the easiest method is to use a plugin. Install and activate the WP Debugging plugin, which automatically enables WordPress debug mode. This means that any error messages on your site will now be logged.
Using Code
For advanced users or those without access to the WordPress admin area, enabling debug mode through code is an option. Locate your wp-config.php file using an FTP client or the file manager in your WordPress hosting control panel. Open the file and add the following code just before the line that says ‘That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.’:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on how to set up WordPress error logs in wp-config with code.
Accessing Your WordPress Error Logs
After enabling debug mode, your error logs will start recording any error messages that occur on your website. Initially, the logs will be empty. To populate them, recreate the issues you are experiencing on your site, such as visiting error-causing posts or pages.
To access your error logs, connect to your website using an SFTP or FTP client, like FileZilla, or use the file manager option in your WordPress hosting control panel. Navigate to the /wp-content/ folder, where you will find a file called debug.log. This file contains all the error messages, warnings, and notices logged by WordPress.
To view the contents of the debug.log file, you can either download it and open it in a text editor or edit it directly. By examining the error messages and their timestamps, you can gather valuable information to resolve the issues affecting your WordPress website.
Keep in mind that the timestamps in the error log are in UTC, not your local time. While the error messages may not be immediately understandable to most users, they provide a starting point for troubleshooting. Consult our guide on the most common types of WordPress errors to find potential solutions based on the error message and code you have identified.
Seeking Additional Assistance
If you are unable to find a solution on your own, there are various avenues where you can seek help. Our free WPBeginner Engage Facebook Group is an excellent resource, connecting you with over 96,000 users and WordPress experts who can offer support. When seeking assistance, be sure to provide the error code or message you discovered in the WordPress error log file.
Additionally, you can explore the official WordPress forums, reach out to your WordPress web hosting company’s support team, or visit the support area dedicated to the plugin or theme causing trouble.
Before seeking help, we recommend reading our guide on how to ask for WordPress support effectively. This will provide you with insights into best practices for asking questions and point you in the direction of reliable assistance.
Disabling Debug Mode
Once you have resolved the issues on your WordPress site, it is crucial to disable debug mode. Leaving it enabled can potentially slow down your website and expose unwanted information, presenting a security risk.
If you used a plugin to enable debug mode, simply deactivate the WP Debugging plugin by navigating to Plugins » Installed Plugins.
If you enabled debug mode using code, edit the wp-config file as before and change the lines of code ‘WP_DEBUG’ and ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’ to ‘false’.
We hope this tutorial has helped you understand the significance of accessing your WordPress error logs and provided you with a clear path to troubleshoot any issues you may encounter. For more helpful WordPress tips and tutorials, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
