How to Find and Access WordPress Error Logs (2024)

Do you want to know how to find and access WordPress error logs for your site? If yes, we’ve got you covered.

Error logs provide detailed insights into a WordPress site’s functionality, performance, or security issues. Knowing how to find and access WordPress error logs enables you to find and resolve problems quickly, ensuring a smooth experience for your site visitors. 

Keeping this in mind, we’ll walk you through the steps to help you know how to find and access WordPress error logs.

What are WordPress Error Logs?

WordPress error logs consist of errors, such as record errors, warnings, etc., usually generated by WordPress, plugins, themes, or server issues. 

You can use these logs to understand and troubleshoot the underlying problems on your site.

They provide in-depth details about your site’s underlying problems and help you identify why it might be experiencing difficulties, displaying error messages, or not functioning as expected.

This is what WordPress error logs look like:

Why are WordPress Logs Important for Troubleshooting?

Here’s why these logs are important for troubleshooting and fixing problems:

• Detailed Insight into Errors: WordPress error logs help you identify the exact underlying problem on your site, such as a syntax error or database connection issue. You can use this information to identify the root cause of problems quickly.
• Real-Time Monitoring of Issues: These logs record issues as they happen. For example, if a new error appears after a recent plugin update, the logs can point directly to the cause.
• Debugging Custom Code: You can use these logs to determine if custom code snippets are causing issues. They can pinpoint errors in the code without requiring manual debugging.
• Minimizing Site Downtime: Quick identification and resolution of errors prevent prolonged site downtime, ensuring visitors have a positive experience.
• Performance Optimization: Resolving logged errors helps reduce the server’s load, as some mistakes can cause server load.

How to Enable WordPress Error Logs

Method 1. Enabling WordPress Debug Mode with a Plugin

WordPress offers a built-in feature to log errors. By default, this feature isn’t enabled. First off, you’re required to enable it. 

For this purpose, you’ll need to add the WP_DEBUG constant in your wp-config file. After this, WordPress will enable the debugging mechanism and generate a debug. log file under {your website}\wp-content\debug.

The easiest way is to install a WordPress debugging plugin like WP Debugging.

To install and activate the WP Debugging plugin on your site, go to the left sidebar of the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins, and click the Add New Plugin option.

On the next screen, search for the plugin using the search box, find the plugin in the search result, click Install Now, and then Activate the plugin.

Once activated, the plugin will automatically enable the WordPress debug mode. As a result, you can keep a record and log for error messages on your site. 

Evry time you want to see the error logs, go to the left sidebar of the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Tools, and click the WP Debugging option.

On the next screen, you can see details about any expected underlying problem. You can use it to identify the root cause of the issue and resolve it satisfactorily on time.

Method 2. Enabling WordPress Debug Mode with Code

You can also enable WordPress to debug mode with codes on your site. 

Note: This method is best for advanced users with good coding skills. Any mistake in the code can lead to severe problems for your site.

To use this method, you’ll have to edit your wp-config.php file using an FTP client. 

Note: You can also use the file manager option in the cPanel of your WordPress hosting control panel.

After opening the file, search for the text that says, ‘That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.’

Now, you’re required to add the following piece of code before this line:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

All done!

How to Find and Access WordPress Error Logs (Step-by-Step)

We hope you’ve enabled WordPress error logs (either via plugin or code), and your site’s error will be saved within a file called debug.log.

To see this file, connect to your WordPress site using an SFTP/FTP client, such as FileZilla, or the file manager option in your WordPress hosting control panel.

After connecting your site, simply go to the /wp-content/ folder. Here, you can see the debug.log file, where you’ll find all the WordPress error messages, warnings, and notices that have been logged.

All you need to do is to right-click on it and choose the Download option.

Now, you can easily get details regarding every error message, i.e., when they occur with date and time. 

This is what the debug.log details look like:

Use this information to find a solution to the underlying problems your WordPress site is encountering.

Fixing Issues Found in WordPress Error Logs

Now that you’ve found and accessed your WordPress logs, you can see details about your problem. 

Follow these steps to work seamlessly with the debug.log file:

• Find out the error/warning in the debug log
• Get insight into the error code (e.g., associated with the entry)
• Understand the meaning of the error code
• Find solutions to fix particular error

Every entry within the debug.log file contains the date (follows the primary time standard globally, which is  UTC, not your local time), module, process ID, and visitor’s IP address. 

The error message itself is the most important piece of information here. For instance, you might see an error like “File not found,” which indicates a missing file and specifies its path.

After understanding the cause of the error, you can easily fix it yourself.

If you still can’t find the solution, visit the official WordPress forums and the support team of your WordPress web hosting company. 

Best Practices to Manage WordPress Error Logs

Here are some best practices to manage WordPress error logs effectively:

• Enable Logging Only When Necessary: You should enable logging only during troubleshooting. Continuous logging can impact site performance and lead to large log files.
• Schedule Routine Checks: It is better to periodically review your logs, especially if your site has been updated, to spot issues early.
• Use Log Management Plugins: You should use tools like Error Log Monitor or WP Debugging to make viewing, managing, and filtering logs directly from the WordPress admin dashboard easier.
• Restrict File Access: If the log files are stored on your server, restricting file access is also a good practice. This ensures that only authorized users can view sensitive information.
• Delete Old Logs: You should perform a monthly cleanup to delete outdated logs and free up server space. 

Following these best practices allows you to monitor and resolve issues proactively.

How to Disable the WordPress Debug Mode

Now that you’ve fixed the underlying issue on your WordPress site, it is better to disable the debug mode. It is necessary because it might slow your site, causing WordPress security risks.

So, if you enabled the WordPress error logs using the plugin, go to the left sidebar of the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins, and click the Installed Plugins option.

On the next screen, deactivate the WP Debugging plugin.

To use this method, you’ll have to edit your wp-config.php file using an FTP client. 

After opening the file, search for the text that says:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Simply change the WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG lines of code to ‘false.’

All done!

WordPress Error Logs FAQs

Final Thoughts: WordPress Error Logs

To sum up, we’ve walked you through easy ways to let you know how to find and access WordPress error logs. Reviewing these logs can diagnose issues and help enhance site security and performance, resulting in a far better experience for all visitors.

That’s all for this article!