We’ve encountered various WordPress errors, such as white screens, missing pages, and unexpected plugin conflicts.
Often, WordPress does not reveal the underlying issues by default. You may only see a blank page or an unclear message that offers little assistance.
This is where debug mode becomes essential. It provides insight into the root cause of the problem, allowing for quicker resolutions.
In this guide, we will demonstrate how to safely enable WordPress debug mode—either through code or a plugin—and how to interpret the error log if your site experiences issues.
What Is WordPress Debug Mode?
Debug mode is a built-in feature in WordPress that allows you to identify issues occurring behind the scenes when your site encounters errors.
By default, WordPress conceals technical error messages from visitors and even from site administrators. Enabling debug mode reveals these messages, helping you understand the problem.
It’s similar to turning on a flashlight in a dark room; the hidden errors become visible, making it easier to identify the source of the issue.
Whether you’re dealing with a plugin conflict, a coding error, or a theme-related problem, debug mode provides the necessary details to resolve it.
Why Should You Enable WordPress Debug Mode?
Conflicts on your website can arise from WordPress plugins, themes, or custom code such as PHP or JavaScript.
These conflicts may result in various errors, causing your site to malfunction.
To identify the source of the error, you can deactivate all plugins, switch to a different WordPress theme, or remove custom code.
However, this process can be time-consuming as it requires testing each possibility individually.
Fortunately, WordPress includes a built-in debug mode that is disabled by default, and you need to activate it manually.
When enabled, the debug mode provides a log of all errors and warnings occurring on your website.
This allows you to quickly identify and resolve issues on your WordPress site, even revealing hidden errors.
We utilize WordPress’s built-in debugging tools to diagnose problems across all websites, as these tools often offer immediate insights for efficient troubleshooting.
Let’s explore how to activate WordPress debug mode. We will present two methods: using a WordPress plugin or enabling it manually.
- Method 1: Activate WordPress Debug Mode with a Plugin
- Method 2: Enable WordPress Debug Mode Manually
- 🔧 Additional Resources: Enhance Your WordPress Debugging Expertise
Method 1: Activate WordPress Debug Mode with a Plugin
A straightforward way to enable debug mode is by utilizing the WP Debugging plugin. This approach is ideal for beginners and those who prefer not to modify website files directly.
WP Debugging is a free WordPress plugin that is ready to use immediately. With this plugin, you can avoid manual edits to your website files.
First, install and activate the WP Debugging plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Once activated, navigate to Tools » WP Debugging in your WordPress dashboard. Then, make sure to enable the ‘Set WP_DEBUG to true’ option.
After that, a ‘Debug Quick Look’ option will appear in your admin bar at the top.
Hover over it and click the ‘View File’ option.
This will open the log file containing all the errors on your website. You can then identify the issues affecting your site and resolve them quickly.
Once you finish debugging your website, remember to deactivate the plugin.
Method 2: Enable WordPress Debug Mode Manually
The second method to enable WordPress debug mode involves editing the wp-config.php file. This approach is more advanced and is best suited for users who are comfortable with editing website files.
We strongly recommend backing up your website before making any file edits. This ensures that you can easily restore your site if anything goes wrong.
You will need an FTP client for either Mac or Windows to access your website files..
For this tutorial, we will be using the FileZilla FTP client. If you need assistance, please refer to our guide on understanding FTP and how to use it.
Once you are logged in, navigate to the public_html folder, where you will find the ‘wp-config.php’ file..
Alternatively, many WordPress hosting providers allow you to manage your site files through cPanel.
For example, in Bluehost, log in to your hosting account and click the ‘Settings’ button located below your website.
This will take you to your site’s settings page.
Scroll down slightly and click the ‘File Manager’ button.
This will open the File Manager application in a new browser tab.
From there, simply access the public_html folder from the left panel.
After that, scroll down to locate the ‘wp-config.php’ file.
First, right-click the file and download it to your computer. It’s a good idea to create a backup copy of the file in case anything goes wrong.
Next, open the file using any text editor, such as Notepad or Sublime Text.
When the file is open, scroll down to the ‘That's it! Stop editing and enjoy publishing your content.‘ line and insert the following code just before it:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true);
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
Remember to save the file before closing it.
After that, upload the wp-config.php file back to your website server using your FTP client.
For more information, please refer to our guide on using FTP to upload files to WordPress.
To access the error logs for your website, navigate to your website files and find the public_html/wp-content/debug.log path. Download the file and open it with Notepad or TextEdit to review any issues on your site.
Once you have finished debugging your site, you can turn off the debug mode.
To disable debug mode in WordPress, follow these steps again and remove the code you previously added to the wp-config.php file, or modify the following line to set it to false:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', false);
🔧 Bonus Resources: Enhance Your WordPress Debugging Skills
Now that you know how to enable debug mode in WordPress, you may want to further improve your troubleshooting skills. Here are some beginner-friendly guides to help you address common issues and optimize your site’s performance:
- Beginner’s Guide to Troubleshooting WordPress Errors: A comprehensive step-by-step guide for identifying and fixing common WordPress issues.
- How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress: Understand how to effectively resolve one of the most concerning WordPress errors.
- How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death: Explore solutions to restore your site from a blank screen problem.
- Basics of Inspect Element: Customizing WordPress for DIY Users: Learn to use browser tools for debugging and customizing your site without impacting live content.
- How to Monitor User Activity in WordPress With Security Audit Logs: Track changes and activities on your site to identify potential issues early.
This article provides a straightforward guide on how to enable WordPress debug mode to quickly resolve site errors. Additionally, check out our other guides on troubleshooting common WordPress issues and creating custom admin notices.
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