Easily Enable WordPress Debug Mode to Fix Site Errors

February 14. 2023

Are you experiencing errors on your WordPress site and not sure how to fix them? One of the first steps to troubleshoot the issue is to enable debug mode. Debug mode allows you to see detailed error messages, which can help you identify the problem and find a solution. But how to enable WordPress debug mode to fix site errors? We’ve asked WordPress experts and here’s their step-by-step guide to WordPress debug mode. But first, for all you beginners out there, let’s find out what WordPress debug mode is.

What is WordPress debug mode and how to enable it to fix site errors?

Debug mode is an important tool for troubleshooting errors on your WordPress site. It allows you to see detailed error messages by enabling you to find and access WordPress error logs. This can help you easily identify the problem and find a solution. The best part is that enabling debug mode is a simple process that can be done by anyone who is familiar with the basics of WordPress and has access to the site’s files.

One of the main advantages of using debug mode is that it allows you to see detailed error messages in real-time. This can be incredibly helpful when you’re trying to troubleshoot an issue, as it can give you a clear indication of what the problem is and where it’s occurring. Additionally, by enabling debug mode, you’ll be able to see any errors that may be occurring in the background of your website, which can be difficult to spot otherwise. This will save you a lot of time as well as your website’s reputation.

Another advantage of debug mode is that it can be used to log errors to a file. This can be helpful if you’re unable to view the errors on the website itself, or if you want to review the errors at a later time. By logging errors into a file, you can review them at your convenience and use the information to troubleshoot the issue and find a solution.

Tips to help you enable WordPress debug mode to fix site errors

Similar to WordPress recovery mode, WordPress debug mode is an essential tool for maintaining the stability and performance of your website. Overall, using debug mode can save you time and effort in troubleshooting and fixing errors on your website, and ensure that your website runs smoothly for your visitors.

Now that you know the benefits of debug mode, let’s look at the step-by-step guide on how to enable it! In this article, we’ll explain how to manually enable WordPress debug mode to fix site errors. However, you can also do this using a WP Debugging plugin which is user-friendly and quite simple to use.

Step 1: Locate the wp-config.php file

The wp-config.php file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation. This is where you’ll need to make the necessary changes to enable debug mode.

If you’re using a hosting service that provides a file manager, you can access the wp-config.php file through that. Otherwise, you can use an FTP client such as FileZilla to connect to your website and access the file.

Step 2: Edit the wp-config.php file

Once you’ve located the wp-config.php file, you can edit it by adding the following line of code:

define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );

This line of code tells WordPress to display error messages when they occur. However, it’s important to note that this will make the error messages visible to everyone visiting your website. This is why it’s recommended to enable debug mode only when you’re troubleshooting issues and to turn it off once the problem has been resolved.

Step 3: Add debug logging

By default, when debug mode is enabled, error messages will be displayed on the website. However, you can also choose to log the errors to a file. This way, you can review the error messages later on without having to keep the website in debug mode.

To enable debug logging, you’ll need to add the following line of code to the wp-config.php file:

define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );

Step 4: Save and Upload

Once you’ve made the necessary changes to the wp-config.php file, be sure to save it and then upload the file to your website.

Step 5: Test your website

With debug mode enabled, you should be able to see detailed error messages when they occur. You can use this information to troubleshoot the issue and find a solution.

The bottom line

It’s worth mentioning again that you should only enable debug mode when you’re troubleshooting issues. Once the problem has been resolved, it’s recommended to turn it off by removing the lines of code you added to the wp-config.php file or by changing true to false.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that debugging should be done in a development environment, not in a production environment. This is because, as mentioned earlier, enabling debug mode will make the error messages visible to everyone visiting your website. This can be potentially harmful to the user experience and to the reputation of your website.

Another important aspect is to keep track of the errors that you find and fix during the debugging process. This way, you can have a log of the issues you had and how you solved them, which can be useful in case the problem comes up again. This log will also help you to identify patterns and potential common causes of the errors.

As you can see, it’s fairly simple to enable WordPress debug mode to fix site errors and it can be done by anyone who is familiar with the basics of WordPress and has access to the site’s files. However, isn’t it a better idea to make your site error-free in the first place? It is possible and it’s as simple as reaching out to WordPress experts and letting them take care of your website for you. Trust us, site errors or even the tiniest glitches will be the last things on your mind.