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

Key highlights 

• WordPress error logs help you identify and fix site issues like plugin conflicts, PHP errors and server crashes. 
• Find error logs in the wp-content/debug.log file or access them via your hosting provider’s control panel. 
• Enable WordPress debug mode using a plugin like WP Debugging or manually by editing the wp-config.php file. 
• Common WordPress errors like the White Screen of Death, invalid JSON errors and PHP warnings can be diagnosed using logs. 
• Fix WordPress errors by identifying issues, deactivating plugins, updating software, checking file permissions and optimizing the database. 

Introduction 

Did you know that your website’s speed directly impacts user experience and business success? A report by Unbounce found that 70% of consumers say page speed affects their willingness to buy from an online retailer.  

Slow-loading sites can frustrate users and hurt conversions, but speed issues often stem from deeper problems like unoptimized plugins, PHP errors or misconfigurations. This is where WordPress error logs come to the rescue. 

They spot problems before they turn into disasters, helping you fix issues before they affect your visitors. Whether it’s a plugin conflict, a PHP error or a server crash, error logs hold the clues you need to troubleshoot like a pro.   

In this guide, we’ll demystify the process of locating and accessing these logs, empowering you to troubleshoot like a pro. 

What are WordPress logs and why are they essential for troubleshooting?

WordPress logs are system-generated records that track website activities, including errors, warnings, user actions, plugin activations and theme changes. These logs provide a chronological history of events, helping troubleshoot issues, monitor performance and ensure site stability by offering insights into backend operations. 

WordPress logs provide a chronological history of what’s happening behind the scenes of a website, offering valuable insights into its operation and performance. 

Now, why are these logs essential for troubleshooting? Here’s why: 

1. Identifying errors 

WordPress logs serve as a diagnostic tool to identify errors that occur on a website. Whether it’s a plugin conflict, a misconfigured theme or a server issue, error logs provide detailed information about what went wrong, making it easier to pinpoint the root cause of the problem. 

2. Debugging code 

For developers and website administrators, error logs are invaluable for debugging code. They provide real-time feedback on PHP errors, deprecated functions, database queries and other technical issues, helping developers identify and fix bugs more efficiently. 

3. Tracking user activity 

WordPress logs also track user activity on a website, including login attempts, content edits and settings changes. This information can be useful for security purposes, allowing administrators to monitor for suspicious behavior and unauthorized access. 

4. Monitoring performance 

By analyzing error logs, website administrators can monitor the performance and stability of their WordPress site. They can identify recurring issues, performance bottlenecks and server errors, allowing them to take proactive measures to optimize the site’s performance and ensure a smooth user experience. 

5. Improving security 

Error logs can also play a role in improving website security. By monitoring for error messages related to security vulnerabilities or hacker attacks, administrators can identify and patch potential security holes before they are exploited by malicious actors. 

How to read & understand WordPress error logs  

Error logs may seem overwhelming but understanding them makes troubleshooting much easier. 

[01-Mar-2024 10:30:15 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function custom_function() in /wp-content/plugins/example-plugin/functions.php on line 42

How to interpret it: 

• Timestamp: [01-Mar-2024 10:30:15 UTC] → When the error occurred. 

• Error type: PHP Fatal error → Indicates a critical issue that may break your site. 
• Issue description: Call to undefined function custom_function() → The function custom_function() is missing or incorrectly called. 
• File & line number: /wp-content/plugins/example-plugin/functions.php on line 42 → Points to the exact issue location. 

Pro tip: If unsure about an error message, search Google or WordPress forums for insights. 

How and when can WordPress error logs help?

WordPress error logs can be instrumental in troubleshooting common WordPress website issues. Let’s explore how and when error logs can help with specific scenarios:

1. The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD):

How error logs help: When your WordPress site displays a white screen instead of its usual content (WSOD), error logs can provide insights into what caused the issue. They may reveal underlying PHP errors, plugin conflicts or memory exhaustion problems. 

When to use error logs: Whenever your WordPress site encounters the white screen of death, accessing error logs can help you quickly identify and resolve the root cause of the problem. 

2. PHP errors:

How error logs help: PHP errors can occur due to syntax issues, deprecated functions or other coding mistakes. Error logs capture these PHP errors along with their corresponding file paths and line numbers, making it easier to debug and fix the underlying code. 

When to use error logs: Whenever you encounter PHP errors on your WordPress site, such as syntax errors or undefined function errors, referring to error logs can provide valuable clues to help you rectify the issue. 

3. The invalid JSON error:

How error logs help: The ‘invalid JSON’ error typically occurs when there’s a problem with the JSON formatting of data sent or received by WordPress. Error logs can help pinpoint the specific file or script responsible for generating the invalid JSON, allowing you to correct the issue. 

When to use error logs: When your WordPress site displays an ‘invalid JSON’ error, reviewing error logs can help you identify the source of the problem, whether it’s a faulty plugin, theme customization or server configuration issue. 

“Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error:

How error logs help: This error message indicates that the user attempting to access a specific page or resource does not have the necessary permissions. Error logs can reveal any underlying issues with user permissions, authentication failures or plugin conflicts that may be causing the error. 

When to use error logs: Whenever users encounter the ‘Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page’ error on your WordPress site, error logs can help you troubleshoot and resolve permission-related issues, ensuring that users can access the content they are authorized to view. 

Enabling WordPress debug mode with a plugin

There are two methods to enable WordPress debug mode and the first is with a plugin. Using a plugin is the easiest way to enable debugging without modifying core files. 

1. Selecting a debugging plugin: Start by choosing a WordPress plugin designed to facilitate debugging and error logging. Several reputable plugins are available in the WordPress plugin repository, such as: 

• WP Debugging 
• Debug Bar 
• Query Monitor 
• Debug This 
• Plugin Detective 
• Debug Log Manager 

Query Monitor is especially useful for developers who need in-depth insights into database queries, PHP errors and API calls. 

2. Installing and activating the plugin: Once you’ve chosen a debugging plugin, install and activate it on your WordPress site. You can do this directly from the WordPress dashboard by navigating to the ‘Plugins’ section, clicking ‘Add New,’ and then searching for the plugin by name. Once you find it, click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate.’ 

3. Configuring debug settings: After activating the debugging plugin, you may need to configure its settings to enable debug mode and specify the level of detail you want in your error logs. This typically involves navigating to the plugin’s settings page, where you’ll find options to enable debug mode, display errors on-screen and log errors to a file. 

4. Enabling debug mode: Once you’ve configured the plugin’s settings, you can enable debug mode by toggling the appropriate switch or checkbox. This action instructs WordPress to log PHP errors, warnings and notices to the designated error log file. 

5. Viewing error logs: With debug mode enabled, WordPress will start logging errors to the specified log file, typically located in the wp-content directory of your WordPress installation. You can access these error logs via ‘FTP’ or a ‘file manager’ tool provided by your web hosting provider. For Bluehost users, accessing error logs is even easier through the Bluehost dashboard. Simply navigate to ‘Quick Links’> ‘File Manager’ and locate the debug.log file within the wp-content directory. This direct access saves time when troubleshooting errors. 

Enabling WordPress to debug mode using code

If you like a manual approach to troubleshooting, WordPress lets you enable error logging by modifying the wp-config.php file. This approach gives you direct access to error details and helps diagnose issues without using additional plugins. 

However, if you are a Bluehost user, you can go straight to that wp-config.php file through Bluehost dashboard. Just head to ‘Quick Links’ and then ‘File Manager.’ 

Accessing wp-config.php  

Start by accessing the wp-config.php file in your WordPress installation directory. You can do this using a ‘FTP client’ or a ‘file manager’ provided by your web hosting control panel. Once you locate the wp-config.php file, download it to your computer for editing. 

Editing wp-config.php  

Open the wp-config.php file using a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). Look for the following line of code: 

phpCopy code 

define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, false );  

If you don’t find this line, that’s okay. You can add it anywhere before the line that says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */. 

Enabling debug mode  

To enable debug mode, change the value of WP_DEBUG from false to true, like so: 

phpCopy code 

define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );  

This tells WordPress to start logging PHP errors, warnings and notices. 

Defining error logging  

Optionally, you can define additional constants to specify where the debug information should be logged and the level of detail to include. Here are some common constants you can add below the line defining WP_DEBUG: 

phpCopy code 

define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true ); // Logs errors to wp-content/debug.log file define( ‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false ); // Prevents errors from being displayed on-screen  

Setting WP_DEBUG_LOG to true will log errors to a file named debug.log in the wp-content directory. 

Setting WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY to false will prevent errors from being displayed on the website, keeping them logged to the file only. 

Saving changes  

Once you’ve made the necessary modifications to wp-config.php, save the file. 

Testing  

Finally, visit your WordPress site and perform actions that may trigger errors, such as loading pages, submitting forms or interacting with plugins. Any PHP errors, warnings or notices will be logged according to the settings you’ve configured. 

How to find and access WordPress error logs

To find and access WordPress error logs, you’ll typically need to navigate through your website’s files. The error logs themselves are files that contain records of various events, warnings and errors that occur within your WordPress site. Here’s how you can locate and access them: 

1. Access to your WordPress site’s hosting environment

This usually involves using a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client or accessing your hosting provider’s file manager through a control panel like ‘cPanel’ or ‘Plesk’. Once you’re logged in, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation. 

2. Look for the wp-content directory 

This directory is within your WordPress installation and contains various folders related to your site’s content, including themes, plugins and uploads. Within the wp-content directory, you may find a file named debug.log if WordPress debug mode is enabled. This file logs PHP errors, warnings and notices that occur on your site. 

If you don’t see a debug.log file in the wp-content directory, you may need to enable WordPress debug mode to start logging errors. You can do this by editing the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Look for the line that says `define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);` and change `false` to `true`. You can also define additional constants like `WP_DEBUG_LOG` to specify where the debug information should be logged. 

3. Locate the debug.log file

Once WordPress debug mode is enabled and errors are being logged, you can return to the wp-content directory to locate the debug.log file. Download this file to your computer or open it directly within your FTP client or file manager to view its contents. 

Alternatively, some WordPress plugins provide user-friendly interfaces within the WordPress dashboard for accessing error logs. If you’ve installed a debugging plugin, check its settings or options page for a feature that allows you to view or download error logs directly from the admin area. 

Once you’ve accessed the error logs, you can review them to identify and troubleshoot any issues affecting your WordPress site. Error logs provide valuable insights into PHP errors, plugin conflicts, theme issues, database queries and other potential problems, allowing you to take appropriate corrective actions to maintain the stability and functionality of your site. Remember to disable debug mode once you’ve finished troubleshooting to prevent sensitive information from being exposed on your live site.  

How to fix issues found in WordPress error logs

WordPress error logs provide valuable insights into what’s causing issues on your website. Whether it’s a malfunctioning plugin, a misconfigured theme or a database error, identifying and fixing errors promptly can prevent downtime and security risks. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tackle common issues found in error logs. 

1. Identify the error by reviewing log entries. 
2. Understand the error type and cause. 
3. Deactivate plugins & themes to isolate the issue. 
4. Update WordPress core, plugins and themes. 
5. Check file permissions (755 for directories, 644 for files). 
6. Review wp-config.php and .htaccess settings. 
7. Optimize the database to fix corruption issues. 
8. Debug PHP errors by checking function calls. 
9. Seek professional help if issues persist. 

Step 1: Identify the error

Start by carefully reviewing the error logs to identify the specific error messages or warnings that are being logged. Pay attention to any patterns or recurring issues that may indicate underlying problems. 

How to identify errors in logs: 

• Access your debug.log file (located in wp-content/). 
• Look for errors related to themes, plugins or database connections. 
• Focus on the most recent entries to pinpoint the latest issues. 

For example, error log entry: 

[27-Feb-2024 12:15:10 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Call to undefined function get_custom_data() in /wp-content/themes/mytheme/functions.php on line 55 

What it means: The error log shows that the get_custom_data() function is missing or incorrectly called in your theme’s functions.php file. 

Step 2: Understand the error 

Once you’ve identified the error messages, take the time to understand what they mean and how they’re impacting your WordPress site. Research the error codes or messages online to gain insights into their potential causes and solutions. 

Common WordPress error types & fixes: 

PHP warnings/notices: Indicate non-critical issues that may not immediately break your site but should be fixed. 
For example: 

PHP Warning: Undefined variable $page_title in /wp-content/plugins/plugin-name/functions.php on line 42 

Fix: Ensure that the variable is properly defined before use. 

PHP fatal errors: These break your website and need immediate attention. 
For example:

PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function get_page_title() 

Fix: The function might be missing or incorrectly referenced in your theme/plugin. 

Database errors: Related to MySQL or database connection failures. 
For example: 

WordPress database error Table ‘wp_options’ doesn’t exist 

Step 3: Check plugins and themes 

Many WordPress errors are caused by incompatible plugins or themes. Begin by deactivating all plugins and switching to a default WordPress theme (such as Twenty Twenty-One). Then, systematically reactivate each plugin and switch back to your original theme, checking for errors after each change. This process can help isolate the plugin or theme responsible for the issue. 

Step 4: Update software 

Ensure that your WordPress core, plugins and themes are all up to date. Developers often release updates to address security vulnerabilities, bug fixes and compatibility issues. Updating your software can often resolve errors and improve the overall stability of your site. 

Step 5: Check file permissions 

Incorrect file permissions can sometimes cause errors on your WordPress site. Make sure that file permissions are set correctly for directories (755) and files (644). You can adjust file permissions using an FTP client or a file manager provided by your hosting provider. 

Step 6: Review configuration settings 

Review your WordPress configuration settings, including those in the wp-config.php file and any server-side configuration files (for example, .htaccess). Check for any incorrect settings or directives that may be contributing to the error.

Step 7: Debugging code 

If you’re comfortable with PHP and coding, you can use the information from the error logs to debug and fix issues directly in your WordPress files. Look for the files and lines of code referenced in the error logs and make appropriate changes to resolve the issues. With the release of PHP 8+, certain older functions and plugins may cause compatibility issues, resulting in fatal errors. Checking error logs for deprecated functions and ensuring your site runs on the latest PHP version (as recommended by WordPress) can help maintain site stability. 

Step 8: Database optimization 

Database errors or performance issues can also cause problems on your WordPress site. Consider optimizing your WordPress database using plugins like WP-Optimize or manually optimizing your database tables using phpMyAdmin. 

Step 9: Seek professional help 

If you’re unable to resolve the issues on your own, consider seeking assistance from a professional WordPress developer or technical support. They can provide expert guidance and assistance in diagnosing and fixing complex issues. 

However, if you prefer instant expert assistance, Bluehost’s 24/7 support team is always available to help with troubleshooting. Whether you’re facing website downtime, security concerns or WordPress-related errors, Bluehost experts provide step-by-step guidance to resolve technical issues quickly and efficiently.

Disabling WordPress debug mode

We advise turning off debug mode for your WordPress website once the problem has been resolved. Leaving it turned on poses a security risk to WordPress and might cause your website to load more slowly and leak private information.  

To disable the WP Debugging plugin, just go to ‘Plugins’> ‘Installed Plugins’ if you activated debug mode using a plugin. 

If you used code to activate debug mode, just make the same changes to the wp-config file. 

The WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG lines of code must be changed to ‘false.’  

Automating WordPress error log monitoring 

WordPress error logs are a crucial tool for diagnosing issues, but manually checking logs can be time-consuming. Errors can occur at any time and without real-time monitoring, you may not detect critical issues until they significantly impact your website. 

By automating WordPress error log monitoring, you can get instant alerts when an issue arises, track performance trends and reduce downtime. 

Why automate error log monitoring? 

Manually reviewing error logs requires constant effort and is not practical for large or high-traffic websites. Automating this process ensures: 

• Faster issue detection – Get notified as soon as an error occurs. 
• Proactive troubleshooting – Fix problems before they escalate. 
• Better security monitoring – Detect unusual activity or hacking attempts. 
• Improved site performance – Identify slow queries and script failures automatically. 

For businesses, automating error log monitoring prevents revenue loss caused by prolonged downtime or site malfunctions. 

Best practices for managing WordPress error logs 

Managing WordPress error logs is crucial for maintaining a secure and high-performing website. Here are some insights to enhance your error log management strategy: 

1. Enable debug mode only when necessary 

It is necessary to activate WordPress debug mode for identifying issues. But turn it on when you’re actively looking for a problem. To enable debug mode, add the following to your wp-config.php file: 

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false); 

Once you’ve figured out what’s wrong, remember to switch it off by changing true to false 

2. Regularly monitor and analyze logs 

Making a habit of checking logs and monitoring your logs on a daily basis will help you a lot. If you see something repeating, that’s a sign you need to take a closer look and get alert.  Regular monitoring can prevent minor issues from escalating into huge disruptions. 

3. Secure your error logs 

Your error logs can contain sensitive information, so it’s important to keep them locked up tight. Only let people you trust have access. Think of it like keeping your personal journal safe. 

4. Implement log rotation 

Set up a system to automatically archive the old stuff and start fresh. It keeps things tidy and it means you won’t run out of space. 

5. Utilize logging plugins 

There are plugins that can make managing your logs a breeze. Think of them as assistants that help you keep track of everything. For example, the WP Activity Log plugin can show you who’s been making changes to your site, which is really helpful for spotting potential problems. 

6. Automate updates and testing 

Just like you go to the doctor for a check-up, your site needs regular updates and testing. Keeping your WordPress core, themes and plugins up to date is like giving your site its vitamins. And running tests? That’s like practicing before a big presentation. It helps you find any little hiccups before your visitors do. 

By incorporating these practices into your WordPress maintenance routine, you can effectively manage error logs, enhance site security and ensure optimal performance. 

Final thoughts 

Finding and accessing WordPress error logs helps you navigate through website troubles. By following these steps, you can uncover the root causes of issues, whether it’s a pesky plugin misbehaving or a misconfigured theme causing chaos.  

Remember, error logs are your trusted companions in troubleshooting, helping you turn challenges into opportunities for growth.  

So, don’t be afraid to delve into your site’s logs when things go awry. With a little patience and persistence, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your WordPress site running smoothly for visitors and clients alike. 

But let’s be honest—manually checking logs, debugging code and fixing issues can be time-consuming. What if you could have a hosting solution that monitors your site, optimizes performance and fixes issues before they even become a problem? 

With proactive issue detection, built-in error log access and 24/7 expert support, Bluehost ensures that WordPress users can troubleshoot site errors efficiently. Bluehost’s optimized hosting environment also includes automatic updates, security scanning and performance monitoring, reducing the risk of site downtime. Explore Bluehost’s WordPress hosting plan today and experience seamless site management.

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