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How to Set Up WordPress Error Logs in WP-Config

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Do you want to set up WordPress error logs for your WordPress site?

The wp-config.php file controls your WordPress site settings. You can also use this file to turn on error logging to help you find and fix errors when troubleshooting.

In this article, we will show you how to set up WordPress error logs using the wp-config file.

Setting up WordPress error logs

Why Set Up WordPress Error Logs Using WP-Config?

The wp-config.php file is an important WordPress configuration file. It contains settings that tell your website how to connect to your WordPress database, the database table prefix to use, and authentication keys to make your WordPress site more secure.

Apart from default WordPress settings, the wp-config file can also be used to enable WordPress debugging mode and save WordPress error logs.

This helps you find WordPress errors by identifying the plugins or scripts that are causing them. You can then go ahead and find a fix for those WordPress errors.

That being said, let’s take a look at how to enable and set up WordPress error logs by editing the wp-config file.

Setting Up WordPress Error Logs in WP-Config File

First, you will need to edit your wp-config.php file. If you haven’t done this before, then you can see our guide on how to edit the wp-config file in WordPress.

You can access the file by connecting to your website using an FTP client or the file manager app provided by your hosting provider.

Edit wp-config file

You will find the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your website.

Note: Editing WordPress core files can be dangerous and break your site if you make even a small error. That’s why we recommend that only advanced users do so.

Enabling Debugging Mode

Next, you will need to open the file in any text editor and look for the line that says ‘That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.’

Just before this line you need to add the following code:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

It is possible that this code is already in your wp-config.php file and is set to ‘false’. In that case, you just need to change it to ‘true’.

This line will turn on WordPress debug mode. This means that WordPress errors and warnings will be displayed inside your admin area as well as on the front page of your website.

Next, you need to enable error logging so the error messages are saved in a file.

Enabling Error Logging

If you want errors to be logged, then you will also need to add the following code in your wp-config.php file just below the WP_DEBUG line.

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Don’t forget to save your changes and upload your wp-config.php file back to your website.

Congratulations, you have turned on WordPress error logging. Next, we’ll take a look at how to use the log to find and fix errors when troubleshooting.

Reviewing Your WordPress Error Logs

First, you need to visit your WordPress site and access the pages that were resulting in errors or warnings. After that, you will need to connect to your website using an FTP client or file manager app in your WordPress hosting cPanel.

Once connected, go to the /wp-content/ folder. Inside it, you will find a file called debug.log.

Debug log

You can download, view, or edit this file.

It will contain all WordPress errors, warnings, and notices that were logged.

WordPress errors logged

Expert Guides on Troubleshooting and Debugging WordPress Errors

Now that you know how to set up WordPress error logs, you might like to see some other guides related to logging, troubleshooting, and debugging errors in WordPress.

We hope this article helped you learn how to set up WordPress error logs in the wp-config file. You may also want to see our guide on how to create a free business email address and our expert pick of the best email marketing services for small business.

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Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at WPBeginner is a team of WordPress experts led by Syed Balkhi with over 16 years of experience in WordPress, Web Hosting, eCommerce, SEO, and Marketing. Started in 2009, WPBeginner is now the largest free WordPress resource site in the industry and is often referred to as the Wikipedia for WordPress.

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Reader Interactions

14 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Syed Balkhi says

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  2. mohadese esmaeeli says

    Hello and respect;
    As an additional note, I would like to inform users that the error log file becomes heavy and bulky over time. It is advisable to delete it. Each time an error occurs, this file will be recreated. Visit the WordPress installation path and check the permissions of the error_log file. If the file is unnecessary, delete it. This file contains errors that have occurred on the WordPress site.

    • WPBeginner Support says

      It would depend on how often the site has an error but it would be a good idea to delete the file every so often.

      Admin

  3. Eddy says

    Hi, quick question, one of my client’s sites has this text file error.log generated/updated under the public_html folder, yet, WP_DEBUG is set to false in wp-config, does anyone know what’s generating the error log in that file?

  4. hassu says

    My own plugin is broken, and this method does not help, the log file is empty and stays empty whatever trick i try.

  5. Zippp says

    Oh, Gosh
    If you are saying how to turn the logging on then why don’t you say how to add there any data?

    • Erick Racancoj says

      I thought the same :)

      Here is a line of code you can use once WP_DEBUG_LOG is activated:

      error_log( ‘Hello World!’ );

      • Frank Spade says

        Your test code can only work, when you use aposthrophs instead of accents! ;-)

        error_log(‘Hello World!’);

Leave a Reply to Eddy Cancel reply

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