Enabling WordPress Debugging for Effective Troubleshooting

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Enabling WordPress Debugging for Effective Troubleshooting

1. **Access Your WordPress Files**: Gain access to your WordPress website’s files by using an FTP client like FileZilla or directly through your web hosting control panel’s file manager.

2. **Locate the `wp-config.php` File**: In your WordPress installation’s root directory, locate the essential `wp-config.php` file. This file contains crucial configuration settings for your WordPress site.

3. **Edit `wp-config.php`**: Prioritize safety by creating a backup of the `wp-config.php` file before any changes. Then, open the `wp-config.php` file using a reliable text editor.

4. **Enable Debugging**: Insert the following code lines just above the comment line that reads `/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */`.

“`php
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );
define( ‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false );
@ini_set( ‘display_errors’, 0 );
“`

Explanation of each line:
– `WP_DEBUG`: Activates debugging mode.
– `WP_DEBUG_LOG`: Records debugging messages in the `/wp-content/debug.log` file.
– `WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY`: Manages whether errors appear on the page. Setting it to `false` prevents errors from showing on your website.
– `@ini_set( ‘display_errors’, 0 );`: Suppresses display of PHP errors.

5. **Save Your Changes**: After adding the code lines above, ensure you save the `wp-config.php` file.

6. **Review the Debug Log**: Once you’ve implemented the changes, go to your website and perform actions that might trigger errors. Any PHP errors, warnings, or notices will be documented in the `debug.log` file situated in the `wp-content` directory of your WordPress installation.

Remember to disable debugging once you’ve resolved the issues on your site. Do this by modifying `define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );` back to `define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, false );` in your `wp-config.php` file.

Always exercise caution when editing your website files and consider creating backups before making any alterations. This practice helps safeguard your content and configurations.

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