Running a WordPress website is usually smooth, but sometimes things go wrong—your site breaks, you see strange error messages, or features stop working. That’s where debugging comes in.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to debug common WordPress errors step by step, using built-in tools, plugins, and best practices.

Why Debugging in WordPress Matters

Debugging helps you:

• Identify the root cause of errors.
• Prevent downtime by fixing issues quickly.
• Improve site stability and performance.
• Avoid unnecessary plugin/theme conflicts.

Without debugging, you’re left guessing what’s wrong, which wastes time and risks further damage.

Step 1: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress has a built-in debugging system that you can activate via wp-config.php.

1. Access your site via FTP or hosting file manager.
2. Open the wp-config.php file in your site’s root directory.
3. Find this line:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

4. Change it to:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

• WP_DEBUG → Turns debugging on.
• WP_DEBUG_LOG → Saves errors to a debug.log file inside /wp-content/.
• WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY → Prevents errors from showing to visitors (good for production).

Step 2: Check the Error Logs

Once debugging is enabled:

• Errors and warnings are saved in wp-content/debug.log.
• Open the file with a text editor.
• Look for repeated messages—they usually point to the root issue (e.g., plugin, theme, or PHP file).

Step 3: Identify Common WordPress Errors

Here are some of the most frequent issues and how to debug them:

White Screen of Death (WSOD)

• Usually caused by PHP errors or memory limit issues.
• Debug log will show which file caused the crash.
• Fix: Increase PHP memory limit, disable recent plugins/themes.

500 Internal Server Error

• Can result from a corrupted .htaccess file or faulty plugin.
• Debug log often reveals the error message.
• Fix: Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old and regenerate it from Settings → Permalinks.

404 Errors on Posts/Pages

• Caused by permalink structure issues.
• Fix: Go to Settings → Permalinks and click “Save Changes” to refresh.

Plugin or Theme Conflicts

• If the error started after installing/updating a plugin or theme, disable it.
• Use Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin to test conflicts without affecting live visitors.

Database Connection Error

• Check wp-config.php for correct database credentials.
• Ensure your database server is running.

Step 4: Use Debugging Plugins

Several plugins simplify the debugging process:

• Query Monitor – Debug database queries, hooks, and PHP errors.
• Health Check & Troubleshooting – Helps diagnose conflicts safely.
• Debug Bar – Adds a debug menu to the admin bar.

These tools make it easier to identify problems without manually digging through log files.

Step 5: Use Browser DevTools

Sometimes, the issue isn’t in WordPress but in front-end scripts. Open Chrome DevTools (F12) and check:

• Console errors (JavaScript problems).
• Network requests (failed assets like CSS/JS).
• Performance bottlenecks.

Step 6: Debugging on a Staging Site

Never test fixes directly on your live website. Instead:

• Create a staging site via your host or a plugin like WP Staging.
• Apply changes and verify that the issue is resolved.
• Push the fix to your live site once tested.

Step 7: When to Contact Your Host

If you’ve tried all steps but the issue persists:

• Contact your hosting provider.
• Share the debug.log file.
• Many errors (server timeouts, PHP versions, permission issues) can only be fixed on the server side.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to debug common WordPress errors is a must for every site owner. With the right tools—debug mode, error logs, troubleshooting plugins, and staging—you can fix issues faster and keep your site running smoothly.

Instead of panicking at the “White Screen of Death,” you’ll know exactly where to look and how to resolve it.

Start troubleshooting today—enable debug mode and use these steps to debug common WordPress errors before they impact your visitors!