Understanding WordPress Errors and How to Use Error Logs to Fix Them

WordPress is a powerful platform, but things can sometimes go wrong. Whether it’s a white screen of death, a database connection error, or a cryptic PHP message, errors can bring your website to a halt. Fortunately, WordPress error logs make it easier to find and fix the source of most issues. This article will teach you how to identify common WordPress errors, enable error logging, and interpret logs to troubleshoot

Common WordPress Errors

Here are some of the most frequent errors WordPress users encounter:

1. 500 Internal Server Error: A generic error that can be caused by corrupted .htaccess files, plugins, or exhausted PHP memory.
2. White Screen of Death (WSOD): The screen goes completely blank — often due to theme/plugin conflicts or memory issues.
3. Error Establishing a Database Connection: WordPress can’t connect to your database — typically caused by incorrect database credentials or a down database server.
4. 404 Page Not Found: A page or post doesn’t exist, or permalinks are misconfigured.
5. PHP Errors (Syntax, Warnings, Notices): These are often caused by outdated plugins, themes, or incorrect code snippets.
6. Memory Exhausted Error: The default PHP memory limit is too low to run your site properly.
7. Stuck in Maintenance Mode: A .maintenance file is left behind during an interrupted update.
8. Critical Error on This Website: Message: “There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions.”

What Are WordPress Error Logs?

Error logs are files that record warnings, errors, and other messages generated by your WordPress site or server. They are essential tools for developers and site owners, providing clues about what’s breaking your site and where to look.

Where to Find WordPress Error Logs

Depending on your hosting setup, you can find WordPress and server error logs in several locations. Here’s how:

1. WordPress Debug Log

If you’ve enabled logging in wp-config.php WordPress creates a debug log here:

/wp-content/debug.log

To access it:

1. Log into cPanel.
2. Go to File Manager.
   

   File manager in the cpanel

3. Navigate to: public_html/wp-content/debug.log
   

   debug.log

You can open to view detailed error messages related to plugins, themes, or PHP code

2. Server Error Logs via File Manager

Some hosting providers store server-level logs in the root or public_html folder. Here’s how to find them:

1. Log into your cPanel dashboard.
2. Go to File Manager.
   

   File Manager

3. Navigate to: public_html (or root folder).
   

   public_html

4. Look for files like: error_log errors.log .logs/ directory (if available)
   

   Screenshot 101

These files typically contain PHP errors, file permission issues, and more.

How to Read WordPress Error Logs

A typical error log entry looks like this:

[22-May-2025 15:13:42 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function custom_function() in /public_html/wp-content/themes/mytheme/functions.php:50

Here’s how to read it:

• Timestamp: When the error occurred
• Error Type: e.g., fatal error, warning, Notice
• Message: Description of the error

• File & Line: The exact file and line number where the issue occurred

How to Fix WordPress Errors Using Logs

1. Identify the source from the error message (e.g., plugin or theme name).
2. Disable the plugin/theme via FTP or recovery mode if needed.
3. Update or replace the faulty code.
4. Check for PHP version compatibility with themes/plugins.
5. Increase PHP memory limit:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');