When something breaks on a WordPress site, enabling debug mode is often the fastest way to see what’s gone wrong. Debug mode tells WordPress to surface PHP errors and warnings that are normally hidden, making it much easier to diagnose issues.

There are two ways to enable debug mode: the manual way and the easy way (i.e., using a plugin).

Let’s look at both.

The Manual Way: Editing wp-config.php

WordPress has a built-in debug system, but it’s turned off by default. To enable it manually, you’ll need access to your site files.

1. Open wp-config.php

Using FTP, SSH, or your hosting file manager, open the wp-config.php file in your site’s root directory.

2. Enable Debug Mode

Add (or update) these lines above the “That’s all, stop editing!” comment:

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

This turns on debugging, logs errors to a file, and prevents them from being shown to visitors.

3. Remember to Turn It Off

Once you’re done troubleshooting, you should set WP_DEBUG back to false. Leaving debug mode enabled on a live site poses a security risk.

This approach works, but it requires file access, careful edits, and discipline to clean up afterward.

The Easy Way: Using WP Debug Toolkit

If editing core config files feels risky or inconvenient, WP Debug Toolkit offers a simpler option.

Instead of touching wp-config.php, you can:

• Enable or disable debug mode from the WordPress admin
• Safely control logging and error display
• See errors and warnings in real time
• Avoid breaking your site with a misplaced character

Behind the scenes, WordPress’ native debug system is still being used—you’re just managing it through a clean interface instead of code.

Why This Approach Is More Practical

• No FTP or server access required
• No manual file edits
• Faster to toggle debugging on and off
• Less chance of leaving debug mode enabled by mistake

This is especially helpful if you troubleshoot sites often or work on multiple WordPress installs.

Final Thoughts

Enabling WordPress debug mode is a must when diagnosing errors, but how you enable it matters. Editing wp-config.php gets the job done, but it’s easy to slip up or forget to turn debugging off.

If you want a safer, faster way to manage debug mode, a tool like WP Debug Toolkit makes the process far less painful.

However you do it, don’t debug blindly. Turn debug mode on and let WordPress tell you what’s wrong.

For a complete list of debugging plugins, see the 7 Best WordPress Debug Plugins.