Quick Debug Toggle

Enable or disable WordPress debug mode directly from the admin panel without editing wp-config.php. Perfect for developers who need to quickly troubleshoot issues without FTP access or file editing.

Use Cases#

• Quickly enable debug mode to troubleshoot a plugin conflict
• Check error logs without manually editing config files
• Toggle debug display on staging sites during development
• Clear debug logs that have grown too large
• Safely enable debugging without remembering the exact code

How It Works#

The module provides two options:

1. Automatic: Modify wp-config.php directly from the admin panel
2. Manual: Get the correct code to paste yourself

Both options let you toggle WordPress debug constants:

• WP_DEBUG - Master switch for debug mode
• WP_DEBUG_LOG - Log errors to wp-content/debug.log
• WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY - Show errors on screen

Current Status Display#

The settings panel shows the current state of all debug constants:

Debug Log Management#

When debug logging is enabled, errors are written to wp-content/debug.log. The module shows:

• Current log file size
• Button to view the log file
• Button to clear/empty the log

Option 1: Automatic Toggle#

Click the enable/disable buttons to automatically modify wp-config.php:

Enabling Debug Mode:

1. Creates a backup of wp-config.php
2. Adds the debug constants before “That’s all, stop editing!”
3. Enables WP_DEBUG, WP_DEBUG_LOG, and disables WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY

Disabling Debug Mode:

1. Removes the debug constants from wp-config.php
2. Returns your config to its original state

Requirements#

Automatic mode requires:

• wp-config.php must be writable by PHP
• WordPress must be in the standard location

Warning#

Option 2: Manual Instructions#

If you prefer to edit files yourself, the module provides the exact code to add:

// Enable debugging
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
@ini_set('display_errors', 0);

Add this code to your wp-config.php file before the line:

/* That's all, stop editing! */

To disable, simply remove or comment out these lines.

Understanding the Constants#

WP_DEBUG#

The master switch. When true:

• PHP errors, notices, and warnings are caught
• Deprecated function notices appear
• Other debug constants become active

WP_DEBUG_LOG#

When true (requires WP_DEBUG):

• Errors are saved to wp-content/debug.log
• File can be viewed via browser or FTP
• Useful for catching errors that happen silently

WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY#

When false (recommended):

• Errors are NOT shown on the page
• Prevents visitors from seeing error messages
• Always keep disabled on production sites

Toggle Individual Constants#

Beyond the main enable/disable buttons, you can toggle each constant individually:

• Enable only logging without the full debug mode
• Temporarily enable display for local debugging
• Fine-tune your debug configuration

Viewing the Debug Log#

When errors are logged, view them by:

1. Clicking “View Log” in the module settings
2. Directly accessing yoursite.com/wp-content/debug.log
3. Via FTP/SFTP in the wp-content folder

The log shows:

• Timestamp of each error
• Error type (notice, warning, fatal)
• File and line number
• Error message

Common Debug Messages#

Security Considerations#

• Debug mode can expose sensitive information
• Never leave debug enabled on production long-term
• Clear debug logs before they contain too much data
• Restrict access to debug.log via .htaccess if concerned

Backup Files#

When using automatic toggle, backups are created as:

wp-config.php.backup-1234567890

The number is a Unix timestamp. If something goes wrong:

1. Access your site via FTP/SSH
2. Delete the modified wp-config.php
3. Rename the backup file to wp-config.php

FAQ#