How do I view error logs?

How do I view error logs?

Overview

Error logs help you identify website issues such as broken scripts, server errors, plugin failures, and configuration problems. They are essential for troubleshooting and fixing website problems quickly.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in to your control panel

• Open your hosting control panel
• Sign in with your account credentials

2. Open File Manager

• Go to File Manager
• Navigate to your website directory:
  • public_html

3. Locate error log files

Look for files such as:

• error_log
• php_errorlog
• logs/error.log

These may appear in:

• Root directory (public_html)
• Individual folders (if errors are specific to plugins or scripts)

4. Open and review the log file

• Click on the log file

• View recent entries at the bottom

• Look for:

  • PHP warnings
  • Fatal errors
  • File path issues
  • Plugin or theme errors

5. Use control panel error log viewer (if available)

Some setups also provide:

• Error Log Viewer
• Raw Access Logs
• Domain Logs section

These show real-time server errors without opening files manually.

Important Notes

• Logs update in real time when errors occur
• Older logs may rotate or be archived automatically
• High traffic sites may generate large log files quickly
• Not all errors will break the site (warnings vs fatal errors)

Common Issues & Fixes

No error log found

• Check hidden files in File Manager
• Ensure logging is enabled in PHP settings
• Try checking domain-specific logs instead of root

Log file is empty

• No recent errors have occurred
• Logging may not be enabled
• PHP error reporting may be disabled

File too large to open

• Download the log file instead
• Use search tools to filter errors
• Clear logs after reviewing (if safe to do so)

Need Help?

If you’re unable to identify the cause of an issue from error logs, support can help interpret logs, pinpoint the root cause, and recommend fixes.