Title: LogWatch
Author: Pixel Solutions
Published: <strong>April 9, 2026</strong>
Last modified: April 9, 2026

---

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# LogWatch

 By [Pixel Solutions](https://profiles.wordpress.org/pixelsolutionsbiz/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/logwatch.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/logwatch/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/logwatch/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/logwatch/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/logwatch/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/logwatch/)

## Description

**Stop hunting through server logs. Monitor PHP errors directly in WordPress.**

LogWatch brings professional error monitoring to your WordPress admin panel. Whether
you’re debugging a plugin conflict, tracking down a theme issue, or monitoring a
production site, LogWatch gives you instant visibility into PHP errors without SSH
access or server configuration.

#### Why LogWatch?

**For Developers:**
 * Catch errors before your clients do * Debug faster with grouped,
organized error logs * Track error patterns across deployments * Export logs for
team collaboration

**For Agencies:**
 * Monitor multiple client sites from their dashboards * Professional
error tracking without server access * Quick diagnosis saves billable hours * Clean
interface clients can understand

**For Site Owners:**
 * Know when something breaks (before visitors complain) * 
Share error logs with developers easily * Works on any hosting (shared, VPS, dedicated)*
No technical knowledge required

#### Key Features

**Smart Error Grouping**
 Stop seeing the same error 1,000 times. LogWatch automatically
groups identical errors and shows you: * How many times it occurred * When it first
appeared * When it last happened * Full stack trace on demand

**Multi-Format Log Support**
 Reads any PHP error log format: * PHP error_log (standard
format) * Apache error logs * Nginx error logs * WordPress debug.log * Custom log
files

**Works on Shared Hosting**
 No server access? No problem. Enable the Custom Error
Handler to create a dedicated, protected log file that captures all PHP errors automatically.

**Optimized for Large Files**
 * Handles log files with 100,000+ errors * Shows 
newest errors first (reverse reading) * Dashboard widget loads asynchronously * 
Won’t slow down your admin panel

**Advanced Filtering**
 * Filter by error type (Fatal, Warning, Notice, Deprecated)*
URL-based filtering for bookmarking * Hide errors you’ve already fixed * Restore
hidden errors anytime

**Export & Share**
 Export logs to CSV for: * External analysis tools * Team collaboration*
Client reports * Long-term archiving

**Dashboard Widget**
 See your 3 most recent errors at a glance. Click to jump directly
to filtered views. Loads asynchronously so it never slows down your dashboard.

#### Common Use Cases

 * **Plugin/Theme Development** – Catch errors during development before release
 * **Site Migrations** – Monitor for errors after moving to a new host
 * **WordPress Updates** – Check for compatibility issues after core/plugin updates
 * **Client Handoff** – Ensure sites are error-free before delivery
 * **Production Monitoring** – Keep tabs on live sites without SSH access
 * **Debugging** – Quickly identify the source of “white screen of death” errors
 * **Performance Optimization** – Find deprecated functions slowing down your site

#### How It Works

 1. **Install & Activate** – One-click installation from WordPress.org
 2. **Auto-Detection** – LogWatch finds available log files automatically
 3. **Start Monitoring** – View errors grouped by type with occurrence counts
 4. **Take Action** – Click to see full details, mark as fixed, or export

#### Pro Version Available

Upgrade to **LogWatch Pro** for advanced features:

 * **Real-time Notifications** – Slack, Discord, and email alerts
 * **Error Analytics** – Trends, patterns, and insights
 * **Performance Monitoring** – Track page load times and memory usage
 * **Scheduled Reports** – Daily/weekly summaries via email
 * **Smart Grouping** – AI-powered similar error detection
 * **Priority Support** – Direct access to our development team

[Learn more about LogWatch Pro ](https://pixelsolutions.biz/plugins/wordpress/logwatch/)

#### Perfect For

 * WordPress Developers
 * Web Development Agencies
 * Freelance Developers
 * Site Administrators
 * DevOps Teams
 * Anyone managing WordPress sites

#### Technical Details

 * **Zero Configuration** – Works out of the box
 * **Lightweight** – Minimal performance impact
 * **Secure** – Follows WordPress security best practices
 * **Compatible** – PHP 7.4 through 8.3
 * **Modern** – Built for WordPress 5.0+
 * **Tested** – Verified up to WordPress 6.9

#### Privacy & Data

LogWatch reads log files locally on your server. No data is sent to external services
unless you enable Pro features like notifications. The plugin respects your privacy
and your users’ privacy.

#### Support & Documentation

Need help? Visit our [contact page](https://pixelsolutions.biz/contact) for support.

#### Translations

LogWatch is translation-ready. Help us translate it into your language!

### External services

This plugin uses an external service provided by Pixel Solutions to collect optional
deactivation feedback.

When a user deactivates the plugin, a modal dialog appears asking for an optional
reason. If the user chooses to submit feedback, the following data is sent to the
Pixel Solutions API:

 * Plugin name
 * Deactivation reason and optional details
 * User display name and email address
 * Site URL
 * WordPress version and PHP version
 * Current date/time

This data is sent only once, at the moment of plugin deactivation, and only if the
user actively submits the feedback form. No data is sent if the user skips the feedback
step.

The service is provided by Pixel Solutions: [Terms of Service](https://pixelsolutions.biz/terms-of-service),
[Privacy Policy](https://pixelsolutions.biz/privacy-policy).

API endpoint: `https://api.pixelsolutions.biz/plugins/feedback`

### Reviews & Testimonials

We’d love to hear your feedback! If LogWatch helps you debug faster or catch errors
before your users do, please consider leaving a review.

### About Pixel Solutions

LogWatch is developed by Pixel Solutions, a team based in Milan, Italy dedicated
to creating professional WordPress tools for developers and agencies. We build plugins
that solve real problems and respect your workflow.

Visit us at [pixelsolutions.biz](https://pixelsolutions.biz)

## Screenshots

 * [[
 * **Main Logs View** – Grouped errors with occurrence counts, error types, file
   paths, and quick actions. Filter by type or export to CSV.
 * [[
 * **Error Detail Modal** – Full error details including complete stack trace, file
   path, line number, and error context in a clean modal popup.
 * [[
 * **Dashboard Widget** – See your 3 most recent errors at a glance. Click error
   types to jump to filtered views. Loads asynchronously.
 * [[
 * **Settings Page** – Auto-detected log sources, error type filters, custom error
   handler configuration, and entries per page. Works on any hosting.

## Installation

#### Automatic Installation

 1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
 2. Go to Plugins > Add New
 3. Search for “LogWatch”
 4. Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”

#### Manual Installation

 1. Download the plugin ZIP file
 2. Upload the `logwatch` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`
 3. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
 4. Go to LogWatch > Settings to configure your log source
 5. View logs under LogWatch > Logs

#### First Time Setup

 1. Navigate to **LogWatch  Settings**
 2. Select a log source (auto-detected) or enable Custom Error Handler
 3. Choose which error types to display
 4. Click **Save Settings**
 5. Go to **LogWatch  Logs** to view your errors

## FAQ

### Where does LogWatch read logs from?

LogWatch automatically detects available PHP error logs on your server, including:
*
PHP ini error_log setting * WordPress debug.log * Apache/Nginx error logs * Custom
log files in your document root

You can also enable the Custom Error Handler to create a dedicated log file.

### What if I’m on shared hosting and can’t access system logs?

Enable the **Custom Error Handler** in Settings. This creates a protected log file
at `wp-content/uploads/logwatch/php-errors.log` that captures all PHP errors without
requiring server access. Perfect for shared hosting environments like Bluehost, 
SiteGround, or GoDaddy.

### Can I export the logs?

Yes! Click the **Export CSV** button on the Logs page to download all visible errors
in CSV format for external analysis, sharing with your team, or importing into other
tools.

### How does error grouping work?

LogWatch groups identical errors (same file, line, and message) together and shows
you:
 * Total occurrence count * First seen timestamp * Last seen timestamp * Full
stack trace

This helps you focus on unique issues instead of seeing the same error repeated 
thousands of times. For example, if a deprecated function is called 5,000 times,
you’ll see one grouped entry showing “5,000 occurrences” instead of 5,000 separate
entries.

### Can I hide errors I’ve already fixed?

Yes! Click **Mark as Fixed** next to any error to hide it from the main view. You
can view and restore hidden errors from **LogWatch  Hidden Logs** anytime. This 
keeps your logs clean and focused on active issues.

### Does LogWatch slow down my site?

No. LogWatch only reads log files when you view the admin pages – it has zero impact
on your frontend performance. The dashboard widget loads asynchronously so it won’t
slow down your dashboard. Log parsing is optimized for large files using reverse
reading techniques.

### What log formats are supported?

 * PHP error_log format (standard PHP errors)
 * Apache error log format
 * Nginx error log format
 * WordPress debug.log format
 * Custom log formats with PHP error messages

### Is LogWatch compatible with PHP 8?

Yes! LogWatch is fully compatible with PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3. We test 
on all major PHP versions to ensure compatibility.

### Will LogWatch work with my hosting provider?

Yes! LogWatch works on any hosting provider:
 * **Shared Hosting** – Use Custom 
Error Handler (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, GoDaddy, etc.) * **VPS/Cloud** –
Auto-detects system logs (DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, etc.) * **Managed WordPress**–
Works with WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel, Pressable * **Local Development** – Perfect
for XAMPP, MAMP, Local by Flywheel, Docker

### Can I monitor multiple sites?

Yes! Install LogWatch on each site you want to monitor. Each installation monitors
its own logs independently. For centralized multi-site monitoring, check out LogWatch
Pro.

### Does LogWatch capture all PHP errors?

LogWatch displays errors that are logged by PHP. Make sure error logging is enabled
in your php.ini or wp-config.php:

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

Alternatively, enable the Custom Error Handler in LogWatch settings to automatically
capture all errors.

### What’s the difference between LogWatch and LogWatch Pro?

**LogWatch (Free):**
 * View and parse error logs * Smart error grouping * Filter
by error type * CSV export * Dashboard widget * Hide/unhide errors

**LogWatch Pro:**
 * Everything in Free, plus: * Real-time Slack/Discord notifications*
Email alerts for critical errors * Advanced error analytics and trends * Performance
monitoring * Scheduled reports * Priority support

[Compare features ](https://pixelsolutions.biz/plugins/wordpress/logwatch/)

### How do I enable WordPress debug mode?

Add these lines to your wp-config.php file (above the “That’s all, stop editing!”
line):

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

This enables error logging to wp-content/debug.log without displaying errors on 
your site.

### Can I use LogWatch on a production site?

Yes! LogWatch is safe for production use. It only reads log files and doesn’t modify
your site’s code or database (except for storing hidden error preferences). The 
admin interface is only accessible to users with “manage_options” capability (administrators).

### Does LogWatch work with multisite?

Yes, LogWatch works on WordPress multisite installations. Each site in the network
can have its own LogWatch configuration.

### I don’t see any errors. What’s wrong?

If you don’t see any errors, it could mean:
 1. **No errors are occurring** – Great!
Your site is error-free 2. **Error logging is disabled** – Enable WP_DEBUG_LOG in
wp-config.php 3. **Wrong log file selected** – Try enabling Custom Error Handler
in Settings 4. **Log file permissions** – Ensure the web server can read the log
file

Check the Settings page to see which log file is being monitored and when it was
last modified.

### Can I filter errors by date?

Currently, LogWatch shows all errors in the selected log file, sorted by most recent.
Date-range filtering is planned for a future update. You can export to CSV and filter
by date in Excel/Google Sheets.

### How often should I check LogWatch?

We recommend:
 * **Development sites** – Check after each major change * **Staging
sites** – Check before deploying to production * **Production sites** – Check weekly,
or enable LogWatch Pro for real-time alerts

The dashboard widget gives you a quick glance every time you log in.

### Is LogWatch GDPR compliant?

Yes. LogWatch reads log files locally on your server and doesn’t send any data to
external services (unless you enable Pro features like notifications). Error logs
may contain IP addresses depending on your server configuration, so treat them according
to your privacy policy.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“LogWatch” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this
plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Pixel Solutions ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/pixelsolutionsbiz/)

[Translate “LogWatch” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/logwatch)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/logwatch/), check out
the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/logwatch/), or subscribe 
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/logwatch/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/logwatch/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0 – 2024-01-15

 * Initial release
 * Smart error grouping with occurrence counts
 * Multi-format log parsing (PHP, Apache, Nginx)
 * Custom error handler for shared hosting
 * Dashboard widget with AJAX loading
 * Advanced filtering by error type
 * CSV export functionality
 * Hide/unhide error management
 * Reverse file reading optimization
 * Full stack trace viewing
 * Auto-detection of available log files
 * Deactivation feedback system

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **12 hours ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **6.9.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [debugging](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/debugging/)[developer-tools](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/developer-tools/)
   [error log](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/error-log/)[log viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/log-viewer/)
   [php errors](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/php-errors/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/logwatch/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/logwatch/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/logwatch/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Pixel Solutions ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/pixelsolutionsbiz/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/logwatch/)