Title: enable WP_DEBUG with a url
Last modified: August 30, 2016

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# enable WP_DEBUG with a url

 *  Resolved [selnomeria](https://wordpress.org/support/users/selnomeria/)
 * (@selnomeria)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/)
 * Many developers need to enable WP_DEBUG constant, but modyfing wp-config.php 
   is ver inconvenient.. so, i have an idea…
 * in wp-config.php (or somewhere you know better) there should be a functionality,
   to do the following:
 * Let’s say, when I access site with parameter:
    **mysite.com/?debug=on** then :
   1) check if i am admin ( or paragraph doesnt matter ) 2) ask me confirmation 
   message: Warning? Are you sure you really want to enable debug?
 * if yes, then set special cookie for me … and re-direct to the homepage..
    After
   that, whenever WP sees that i have that cookie, then enable **WP_DEBUG + WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY**
   for me ( BUT that should be enabled ONLY when the front-end is accessed… for /
   wp-admin/, dont enable them..)
 * I should be able DISABLE that using:
    **mysite.com/?debug=off**

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/)
 * (@claytonjames)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751164)
 * > Many developers need to enable WP_DEBUG constant, but modyfing wp-config.php
   > is ver inconvenient.. so, i have an idea…
 * Frankly, it’s just much safer and simpler for developers – as well as the average
   user – to change `define('WP_DEBUG', false);` – to – `define('WP_DEBUG', true);`
   in your wp-config.php file when you need to debug. It’s literally a ten second
   job using your ftp client.
 * However; There is also a multitude of related plugins already available that 
   can assist you with debugging if editing wp-config.php manually is something 
   you really don’t care to do.
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/search.php?q=debug](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search.php?q=debug)
 *  Thread Starter [selnomeria](https://wordpress.org/support/users/selnomeria/)
 * (@selnomeria)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751181)
 * those plugins are USELESS!!
    if i ENABLE that, and there is shown any error, 
   then i CANT disable them, using those plugins!!! (because, the shown error might
   EXIT loading..)
 * so, the only solution is what i have described.
 *  [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/)
 * (@claytonjames)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751189)
 * That’s one of the reasons why the safest and simplest method to debug is by just
   changing `define('WP_DEBUG', false);` – to – `define('WP_DEBUG', true);` in your
   wp-config.php file when you need to debug. That is why the constant exists.
 * But your idea would make a great plugin! You should tackle that and see what 
   you can come up with. 🙂
 *  Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/)
 * (@jdembowski)
 * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751198)
 * There’s another reason to not do this: if you are enabling debug then you should
   know what you are doing.
 * Editing `wp-config.php` isn’t that hard and most users shouldn’t enable that 
   option carelessly.
 * > if i ENABLE that, and there is shown any error, then i CANT disable them, using
   > those plugins!!! (because, the shown error might EXIT loading..)
 * Then you most likely shouldn’t be enabling that feature. 😉
 *  Thread Starter [selnomeria](https://wordpress.org/support/users/selnomeria/)
 * (@selnomeria)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751219)
 * FTP mode is not good choice.
    for example,i am on a PC (or another dvice), where
   i cant enter FTP client. so, the plugin may be a good idea. I will try to build
   that plugin.
 *  Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/)
 * (@jdembowski)
 * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751233)
 * FTP mode is a horrible choice, on most systems I would recommend ssh and vi. 
   That’s not for everyone but again, if you are going to enable debug then you 
   should be comfortable with that level of access.
 *  [noahj-champion](https://wordpress.org/support/users/noahj-champion/)
 * (@noahj-champion)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751411)
 * Hi [@selnomeria](https://wordpress.org/support/users/selnomeria/)
 * If you want to achieve this you can use what I have been using for about a year
   now. It does exactly what you are asking, minus the confirmation screen, etc.
   It just enables the errors to be displayed by a query. I use this consistently
   now. I started using it because the query will allow you to display the errors
   even when you have a blank white screen, which is ideal I think in that case.
   I hate blank white screens 🙂
 * See the below… which I keep in my wp-config.php
 * NOTE: Mine of course is a little different as to not give mine out.
    NOTE: I 
   wouldn’t recommend keeping this on, on a production site, but that is up to you.
   If you keep it on I would recommend making the “on” much more unique. Either 
   way you should be able to see the errors from your other devices when you don’t
   have FTP.
 *     ```
       // define('WP_DEBUG', true);
       // ?debug=on
       // (use at the end of the url to display errors on blank white screens)
   
       if (isset($_GET['debug']) && $_GET['debug']=='on') {
       	error_reporting(E_ALL); ini_set('display_errors', 1);
           define('WP_DEBUG', true);
       }
       ```
   
 *  Thread Starter [selnomeria](https://wordpress.org/support/users/selnomeria/)
 * (@selnomeria)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751412)
 * thanks **Noahj Champion** , i have done something similar that, editing WP-CONFIG
   >..
    however, my desire was without touching wp-config…
 *  [noahj-champion](https://wordpress.org/support/users/noahj-champion/)
 * (@noahj-champion)
 * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751413)
 * No problem. It may server to help someone else then.
 * Thanks for the update. Appreciate it.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 The topic ‘enable WP_DEBUG with a url’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Requests and Feedback](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/requests-and-feedback/)
 * 9 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [noahj-champion](https://wordpress.org/support/users/noahj-champion/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/idea-enable-wp_debug-from-dashboard/#post-6751413)
 * Status: resolved

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