Stop editing wp-config.php every time you need to debug your WordPress site. Developer Debug Mode lets you toggle all WordPress debug constants directly from your dashboard with beautiful toggle switches. Changes save automatically — no clicking save buttons, no FTP access needed, no risk of syntax
PricingFree downloadThe WordPress.org download is free. Pro versions, add-ons or external services may cost extra.
CompatibilityRequires WordPress 5.0 and PHP 7.0.
SourceWordPress plugins · Nov 14, 2026
01 / Source details
Aboutthistool.
Stop editing wp-config.php every time you need to debug your WordPress site.
Developer Debug Mode lets you toggle all WordPress debug constants directly from your dashboard with beautiful toggle switches. Changes save automatically — no clicking save buttons, no FTP access needed, no risk of syntax errors in your config file.
🎯 The Problem This Plugin Solves
Every WordPress developer knows the pain:
01Something breaks on your site
02You need to enable WP_DEBUG to see the error
03You open FTP/File Manager, find wp-config.php, edit it carefully
04Debug the issue
05Remember to turn debug off before visitors see ugly error messages
06Repeat next time something breaks
Developer Debug Mode eliminates steps 2-5 entirely. Toggle debug on, find the error, toggle off. Done in seconds.
✨ Key Features
One-Click Debug Toggles Control all six WordPress debug constants from a clean, modern interface:
WP_DEBUG — Master switch for WordPress debugging
WP_DEBUG_LOG — Save errors to wp-content/debug.log
WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY — Show errors on screen (careful on production!)
SCRIPT_DEBUG — Use unminified core CSS/JS files
SAVEQUERIES — Log database queries for performance analysis
WP_DISABLE_FATAL_ERROR_HANDLER — See raw PHP fatal errors instead of recovery mode
Admin Bar Quick Toggle (New in 1.2.0!) Toggle any debug constant directly from the WordPress admin bar — no need to visit the settings page. Perfect for quick debugging sessions.
Built-in Debug Log Viewer View, search, download, and clear your debug.log without leaving WordPress:
Auto-Save Technology Changes save instantly as you toggle. No save button, no page refresh, no waiting.
Frontend Debug Warning A tasteful notification bar appears when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY is active, reminding you to turn it off before visitors see error messages.
Cross-Tab Synchronization Toggle debug in one browser tab and watch other open tabs update instantly.
Automatic Backups Every change creates a backup of wp-config.php. The plugin keeps the 5 most recent backups, so you can always recover if something goes wrong.
🔧 Perfect For
Theme developers debugging template issues
Plugin developers testing new code
Site administrators troubleshooting problems
Agencies managing multiple client sites
Freelancers who need quick debugging without FTP access
Anyone tired of manually editing wp-config.php
💡 Why Choose Developer Debug Mode?
Unlike other debug plugins, we focus on user experience :
✅ Instant toggles — No save buttons, changes apply immediately ✅ Visual feedback — Clear status indicators show exactly what’s enabled ✅ Admin bar access — Toggle debug from anywhere in WordPress ✅ Production-safe — Frontend warnings prevent accidentally exposing errors ✅ Modern design — Beautiful UI that fits naturally in your dashboard ✅ Lightweight — No bloat, loads only where needed
🔒 Built With Security In Mind
Capability checks ensure only administrators can change settings
Nonce verification on all AJAX requests
Automatic wp-config.php backups before every change
No data sent to external servers
Clean uninstall removes all plugin data
📚 Debug Constants Explained
Not sure what each constant does? Here’s a quick guide:
WP_DEBUG The master switch. When enabled, WordPress will display PHP errors, notices, and warnings. Required for the other debug constants to work.
WP_DEBUG_LOG Saves all debug messages to /wp-content/debug.log . Essential for debugging issues that happen in the background (AJAX, cron jobs, REST API).
WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY Shows errors directly on your web pages. Useful during development but never enable on production — it can expose sensitive information to visitors.
SCRIPT_DEBUG Forces WordPress to use the development versions of core CSS and JavaScript files instead of minified versions. Helpful when debugging scripts.
SAVEQUERIES Stores database queries in a global array for later analysis. Useful for identifying slow queries but adds overhead — disable when not needed.
WP_DISABLE_FATAL_ERROR_HANDLER Disables WordPress’s “recovery mode” so you see the actual PHP fatal error instead of “There has been a critical error on this website.”
🤝 Support & Documentation
Need help? We offer:
Free Support — Post in the WordPress.org support forum
Documentation — Visit glimbyte.ie for guides and tutorials
Express Support — Fast turnaround for urgent issues via glimbyte.ie/support
🌐 Works Great With
Query Monitor — Use alongside for deeper debugging
Debug Bar — Compatible with Debug Bar and its add-ons
Any caching plugin — Clear cache after toggling debug constants
Managed WordPress hosts — Works on most hosts including Kinsta, WP Engine, SiteGround
Credits
Developed with ❤️ by Glimbyte — WordPress Development & Support.
Special thanks to the WordPress community for feedback and suggestions.
Privacy Policy
Developer Debug Mode does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All settings are stored locally in your WordPress database and wp-config.php file.
The optional support contact form (available in the plugin settings) sends data directly to Glimbyte’s support team. This data is handled according to Glimbyte’s Privacy Policy .
Additional Info
Contribute
Found a bug or have a feature request? We’d love to hear from you!
Support Forum: wordpress.org/support/plugin/developer-debug-mode
Website: glimbyte.ie
Translations
Want to help translate Developer Debug Mode into your language? Visit translate.wordpress.org to contribute.
See it in action
Screenshots & previews.
Clean, modern settings page with real-time status indicators showing all debug constants at a glanceBeautiful toggle switches with auto-save — changes apply instantly without clicking saveAdmin bar quick toggle menu — enable or disable any debug constant from anywhere in WordPressBuilt-in debug log viewer with search, color-coding, and one-click download
02 / Source details
Gettingstarted.
Automatic Installation (Recommended)
01Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin
02Search for “Developer Debug Mode”
03Click Install Now then Activate
04Go to Settings → Debug Mode to start debugging
Manual Installation
05Download the plugin ZIP file
06Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
07Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
08Activate the plugin
09Go to Settings → Debug Mode
Requirements
10WordPress 5.0 or higher
11PHP 7.0 or higher
12Write access to wp-config.php (most hosts allow this)
After Activation
13Navigate to Settings → Debug Mode
14You’ll see the current status of all debug constants
15Toggle any switch to enable/disable that constant
16Changes save automatically — no save button needed!
03 / Source details
Frequently asked questions.
Does this plugin edit my wp-config.php file?
Yes. The plugin modifies wp-config.php to add or update debug constant definitions. This is the same thing you would do manually, just automated and safer because:
A backup is created before every change
The plugin keeps the 5 most recent backups
Changes are validated before saving
No risk of syntax errors from manual editing
Is it safe to use on a production/live site?
The plugin itself is completely safe. However, be careful with WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY on production sites — it can expose sensitive error information to visitors.
That’s why the plugin shows a frontend warning bar when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY is active. You’ll never forget to turn it off!
For production debugging, we recommend enabling only WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG , then checking the debug.log file.
What if wp-config.php is not writable?
The plugin will show a warning message and disable the toggle switches. You’ll need to:
01Contact your hosting provider to enable write access, or
02Temporarily change file permissions to 644 or 664
Some managed WordPress hosts restrict wp-config.php access for security. Contact your host’s support for help.
Can I use this with Query Monitor or Debug Bar?
Absolutely! Developer Debug Mode manages the debug constants, while Query Monitor and Debug Bar provide additional debugging interfaces. They complement each other perfectly.
Will enabling debug mode slow down my site?
WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG have minimal performance impact.
WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY can slightly slow page rendering if there are many errors.
SAVEQUERIES does add overhead because it stores every database query — disable it when not actively debugging database performance.
How do I view the debug.log file?
Three options:
01Built-in viewer — Go to Settings → Debug Mode and scroll to the Debug Log Viewer section
02Direct access — Download from /wp-content/debug.log via FTP
03Admin bar — Click the debug log link in the admin bar menu
Can I toggle debug from the admin bar?
Yes! As of version 1.2.0, you can click any constant in the admin bar dropdown to toggle it on/off instantly. No need to visit the settings page.
Does it work with WordPress Multisite?
Yes! The plugin works on multisite installations. Each site administrator can manage debug settings for their site. Network-wide settings are not currently supported but planned for a future version.
What happens when I deactivate or uninstall the plugin?
Deactivation: Debug constants remain in wp-config.php at their current values.
Uninstall: Plugin options are removed from the database. Debug constants in wp-config.php are NOT removed — we don’t want to accidentally disable debugging you intentionally enabled.
Can I customize which constants are shown?
Not currently, but this is planned for a future version. All six constants are shown by default as they’re the most commonly used for debugging.
02JavaScript error — Check browser console for errors
03Caching — Clear any caching plugins and try again
04Security plugin conflict — Temporarily disable security plugins to test
Does this work with custom wp-config.php locations?
Yes! The plugin checks both the standard location (WordPress root) and one directory up (common on some hosts).
How do I get support?
Check this FAQ first Search the support forum for similar issues Create a new support topic with details about your problem For urgent issues, contact us at glimbyte.ie/support
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