How to View Your Website Error Logs
The error log is the first place to look when something breaks. It records the exact PHP and server errors behind a blank page or 500 error.
Step-by-step
- Open Metrics → Errors in cPanel for the most recent server error messages across your account.
- Read newest entries at the top — each line shows the time, the error, and the file and line number responsible.
- For PHP application logs, also check for an error_log file in the affected folder via File Manager (enable Show Hidden Files).
- Match the timestamp to when the problem occurred so you focus on the relevant lines.
- Act on the message — "memory exhausted" → raise memory; "permission denied" → fix permissions; ".htaccess" → check .htaccess.
- Clear old error_log files once resolved, as they can grow large.
💡 Good to know
- Copy the exact error line when contacting support — it speeds up diagnosis enormously.
- Turn off display_errors on live sites so visitors never see these messages.
- A growing error_log file is also a clue something is repeatedly failing.