How to Enable Magento Error Reporting for Better Sales?

• What is Magento Error Reporting?

• 5 Key Components of Magento Error Reporting

• Why Use Magento Error Reporting?

• 3 Methods to Enable Magento Error Reporting

• 5 Third-Party Tools Used for Magento Error Reporting

• 8 Best Practices for Magento Error Reporting

• FAQs

• Summary

What is Magento Error Reporting?

Magento error reporting is a built-in debugging tool that helps identify and troubleshoot issues in a Magento store.

The error reporting captures errors, warnings, and system failures, logging them for analysis. Magento stores error logs in directories like var/log and var/report, making debugging easier.

Enabling error reporting allows developers to track problems via the:

• Admin panel

• CLI

• Configuration files

The feature improves store performance and user experience by detecting and resolving issues. It is done before they affect customers. Proper monitoring ensures a stable and efficient Magento store.

5 Key Components of Magento Error Reporting

1. Error Logging

• Magento automatically captures system warnings and PHP errors. It logs them into specific directories. They help developers troubleshoot and fix issues quickly.

• System log (var/log/system.log) records general Magento errors. These include theme issues and API-related problems.

• Exception log (var/log/exception.log) captures critical Magento errors. These include:

  1. Database connection failures

  2. Missing modules

  3. PHP execution errors

• Debug log (var/log/debug.log) stores detailed debug information when enabled. Report files (var/report/) store unique error reports with a numerical identifier. It allows developers to retrieve specific error details.

2. Error Display Modes

• Magento operates in three modes, defining how errors are displayed or logged. These modes help developers control error visibility based on the environment.

• Developer mode displays detailed errors directly on the screen. Production mode hides errors from the front end but logs them. The default mode is a balanced approach between the Developer and Production modes.

3. Exception Handling

• Magento has a built-in exception handling mechanism that tracks and catches unexpected issues. It logs them in exception.log and helps debug:

  1. Fatal errors

  2. Database failures

  3. Missing resources

• Errors related to missing files or incorrect configurations trigger exception messages.

4. Error Report Storage

• Whenever an error occurs, Magento assigns it a unique report ID and stores the details in the var/report/ folder. Developers can use these IDs to locate detailed logs for troubleshooting.

• Locate the report ID displayed on the error page and open the corresponding file in the var/report/ directory. The file contains detailed error information, including the stack trace.

5. Debugging Tools & CLI Commands

• Magento provides CLI commands and tools for error reporting and debugging issues efficiently.

• Check the error logs in real time. Clear Magento Cache after resolving an issue.

• Reindex Magento data to resolve indexing errors. Check PHP errors in real time. Enable Developer Mode to debug errors.

Why Use Magento Error Reporting?

1. Detect Errors in Real-Time

• Debugging issues in Magento can be challenging without error reporting. Errors might go unnoticed until they cause major disruptions. Magento error reporting ensures that:

  1. PHP errors and notices are logged for immediate review.

  2. Database connection failures are identified before they crash the site.

  3. Third-party extension conflicts are detected. It helps developers troubleshoot compatibility issues.

• Store owners can respond proactively to potential problems with real-time error logs. They are no longer required to wait for customers to report them.

2. Improve Store Performance

• Performance issues in Magento often stem from hidden errors, such as:

  1. Slow database queries slow down page load times.

  2. Misconfigured caching settings affecting store speed.

  3. Theme and extension conflicts causing front-end issues.

• Magento error reporting helps pinpoint these inefficiencies. It allows developers to optimize code and caching strategies for a smooth user experience.

3. Enhance Security

• Errors and warnings can sometimes expose security vulnerabilities. If an attacker sees detailed error messages on your site, they can exploit them to gain unauthorized access. Magento error reporting helps you:

  1. Identify and fix misconfigurations before hackers exploit them.

  2. Prevent exposure to sensitive server information.

  3. Keep track of outdated extensions that may introduce security risks.

• You should enable error logging but disable the error display on the front end. It helps protect your store while keeping developers informed about system issues.

4. Better Debugging for Developers

• Magento error reporting provides detailed logs, making it easier for developers to:

  1. Pinpoint the exact line of code causing the error.

  2. Track API request failures and third-party service disruptions.

  3. Debug custom modules and themes without affecting live users.

• Magento offers different logging levels. These allow developers to filter and analyze only the most relevant errors.

5. Minimize Downtime & Prevent Revenue Loss

• Downtime is costly. A single critical error can take your store offline. It leads to lost sales and frustrated customers. With Magento error reporting:

  1. Issues are detected early, reducing downtime.

  2. Developers can apply fixes before customers are impacted.

  3. Regular monitoring ensures a stable store experience.

• For high-traffic eCommerce sites, proactive error monitoring helps keep operations running smoothly.

6. Customizable Logging & Reporting Options

• Magento allows store owners to configure error reporting based on their needs. You can:

  1. Enable or disable logs for specific components.

  2. Set up log rotation to prevent excessive storage usage.

  3. Use third-party logging tools for advanced insights.

• The flexibility ensures you capture only the most critical errors while keeping log files manageable.

3 Methods to Enable Magento Error Reporting

Method 1: Rename pub/errors/local.xml.sample file

1. Go to your Magento root directory.

2. Open the pub/errors folder.

3. Locate the file local.xml.sample.

4. Rename it to local.xml.

5. Go to Magento Admin > System > Tools > Cache Management and refresh the Magento cache.

Method 2: Edit the .htaccess file

1. Open the .htaccess file located in your Magento root directory.

2. Write the following code at the end of that file:

php_value display_errors on # Enables PHP error display
php_value error_reporting -1 # Reports all errors (E_ALL)

3. Open the terminal/command prompt and go to the Magento root directory:

cd /path/to/your/magento/directory

4. Enable Developer Mode using:

php bin/magento deploy:mode:set developer

5. Verify the current mode by running:

php bin/magento deploy:mode:show

6. Clear the Magento cache:

php bin/magento cache:clean

Method 3: Edit app/bootstrap.php file

1. Go to the Magento root directory.

2. Open the file app/bootstrap.php.

3. Locate the following line code:

#ini_set('display_errors', 1);

4. Update the code to:

error_reporting(E_ALL); // Report all PHP errors
ini_set('display_errors', 1); // Enable error display

5. Open terminal/command-prompt and go to the Magento root directory:

cd /path/to/your/magento/directory

6. Enable Developer Mode:

php bin/magento deploy:mode:set developer

7. Check the current mode:

php bin/magento deploy:mode:show

8. Clear the cache:

php bin/magento cache:clean

5 Third-Party Tools Used for Magento Error Reporting

Tools	Features	Benefits	Installation
1. Sentry	Captures real-time errors and exceptions. Provides stack traces with contextual details. Supports JavaScript and Magento-specific issues. Allows custom alerts via email or webhook integrations.	Sentry helps developers quickly identify and resolve frontend and backend Magento issues before they affect users.	Install Sentry’s PHP SDK in Magento. Configure it in env.php or custom modules.
2. New Relic	Tracks PHP errors and slow transactions. Provides deep insights into Magento performance bottlenecks. Supports custom alerts for critical issues.	New Relic is ideal for large Magento stores that require advanced monitoring and proactive issue detection.	Install New Relic’s PHP agent and configure it with Magento.
3. Raygun	Tracks server-side and frontend errors in real-time. Provides detailed error logs with user impact analysis. Supports automatic issue resolution tracking.	Raygun helps identify Magento errors before they impact users and offers deep debugging insights.	Integrate Raygun’s PHP SDK.
4. Bugsnag	Detects and categorizes errors in Magento. Provides user-specific impact analysis. Allows custom alerts and integrations using Slack and Jira.	Bugsnag provides intelligent error monitoring and prioritization, making debugging easier.	Install the PHP SDK.
5. Loggly	Aggregates Magento logs from multiple sources. Provides advanced search and real-time log monitoring. Supports automated alerts for critical issues.	Loggly is useful for centralized log analysis, especially for Magento stores with multiple servers.	Use Magento’s built-in logging system to send logs to Loggly via API.

8 Best Practices for Magento Error Reporting

1. Enable Developer Mode

• Magento offers different modes, and developer mode is the best for debugging. It provides real-time error messages, making identifying and fixing issues easier.

• Once enabled, errors will be displayed directly on the screen instead of hidden. Do not use Developer Mode in production. It exposes sensitive data that attackers can exploit.

2. Check var/log & var/report Directories

• Magento automatically logs system errors in var/log/, and critical errors appear in var/report/.

• Regularly check these directories to monitor Magento’s health and resolve issues before they escalate.

3. Enable Debug Logging

• By default, Magento logs some errors. Enabling debug logging provides deeper insights into system operations. It includes database queries and API calls.

• Modify the env.php file to enable detailed logs. It ensures all debug information is captured for troubleshooting.

• It helps analyze:

  1. API calls

  2. Database queries

  3. Exceptions

4. Use Magento’s Built-in Logging System

• Magento supports PSR-3-compliant for custom logging. It makes tracking custom errors and exceptions within modules easy.

• It logs the error in var/log/system.log and helps track module-specific issues.

• Custom logging helps debug:

  1. Extensions

  2. Third-party integrations

  3. Custom modules

5. Enable Display Errors in Development Mode

• Magento suppresses errors in production to prevent sensitive information exposure. Enabling error displays during development helps with debugging.

• Edit pub/errors/local.xml, rename it to local.xml, and set <skin>developer</skin>.

• It ensures detailed error messages are displayed instead of the generic “There has been an error processing your request” page.

6. Monitor Server Logs

• Magento errors are not always recorded in Magento logs. Web server logs can provide critical information.

• Check nginx, PHP-FPM, or Apache logs (/var/log/nginx/error.log or /var/log/apache2/error.log). Look for PHP errors in php-fpm.log.

• If Magento crashes or pages fail to load, checking server logs can reveal issues related to:

  1. PHP execution

  2. File permissions

  3. Memory limits

7. Regularly Clear Log Files

• Magento logs can accumulate over time, consuming disk space and slowing down performance.

• Set log retention in Stores > Configuration > Advanced > System > Log Cleaning. It prevents unnecessary disk usage and keeps logs manageable.

8. Use Browser Console & Network Logs

• Frontend errors, especially JavaScript issues, may not appear in Magento logs. Checking the browser console helps diagnose:

  1. JavaScript conflicts

  2. AJAX failures

  3. Missing resources

• Use Chrome DevTools for frontend errors. The network tab helps identify API and AJAX failures.

• Inspect Network Logs to troubleshoot failed AJAX calls and API responses.

FAQs

1. How do you enable error reporting in Magento 2?

To enable error reporting in Magento 2, rename local.xml.sample to local.xml in the pub/errors folder. You can also modify .htaccess or app/bootstrap.php files for advanced debugging. Use the CLI command php bin/magento deploy:mode:set developer to display the error message.

2. Why does a Magento site show a white page instead of an error?

A white page appears when errors are suppressed, typically in Production mode. Check the error log files in var/log/ and var/report/ to find the error log record number. To debug, enable error reporting in Magento 2 or switch to Developer mode.

3. How can Adobe Commerce users analyze server errors?

Adobe Commerce users can track server errors using custom reports and logs stored in var/log/. Use Magento’s built-in analytics tools to monitor errors and performance issues. Debug by checking logs and running php bin/magento cache:clean.

4. How do I check if Magento 2 extensions are causing errors?

To check your Magento 2 extensions, disable them one by one using php bin/magento module:disable Vendor_ModuleName. Review error log files for conflicts and functionality issues. If an extension is faulty, update it or contact the developer for support.

Summary

Magento error reporting helps developers detect and resolve system errors, warnings, and failures in a Magento store. The tutorial explores the components of error reporting, including:

• Magento captures system warnings, PHP errors, and critical failures for troubleshooting.

• Developer, Production, and Default modes control error visibility.

• Magento logs fatal errors, database failures, and missing resources.

• CLI commands and third-party tools assist in real-time error monitoring.

Ensure a smooth store experience with proactive Magento error monitoring and debugging with managed Magento hosting.