Frequently asked questions

• What is SafeError?

  SafeError is a WordPress plugin that intercepts PHP errors and WordPress critical screens, hides them from visitors, and replaces them with a clean maintenance-style page while safely logging the technical details for administrators.

• What does SafeError do?

  SafeError focuses on protecting visitors and giving you essential control during errors: It hides PHP errors, warnings and notices on the frontend, identifies the plugin or theme responsible for crashes (component detection), shows recovery actions on the error page (Enter safe mode, Disable plugin), offers safe mode to load WordPress with only SafeError active, displays dashboard analytics (daily counts), shows a customizable error or maintenance page, supports manual maintenance mode, sends basic email notifications on critical errors, exposes debug details in the browser console for logged-in admins, and optionally installs a MU-plugin for earlier interception.

• What extra features does SafeError Pro add?

  On top of SafeError, SafeError Pro adds: Recovery Engine — Auto-deactivate faulty plugins, switch to fallback theme, diagnostic & stats, recovery logs in dashboard. Error history — Log with suspected component, search, filters and CSV export. Backups — Local backup before each plugin/theme update, view/restore/delete from dashboard. Auto rollback — Restore previous version after a crash following an update. Webhooks — Notify Slack, Discord or Microsoft Teams on errors and recovery. Monitoring — Uptime checks, "site back online" email & push. Advanced options — Scheduled maintenance, notification filters, custom sender, advanced page customization, branding and footer, multisite support, safe crash test for debugging.

• Who is SafeError for?

  SafeError is ideal for businesses and professional websites where brand image matters, agencies managing multiple client sites, developers and technical teams who want an extra safety layer in production, and any WordPress site in production where visitors should never see raw PHP or WordPress error messages.

• How does SafeError work technically?

  SafeError integrates with WordPress and PHP error handling. It captures wp_die calls, PHP fatal errors and critical messages, uses output buffering and a custom error template to replace technical output with a controlled HTML page, detects the plugin or theme responsible from the error file path, logs technical details for administrators (console, email, Pro log), offers recovery actions and safe mode for admins, and optionally uses a MU-plugin loader to start interception earlier during the bootstrap process.

• Does SafeError work without the Pro add-on?

  Yes. The free version is fully functional on its own. You get component detection, recovery actions, safe mode, dashboard analytics, customizable maintenance page, and email notifications. SafeError Pro is an optional add-on for teams that need error history, monitoring, and advanced customization.

• What PHP versions does SafeError support?

  SafeError is compatible with PHP 7.4 through PHP 8.x. The plugin is tested on current PHP versions to ensure reliable error interception and recovery.

• How do I install SafeError?

  Install via Plugins → Add New in WordPress (search for "SafeError") or download from WordPress.org. Activate the plugin, then go to SafeError in the admin menu to configure the title, message and maintenance image. Optionally install the MU-plugin from the same page for earlier interception of some errors.

• What is the MU-plugin and should I install it?

  The MU-plugin (must-use plugin) loads SafeError before other plugins. That lets it intercept errors that occur during plugin loading, which the standard plugin might miss. Installation is optional and done in one click from SafeError settings. It is recommended for maximum protection.

• Does SafeError Pro create backups before updates?

  Yes. SafeError Pro creates local backups automatically before each plugin or theme update. If an update causes a crash, you can restore the previous version in one click—including premium and custom plugins that are not on WordPress.org. Backups are stored in wp-content/uploads/saferror-backups/ and can be managed from the Recovery Engine page.

• How does auto rollback work?

  When a crash occurs shortly after a plugin or theme update, SafeError Pro can automatically restore the previous version. It uses local backups first (for any plugin or theme), then falls back to WordPress.org for plugins from the repository. After a successful rollback, visitors see a brief "Restored, reloading..." message instead of an error page.

• Can I get notified on Slack, Discord or Teams when an error occurs?

  Yes. SafeError Pro includes webhooks for Slack, Discord and Microsoft Teams. You can send alerts when a critical error is detected or when a recovery action (e.g. plugin disabled, rollback) is performed. Configure your webhook URLs in SafeError Pro → Notifications.

• Can I enable maintenance mode without an error?

  Yes. In SafeError settings, check "Show maintenance page even when there is no error". In the free version, visitors see the maintenance page while logged-in administrators can access the site normally. In SafeError Pro you can optionally show the maintenance page to administrators too. Pro also adds scheduled maintenance windows (date/time or duration).

• Does SafeError affect performance?

  SafeError is lightweight. It uses output buffering and error handlers that run only when needed. The MU-plugin adds minimal overhead. No server configuration (e.g. php.ini) is required—everything works from within WordPress.

• Where can I see full error details (file, line, message)?

  When logged in as an administrator, open Developer Tools (F12) and go to the Console tab. SafeError outputs technical details there (type, message, file, line). You can enable or disable this in SafeError → Error Page → "Debug console output". Pro also stores errors in the Error History with search and CSV export.