Debug mode and the PHP time limit: where to change them
How to switch debug mode off on a live site and what to tell your host when the PHP time limit is too short.
“System status” shows two things that cannot be changed with a button in the panel: debug mode and the PHP time limit.
Debug mode
When something fails in this mode, a visitor sees technical details: server paths and pieces of code. On a live site it must be off.
- Open config/app.php in your host’s file manager or over FTP.
- Find 'debug' => true and change it to 'debug' => false. Save the file.
- Reload “System status”: the “Debug mode” item disappears from the list.
If the file is read-only, remove the protection at your host or ask support to change the line.
PHP time limit
A short limit cuts off long jobs: updates, imports, copies halfway through. You need 60 seconds or more.
- In your hosting panel find the PHP settings and the max_execution_time parameter: set 60 or more.
- If there is no such setting, write to your host’s support: “Please set max_execution_time to at least 60 seconds for my site.”
- After the change open “System status”: the value updates by itself.