Debug Mode & Logs

Updated on November 27, 2025

The PowerTranz gateway includes comprehensive logging to help diagnose payment issues. This guide explains how to enable debug mode and interpret log files.

Enabling Debug Mode

To enable detailed logging for the PowerTranz gateway:

  1. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments
  2. Click Manage next to PowerTranz
  3. Scroll to the Debug Log option (“Advanced” Tab)
  4. Check the box to Enable logging
  5. Click Save changes

Important: Only enable debug mode when troubleshooting. Disable it in production to avoid filling up your server with log files.

Accessing Log Files

WooCommerce stores all gateway logs in a central location:

  1. Go to WooCommerce → Status → Logs
  2. From the dropdown, select files starting with powertranz-
  3. Click View to see the log contents

Log files are named with the date, for example: powertranz-2024-01-15-abc123.log

What Gets Logged

When debug mode is enabled, the gateway logs:

  • API Requests – Data sent to PowerTranz (card details are masked)
  • API Responses – Full responses from PowerTranz servers
  • 3D Secure Events – Authentication requests and results
  • Error Messages – Detailed error information with response codes
  • Webhook/Callback Data – Incoming notifications from PowerTranz
  • Token Operations – Card tokenization and saved card transactions

Understanding Log Entries

A typical log entry looks like this:

2024-01-15T10:30:45+00:00 INFO PowerTranz Auth Request: Order #1234
  2024-01-15T10:30:46+00:00 INFO PowerTranz Response: Approved (ResponseCode: 00)
  2024-01-15T10:30:46+00:00 INFO Transaction ID: PTZ-987654321

Key elements to look for:

  • Timestamp – When the event occurred
  • Log Level – INFO, WARNING, or ERROR
  • Message – Description of what happened
  • ResponseCode – The code returned by PowerTranz
  • Transaction ID – Unique identifier for the transaction

Common Log Patterns

Successful Transaction

INFO PowerTranz Auth Request: Order #1234
  INFO PowerTranz Response: Approved (ResponseCode: 00)
  INFO Order #1234 payment complete. Transaction ID: PTZ-987654321

Declined Transaction

INFO PowerTranz Auth Request: Order #1234
  WARNING PowerTranz Response: Declined (ResponseCode: 05)
  WARNING Order #1234 payment failed: Do Not Honour

3D Secure Flow

INFO 3DS Authentication Required for Order #1234
  INFO 3DS Challenge URL received, redirecting customer
  INFO 3DS Callback received for Order #1234
  INFO 3DS Authentication successful (ECI: 05)
  INFO PowerTranz Auth Request: Order #1234 (3DS Authenticated)

API Connection Error

ERROR PowerTranz API Request Failed: Order #1234
  ERROR cURL error 28: Connection timed out after 30000 milliseconds

Troubleshooting with Logs

When diagnosing issues:

  1. Find the order number – Search the log for the specific order ID
  2. Check the ResponseCode – Cross-reference with the error codes documentation
  3. Look for ERROR entries – These indicate problems that need attention
  4. Review the sequence – Ensure all expected steps occurred in order
  5. Check timestamps – Long gaps may indicate timeout issues

Log File Location on Server

If you need to access logs directly via FTP or SSH, they are stored at:

wp-content/uploads/wc-logs/powertranz-YYYY-MM-DD-hash.log

Security Considerations

  • Sensitive data is masked – Full card numbers are never logged
  • Disable in production – Only enable when actively troubleshooting
  • Clear old logs – Periodically delete old log files
  • Protect the logs folder – Ensure your wc-logs folder is not publicly accessible

Sharing Logs with Support

When contacting support, include relevant log entries. Before sharing:

  1. Copy only the entries related to the problematic transaction
  2. Include the full timestamp range
  3. Note the order number and approximate time of the issue
  4. Verify no sensitive customer data is included

Next: FAQ – Answers to frequently asked questions about the gateway.

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