# Safe-mode failed with a plugin

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-mode-failed-with-a-plugin/258097
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 14, 2023, 12:02pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-mode-failed-with-a-plugin/258097 "2023-03-14T12:02:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 4

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### Author: ![david](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/david/32/157490_2.png) [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-mode-failed-with-a-plugin/258097/4 "2023-03-14T12:13:14Z")

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> [@Jagster](#):
>
> how we know when we (or I) can trust on [safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-discourse-safe-mode/53504) and when not?

For themes, [safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/53504?silent=true) will 100% disable everything.

It’s fundamentally impossible for us to disable server-side plugin customizations on a per-web-request basis, so that’s why safe-mode can only disable client-side changes. It can still be useful to narrow things down though

- If things work in [safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/53504?silent=true), it must be theme/plugin causing the issue

- If things are still broken in [safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/53504?silent=true), it must be core or a server-side plugin issue

Perhaps we should improve the `/safe-mode` text to explain that. Currently it says

> [Safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/53504?silent=true) allows you to test your site without loading plugins or themes.

Maybe we should make that

> [Safe mode](https://meta.discourse.org/t/53504?silent=true) allows you to test your site without loading themes or client-side plugin customizations. Server-side plugin customizations remain enabled.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-mode-failed-with-a-plugin/258097)._