# See saves in the theme and plugin file editor

BetterShield records a save in the dashboard theme or plugin file editor as High, naming who saved which file, never its contents.

Find these rows on **BetterShield › Activity › Site activity** under **Updates & extensions**, or search for the file's name.

<figure class="doc-shot">
  <img src="/docs/screenshots/activity-log.png" alt="Site activity screen with category tabs, filters and recorded events." loading="lazy" decoding="async">
  <figcaption>A save in the file editor appears as one row naming the file and the plugin or theme.</figcaption>
</figure>

## What it does

When someone saves a file in the WordPress theme editor or plugin editor and the file really changes, BetterShield records **File edited in the file editor**. It is filed under **Updates & extensions** and rated **High**, so it reaches the instant alert email while instant alerts are on.

- The row reads like "functions.php in Twenty Twenty-Five": the file inside its plugin or theme, then that plugin's or theme's name.
- It records who saved and which file. It never records the contents.
- It works for the editor's normal save and for the form that works without JavaScript.
- A save WordPress refused, or one it rolled back because the edit broke the site, is not recorded, because the file did not change.

Writing PHP from the dashboard is one of the first things a stolen administrator session does. That is why this row is High.

## Set it up

There is nothing to switch on. It is recorded from activation.

| Option | What it does | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recording | Records a file editor save | Always on |

## Recommended settings

Our advice is to turn the file editor off, so there are no saves to record. See [Turn off the file editor](/docs/disable-file-editor/). If you keep it, treat a row nobody expected as a reason to check [File changes](/docs/file-changes/) and the account that saved it.

## What it can break and how to undo

It changes nothing on the site. It reads the one file being saved, before and after the save. The row stays for as long as the log keeps rows, 30 days in the free plugin. It cannot undo the edit. Restore the file from your own copy, or use [Restore official files](/docs/restore-official-files/) for a WordPress.org plugin.

## Check it is working

On a test site, add a comment line to a theme file under **Appearance › Theme File Editor** and save. A new High row should appear within moments.

## On multisite

Rows are written in the log of the site where the editor was used.

## Related

- [Turn off the file editor](/docs/disable-file-editor/)
- [Activity log](/docs/activity-log/)
- [Send important security alerts straight away](/docs/instant-security-alerts/)
- [File changes](/docs/file-changes/)