View log messages and reports in Console
With Console, users can view log messages collected by their computer and other connected devices. Console in macOS serves as a log viewer that collects system, app, and diagnostic logs, providing detailed information into the operating system’s and apps’ activities. Console allows you to access and analyze these logs to identify error messages, patterns, or anomalies that may be causing problems.
By examining real-time and historical log data, you can diagnose the root causes of apps unexpectedly quitting, performance issues, or other malfunctions. You can share log messages, activities, or reports with someone who is helping you troubleshoot a problem, such as AppleCare or your organization’s device management team.
Note: If the user isn’t an administrator, you need to enter an administrator name and password to view log messages.
View log messages
In the Console app on the Mac, in the Devices list on the left, select the desired device to view log messages for (such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, orApple Watch). If the Devices list isn’t visible, click the Sidebar button in the Favorites bar.
Click Start in the toolbar.
The log messages for the device appear in the window.
The type of log message is indicated by a dot in the Type column:
Red: Faults
Yellow: Errors
Dark gray: Debug log messages
Light gray: Info log messages
Note: If there’s no dot in the Type column, the log message is the default type.
Do any of the following:
View an entire log message in the Messages column: Click the log message, then press the Right Arrow key, or choose View > Expand Selected Row. To shorten the log message to one line again, press the Left Arrow key, or choose View > Collapse Selected Row.
View all details of a log message: Click Details in the log message details in the lower half of the Console window. If the log message details aren’t visible, click the Info button in the toolbar, or choose View > Show Info Pane. To see fewer details, click Hide.
Search for a specific log message in the current view: Click the log message, then press Command-F.
View activities
In the Console app on the Mac, click the Activities button in the toolbar. If the Activities button is dimmed, click Start in the toolbar.
Do any of the following:
View the log messages for an activity: Select an activity.
Log messages for that activity appear at the bottom of the window.
View child activities within a specific activity: Click the Expand button next to the activity.
View all details of an activity: Click Details in the activity details in the lower half of the Console window. If activity details aren’t visible, click the Info button in the toolbar, or choose View > Show Info Pane. To see fewer details, click Hide.
View reports
In the Console app on the Mac, do any of the following:
View a report: Select a report category under Reports in the sidebar (for example, Log Reports), then select a report at the top of the window. The report details appear below.
While viewing a report, you can do any of the following:
Open the report in a separate window: Double-click the report.
Open the report in the Finder: Choose File > Reveal in Finder.
Move a report to the Trash: Choose File > Move to Trash.
Sort reports: Move the pointer over the column name you want to sort by, then click it. All the rows in the report list are reordered according to the sorted column. Click the column name again to reverse the sort order.
Search for text within a report: Double-click the report, then enter the text in the search field.
As you begin typing, only results matching that text appear.
Find text in log messages and reports
In the Console app on the Mac, press Command-F, type a word or phrase in the search field, then press Return.
Do any of the following:
Go to the next or previous instance in the results: Click the arrow buttons.
Clear the search field: Click the Close button.
Set options for the current search: Click the Search Options button in the search field, then select or deselect items in the pop-up menu. For example, to find text that exactly matches the capitalization of your search term, deselect Ignore Case.
You can also search for special characters and text patterns, such as an email address or white space. Click the Search Options button, choose Insert Pattern from the pop-up menu, then select an item in the list.
To search for a sequence of items (for example, a web address, then a white space), add one item to the search field, choose Insert Pattern again, then add another item.
When you’re finished, click Done.
Share log messages, activities, or reports
In the Console app on the Mac, find the desired information, such as a log message, activity, or report. See any of the following for more details:
Select the desired item or items to share, click the Share button in the toolbar, then choose how to share.