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How to access your servers logs

In this tutorial, we'll show you where to find your server's log files which can be used for diagnosing issues such as the server not starting up, crashes, and so on! This is also useful for support staff to help debug a more complex issue.


🔍 Locating Logs 🔍



For different types of software, the logs are generally located in different places.

To begin, make sure you are in the server you want to get logs from, and click on File Manager.



This will display all your servers files. Locate the logs folder and click that folder to get a list of all the past server logs. This may vary depending on your software you are running.

Once in here you will see a range of files. Most of these files are compressed and you will need a program like Win-rar or 7-Zip to open them.
However, the latest.log file is the MOST RECENT log file of your server. Note that the latest.log file exists only as long as the server is running. Once the server stops, it also compresses into a zip file.

Java Edition



20##-##-##-#.log.gz - These files are the previous log files of the server being compressed with Gzip for the sake of reducing storage. They're useful for reading through logs in an earlier time. However, you are required to download them onto your system in order to open them using a program such as WinRAR. Usually found on bukkit/spigot/papermc/purpur and so on.
latest.log - This is the most up-to-date version of your server log and is being written as your server runs in the background. This is the file you would want to check through if there was a crash without a crash-report.
fml-server-# - Though only found on modded servers, these log files give a further detailed explaination into whats happening behind the scenes with all the mods on your server. Especially useful when debugging mod issues.
debug.log - Though only found on modded servers like forge, these log files give a further detailed explaination into whats happening behind the scenes with all the mods on your server. Especially useful when debugging mod issues.

Bedrock Edition



Unfortunately, vanilla bedrock software (BDS) does not contain any historical server logs.
The server.log file in PocketMineMP Software is present in the root directory of the server, not in logs. Unfortunately, it only ever saves the most recent server logs, and doesn't keep a history of older logs.
20##-##-##-#.log.gz - For nukkit - These files are the previous log files of the server being compressed with Gzip for the sake of reducing storage. They're useful for reading through logs in an earlier time. However, you are required to download them onto your system in order to open them using a program such as WinRAR. latest.log is also present

Proxy softwares



proxy.log.0 on bungeecord is the most up-to-date version of your server log and is being written as your server runs in the background. This is the file you would want to check through if there was a crash without a crash-report. Unfortunately, there are no past-history logs for bungeecord.
20##-##-##-#.log.gz - For velocity & waterdogpe - These files are the previous log files of the server being compressed with Gzip for the sake of reducing storage. They're useful for reading through logs in an earlier time. However, you are required to download them onto your system in order to open them using a program such as WinRAR. latest.log is also present




🔗 Share logs the right way 🔗



It is rather difficult for staff, and generally anyone, to read your server logs if you copy/paste the text. Instead, use our pasting tool to get a link to your log which would be formatted properly, and readable for users. Simply copy paste the whole text, and click on the save button on the site. Take the URL of your paste and send it to us in the chat with relevant information!


If you're still having issues with opening, or diagnosing an issue with your server, please open a Live Chat so we can better assist you!

Updated on: 27/02/2023

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