{"id":"mac-storage-basics.where-are-log-files-on-a-mac-and-can-i-delete-them","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-log-files-on-a-mac-and-can-i-delete-them","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"caches-temp-logs","title":"Caches, logs and temporary files"},"question":"Where are log files on a Mac, and can I delete them?","alt_questions":["mac logs taking up space","delete system logs mac","library logs folder","var log mac huge","crash reports taking space mac","diagnostic reports folder mac"],"short_answer":"In ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs. Old app logs and crash reports are safe to delete; leave system logs to macOS, which trims them itself.","answer_markdown":"Logs and crash reports live mainly in `~/Library/Logs` (including DiagnosticReports) and `/Library/Logs`, plus system logs macOS manages itself. macOS rotates and trims its own logs automatically, so they rarely grow large.\n\nWhen they do, it's usually one app writing far too much. Deleting an app's old log files is safe; check the newest one first — it often explains what's going wrong.\n\nLeave system log folders to macOS. If logs keep ballooning, update or reinstall the app responsible. Storage Studio's What's Using Space lists crash reports and similar leftovers among its known quick wins.","answer_html":"

Logs and crash reports live mainly in ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs, plus system logs macOS manages itself. macOS rotates and trims its own logs automatically, so they rarely grow large.

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When they do, it's usually one app writing far too much. Deleting an app's old log files is safe; check the newest one first — it often explains what's going wrong.

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Leave system log folders to macOS. If logs keep ballooning, update or reinstall the app responsible. Storage Studio's What's Using Space lists crash reports and similar leftovers among its known quick wins.

","answer_text":"Logs and crash reports live mainly in ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs, plus system logs macOS manages itself. macOS rotates and trims its own logs automatically, so they rarely grow large.\n\nWhen they do, it's usually one app writing far too much. Deleting an app's old log files is safe; check the newest one first — it often explains what's going wrong.\n\nLeave system log folders to macOS. If logs keep ballooning, update or reinstall the app responsible. Storage Studio's What's Using Space lists crash reports and similar leftovers among its known quick wins.","tags":["logs","crash reports","library"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac","question":"Where are cache files stored on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.why-is-system-data-so-large","question":"Why is System Data taking up so much space on my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-system-data-so-large"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Where are log files on a Mac, and can I delete them? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs. Old app logs and crash reports are safe to delete; leave system logs to macOS, which trims them itself.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Where are log files on a Mac, and can I delete them?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-log-files-on-a-mac-and-can-i-delete-them"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-log-files-on-a-mac-and-can-i-delete-them","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Where are log files on a Mac, and can I delete them?","alternateName":["mac logs taking up space","delete system logs mac","library logs folder","var log mac huge","crash reports taking space mac","diagnostic reports folder mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Logs and crash reports live mainly in ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs, plus system logs macOS manages itself. macOS rotates and trims its own logs automatically, so they rarely grow large.\n\nWhen they do, it's usually one app writing far too much. Deleting an app's old log files is safe; check the newest one first — it often explains what's going wrong.\n\nLeave system log folders to macOS. If logs keep ballooning, update or reinstall the app responsible. Storage Studio's What's Using Space lists crash reports and similar leftovers among its known quick wins.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-log-files-on-a-mac-and-can-i-delete-them"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Caches, logs and temporary files

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Where are log files on a Mac, and can I delete them?

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Short answer: In ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs. Old app logs and crash reports are safe to delete; leave system logs to macOS, which trims them itself.

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Logs and crash reports live mainly in ~/Library/Logs (including DiagnosticReports) and /Library/Logs, plus system logs macOS manages itself. macOS rotates and trims its own logs automatically, so they rarely grow large.

\n

When they do, it's usually one app writing far too much. Deleting an app's old log files is safe; check the newest one first — it often explains what's going wrong.

\n

Leave system log folders to macOS. If logs keep ballooning, update or reinstall the app responsible. Storage Studio's What's Using Space lists crash reports and similar leftovers among its known quick wins.

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