Data file
What is a .log file?
A .log file is a plain-text diary written by a program — what it did, when, and what went wrong. Handy when you're troubleshooting, harmless otherwise.
This extension has been used by more than one format
2 different formats have claimed .log over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .log file
- WindowsNotepad
- WindowsNotepad++ for big files
- WindowsVS Code
- MacConsole
- MacTextEdit
- Linux`less`, `tail -f`
How to convert a .log file
- Already text — rename to .txt if an app refuses to open it.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .log.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log File | — | — | x-fmt/62 |
| Bluetooth Snoop Packet Capture | — | — | fmt/904 |