Opening LOG Files

The LOG file type is primarily associated with Windows Update.

LOG	File extension: LOG
	File type:	update log

What is a LOG file

LOG files mostly belong to Windows Update by Microsoft. A log file contains logs generated by various applications. It usually contains information about system/application operations such as program installation, system/application crashes, and system updates. The contents of a LOG file are usually saved as plain text, JSON, XML, or delimiter-separated values which you can view with a plain text editor. However, applications such as LabView save a LOG file in binary format. Software products which use LOG files include:

Windows

macOS

Android

MySQL

MongoDB

SeeYou

TrialDirector

Office

Fusion

Java

Creo

Hyper-V

Virtualbox

ASP.NET

GeForce Experience

vspftpd

Battle.net

PUBG MOBILE

Fallout

Creative Cloud

How to open LOG files

You need a suitable software like Windows Update to open a LOG file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your LOG file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a LOG file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online LOG Text Viewer

Choose your .log file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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Programs that open and convert LOG files:

Windows Update by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. LOG files are often referred to as Windows Update simple text files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-zip (compressed log) by Igor Pavlov
7-zip is a free application for compressing and encrypting/decrypting files. It can decompress and unpack application logs which have been compressed in ZIP or GZip format. This file format is classified as Compressed.
Android (bluetooth log) by Open Handset Alliance
Android is an open source operating system which is based on a modified Linux kernel. When its Bluetooth HCI Snooping feature is enabled, it uses a LOG file to save all data packets transferred over Bluetooth protocol. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: BTSnoop File Format, Symbian OS BTSNOOP File Format
ASP.NET (log) by Microsoft
ASP.NET is a C#- and .NET-based open source framework for creating web applications and services. It saves an application's logs in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Battle.net (log) by Blizzard
Battle.net is a Windows and macOS application for downloading, launching, and managing Blizzard video games. It uses a LOG file to save logs. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Creative Cloud (log) by Adobe
Creative Cloud is a Windows and iOS application which manages Adobe software products and assets installed on a computer. Its NGLClient saves application logs in LOG files. The naming convention of these logs is NGLClient__[ProgramName][LogNumber].log. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Creo (log) by PTC
Creo is a computer-aided industrial product design application which is mainly used in automotive manufacturing. It saves logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Dovecot (transaction log) by Dovecot
Dovecot is a secure Internet Message Access Protocol based email server for Linux-based platforms. It saves its transaction log in a LOG file that contains various updates which are to be applied to the mailbox's index. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Transaction Log, Mail index file format
Event Viewer (event log) by Microsoft
Event Viewer is a built-in Windows application for viewing logs generated by various system components. Some of such logs are saved in EVTX or LOG files. This file format is classified as Data.
Fallout (log) by Bethesda
Fallout is a post-apocalyptic action role-playing video game series for Windows desktop. It saves game logs in text-encoded LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Fing (log) by Fing
Fing is a network monitoring and security application for personal and business use. It saves logs in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
GeoForce Experience (log) by Nvidia
GeoForce Experience is the desktop application for managing GeForce graphical processing units. It saves a log of events in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
GFXInstaller (log) by Intel
GFXInstaller is the graphics driver installer application for Windows operating system. It saves a driver installation log in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: How to Get Log Files for Intel® Graphics Driver Installer
HijackThis (log) by Trend Micro
HijackThis is a discontinued Windows desktop program for detecting system settings which may have been changed by spyware. It used a LOG file to save text-encoded logs. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Wikipedia HijackThis Page
HTML Help Workshop (log) by Microsoft
HTML Help Workshop is a discontinued application for creating help articles and documentation for Windows products. It saves logs in LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Hyper-V (log) by Microsoft
Hyper-V is a hardware virtualization software for Windows operating system. Its THypervBox COM Server component saves a log in a text-encoded LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
imo (log) by PageBites
imo is a mobile instant messaging application with audio and video calling support. Its logs are saved in text files with LOG filename extension. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
iOS (log) by Apple
iOS is the proprietary operating system for the iPhone. It saves call logs, application logs, and crash logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Java (error log) by Oracle
Java Development Kit is a software development kit for compiling and running programs written in Java programming language. Its Java Runtime Environment generates a LOG file containing information about errors encountered at runtime. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
LabVIEW (binary data log) by National Instruments Corporation
LabVIEW (short for Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is an electronic circuit design, testing, and development environment for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It saves a binary data log in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Wikipedia LabVIEW Page
Lost Ark (log) by Smilegate
Lost Ark is a massively multiplayer online action roleplaying fantasy video game compatible with Windows desktop. It saves logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Game.
macOS (log) by Apple
macOS is the operating system of MacBooks (computers) manufactured by Apple. Logs generated by various components of macOS are saved in LOG files. This file format is classified as Data.
MongoDB (database log) by MongoDB
MongoDB is a non-relational database management system which uses JavaScript-like syntax. It saves logs of incoming connections, database transactions, and successful/failed operations in a JSON-encoded LOG file. A database admin can read such logs with MongoDB's db.adminCommand(getLog: <value>) command or a plain text editor. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Log Messages
MySQL (transaction log) by Oracle
MySQL is an open source relational database management system compatible with multiple operating systems. It saves database transaction logs in text-encoded LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Notepad (log) by Microsoft
Notepad is a lightweight plain text editor built into Windows operating system. It can open LOG files saved as plain text. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Windows Update log files
Office (log) by Microsoft
Office is a cross-platform office productivity software suite with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools. Its component applications save logs in text-encoded LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
OpenJDK (log) by Oracle and OpenJDK Community
OpenJDK is the open source implementation of JDK (Java Development Kit). It saves a log in a file with LOG filename extension. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
PDP-10 (batch log) by DEC
PDP-10 (Programmed Data Processor model 10) is a discontinued mainframe computer. It saved a batch log in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Data.
ProWORX (log) by Schneider Electric
ProWORX is a discontinued application for programming and configuring Modicon programmable logic controllers. It saves a log in a file with LOG filename extension. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
PUBG MOBILE (shadow tracker log) by Level Infinite
PUBG MOBILE is an action role-playing video game for Android operating system. It uses a LOG (ShadowTrackerExtra.log) file to store its shadow tracker logs. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Registry (failed hive transaction log) by Microsoft
Registry is a Windows database system which manages system configuration. If Windows crashes when the Registry is in the middle of updating a key in a hive, Registry immediately generates an error log saved in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Registry Hives
SeeYou (flight log) by Naviter
SeeYou is a flight planning, navigation, and analysis application for glider pilots. It saves a flight log in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Sublime (log) by Sublime
Sublime is a cross-platform text editor with tools optimized for writing program source code. It can read logs generated by various programs and saved in LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
TextEdit (log) by Apple
TextEdit is a free and open source plain text editor and word processor. It can be used to read a text-encoded LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
TextNow (log) by TextNow
TextNow is an instant messaging application available for desktop and mobile platforms. It saves various logs (errors, states, operations etc.) in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
TrialDirector (load data) by IPRO
TrialDirector is a trial presentation software with tools for searching case information, managing depositions/evidence, and compiling them into a comprehensive presentation. It saves a log in a file with LOG filename extension. This file format is classified as Data.
Vanguard (log) by Riot
Vanguard is a custom game security software for games developed by Riot. Its kernel mode driver saves game event logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Data.
Virtualbox (log) by Oracle
Virtualbox is a system hardware virtualization software compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux. Its COM Server saves logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
vspftpd (log) by Chris Evans
vspftpd is an FTP-based file transfer server for UNIX-like operating systems such as Linux. It saves a log in the /var/log/vsftpd.log file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
WinSAT (log) by Microsoft
WinSAT is a system level application which assesses and reports the attributes of a computer running Windows operating system. It saves logs in LOG files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
Wise Installer (log) by Broadcom
Wise Installer is a discontinued desktop application for installing Visual Basic programming components. It saved logs in a LOG file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is an image viewer with editing and conversion support. This program is available for mobile and PC platforms. It can open a LOG file containing a JPEG image. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

LOG file format details:

If you can determine the file format, the associated program can also be determined. Each file format has a unique extension and almost always a unique signature. For example, Microsoft Word documents have the extension .docx and the signature (usually the first 3 characters in this file) PK. However, different programs can use the same file extension. Furthermore, a file extension can be renamed incorrectly and double-clicking on it will then display an error when it is opened. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. In the following you will find our evaluation of the LOG files:

LOG is a very widely used file extension. The file type is used by many programs, each with its own file format. However, the following two file formats are common:

15% of all LOG files use the same file format, which can be identified by the letters "20" at the beginning. These files contain text and words, not binary data. The files are 250 bytes to 380 MB in size, with a median of 23 KB. The file type is relatively new. The file name logcat_0_2020-06-01 10-30.log is characteristic of these files. Such LOG files store data about server, service, windows, mobile, update, sync, crash and cloud.
3% of all LOG files save the data in UTF-8 file format. UTF-8 is the World Wide Web's most common character encoding for Unicode. UTF-8 files can be viewed with any text editor. These files start with the 3 bytes ï»¿ (hex: EF BB BF), the so called byte order mark (BOM). The contents of these files are easily readable with a text editor. The files are on average 130 KB in size and range from 870 bytes to 11 MB. Certain words are almost always found in the files, such as Info. Examples of file names are CBS.log or SetupAct.log. Such files sometimes refer to setup, dism, squirrel, adobegc, tinyinstaller, diagnostics, persist and ngen.

All other LOG files (82%) have no consistent format, the following 120 formats exist: BTSnoop capture format, Windows NT Registry Hive, UTF-16 (LE), config, JSON, plist, GZIP, SQL, JPG, XML, ZIP, version, APPLYING, VirtualBox, mts, URES, Software, Timestamp and LAST. The category is nglclient, backup, error, trace, system or btsnoop. Drag & drop your file here to see the file format and a preview of your LOG file!

Technical Data for LOG File Extension

File classification:

Simple text file

Related files:

ldb, current, ngl, manifest-000001, old, txt, debug, dat, file, xlog, procpar, save, db, extra_info, xem, fid, json, exe, lock, tmp

Related links:

Log files

Mime type:

text/x-log, text/plain, application/octet-stream

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: LogFileType, FileType: Help Log File, AppName: HCW

ProgramID: LogFileType, FileType: Help Log File, AppName: Microsoft (R) Help Workshop

ProgramID: LogFileType, FileType: Help Log File, AppName: Microsoft® Help Workshop

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: EditPad Pro

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: Notepad
EXEFile: NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: Windows Notepad
EXEFile: NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: UltraEdit.log, FileType: Text Document, AppName: UltraEdit-32 Professional Text/Hex Editor
EXEFile: uedit32.exe

ProgramID: Log.File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\HTML Help Workshop\hhw.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bred2r\Bred2r.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EDITOREN\WordPadWinXP\wordpad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadPro5\EditPadPro.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\dllcache\notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: Notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: UltraEdit.log
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UltraEdit\uedit32.exe %1

ProgramID: UltraEdit.log
EXEFile: Y:\UltraEdit\uedit32.exe %1

ProgramID: wrifile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: pnplogfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\A Tech Group\Professional Notepad\notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTRAEDT\UEDIT32.EXE %1

ProgramID: Nfodiz.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NfoDiz\Nfodiz.exe %1

ProgramID: UltraEdit.log
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IDM Computer Solutions\UltraEdit-32\uedit32.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Edit Pad Lite\EditPad.exe %1

ProgramID: LOGfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Dan's LCARS Editor System\LCARSEdi.exe %1

ProgramID: logfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bred3\Bred3_2k.exe %1

ProgramID: LogFileType
EXEFile: C:\OrCAD\ORCAD_~1.5_D\tools\capture\capture.exe %1

ProgramID: WinEdt.log
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinEdt Team\WinEdt\WinEdt.exe %1

ProgramID: LogFileType
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\OrCAD\OrCAD_10.5\tools\capture\capture.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD2.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadPro6\EditPadPro.exe

ProgramID: PFE32
EXEFile: notepad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadLite\EditPad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BOXERT~1\B.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadLite\EditPadLite.exe

ProgramID: DADiSP.Log
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\notepad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EditPadPro\EditPadPro.exe

ProgramID: nfodiz.LOG
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NfoDiz 6.0\nfodiz.exe

ProgramID: MapSend.Text.File
EXEFile: Notepad.exe

ProgramID: SAS.OutputLog.701
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SAS\SAS9~1.1\CORE\SASEXE\SASOACT.EXE action

ProgramID: CrimsonEditor.log
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_PCUtils\Apps\EmEditor\EmEditor.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\SysWow64\NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\bred2r\bred2r\Bred2r.exe

ProgramID: UltraEdit.log
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IDM Computer Solutions\UltraEdit\Uedit32.exe

Show all 43 listings To Top

a log update log is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with LOG files

Associate the LOG file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open update logs. Because only the current version supports the latest LOG file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Windows Update update.
To make sure that your LOG file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .LOG file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.