view-the-sql-server-error-log-sql-server-management-studio.md

title	View the SQL Server error log (SSMS)
description	View the SQL Server error log in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
ms.custom	seo-dt-2019
ms.date	09/29/2017
ms.prod	sql
ms.reviewer
ms.technology	performance
ms.topic	conceptual
helpviewer_keywords	viewing logs displaying logs errors [SQL Server], logs logs [SQL Server], SQL Server error logs logs [SQL Server], viewing
ms.assetid	55f468ba-146c-4ab3-95cd-d35d051afd12
author	julieMSFT
ms.author	jrasnick

View the SQL Server error log in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

[!INCLUDEappliesto-ss-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md] The [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] error log contains user-defined events and certain system events you can use for troubleshooting.

View the logs

1. In SQL Server Management Studio, select Object Explorer. To open Object Explorer, select F8. Or on the top menu, select View, and then select Object Explorer:

   

2. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of SQL Server, and then expand that instance.

3. Find and expand the Management section (assuming you have permissions to see it).

4. Right-click SQL Server Logs, select View, and then choose SQL Server Log.

   

5. The Log File Viewer appears (it might take a moment) with a list of logs for you to view.

See also

For more information, see MSSQLTips.com's helpful post Identify location of the SQL Server Error Log file.