Where to find crash reports and system logs on a Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac keeps a running log of what apps and the system are doing, plus a report each time an app crashes. Console is the built-in app that shows all of it. Most messages are routine noise, so the crash reports are usually the useful part.

How to fix it

1. Press Command-Space, type Console and press Return.

   Console

2. In the sidebar, click Crash Reports. Each entry is named after the app that crashed, with the date and time.

3. Click a report to read it. The top part names the app, its version and the macOS version, which is what a developer or support person will ask for.

4. To watch live messages, click Start streaming, then repeat the problem. Type an app's name in the search field to cut out the noise.

Still not fixed?

1. If an app crashes over and over, update it and macOS. Many crashes are fixed in updates.

   General›Software Update

2. If the Mac is slow rather than crashing, Activity Monitor is the better tool. It shows what is using the processor and memory.

   Activity Monitor

3. Send the crash report to the app's developer. It helps them find the cause.

4. If the whole Mac crashes or restarts by itself, contact Apple Support or a repair shop, as it may be a hardware problem.