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How to Use Event Viewer in Windows 10

Troublesome app? Here's a great way to find out what's wrong

By Jon Martindale Jon Martindale Writer Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 9, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Opening Windows 10 Event Viewer Using Windows Event Viewer To Read Logs Step-by-Step: Find Specific Windows 10 Logs Step-by-Step: Use the Filter System to Find Windows 10 Logs Step-by-Step: Clear Your Windows 10 Event Log History In this guide, we'll walk you through using the Windows 10 Event Viewer to help troubleshoot problems with applications or to see what your PC has been doing most recently.

How to Open Windows 10 Event Viewer

The easiest way to access the Windows 10 Event Viewer is to search for it. Type Event Viewer in the Windows 10 search box and select the relevant result. It will open a new window for the Event Viewer, giving you access to its range of options and Windows 10 event logs.

Using Windows Event Viewer To Read Logs

If you want to see what an application has been doing, their specific Windows 10 event logs give you a whole host of information to work from. To access them, select Windows Logs > Application in the left-hand panel. Alternatively, if you want to view Security logs, select Windows Logs > Security, to see system logs go to Windows Logs > System. The central window will then show all the recent logs that Windows and third-party applications have logged. You'll be able to find out which application each record corresponds to by looking in the Source column. The Level column will tell you what kind of log it is. The most common type is Information, where an Application or service is just logging an event. Some will be listed as Warning or Error and denote that something has gone awry. These labels aren't typically catastrophic, with some merely highlighting that a service couldn't contact a server – even if it could on the next try – or an application crashed – even if you opened it again afterward and it worked just fine. The Date and Time column lets you know exactly when an event took place, helping you pin down what it might have been. Additionally, if you select an event, you can get more information in the bottom pane about what it was and additional notes to help explain further. If you require more information, take note of the Event ID. Searching for it online can yield you further information that could be actionable if you think the event suggests a problem needs
solving.

How to Find Specific Windows 10 Logs

If you're looking for a particular log, the Windows Event Viewer has a robust search tool that you can use. Right click or tap and hold on a particular log category and select Find. In the Find box, search for whatever it is you're looking for. It can be an
application name, event ID, event level, or anything else besides.

How to Use the Filter System to Find Windows 10 Logs

For a more detailed search function that gives you many more parameters, you want to use the Filter system instead. Right-click or tap and hold on a particular log category (Application, Security, Setup, System, or Forwarded Events) and select Filter Current Log. Alternatively, select Filter Current Log from the right-hand Actions pane. Select the Filter tab if it isn't already. Use the available options to fine-tune your event viewer logs. The Logged menu helps you filter by date or time the tool created it. Event Level lets you highlight the type of log event you're looking for, such as Warning, Error, or Information. And the Source enables you to filter by specific application or service, and you can also filter by Keyword, specific Users, or Computer devices.

How to Clear Your Windows 10 Event Log History

If you want to start from scratch and remove all existing logs to focus on the new ones that come in, then clearing your Event Viewer logs is a great way to do it. Right-click or tap and hold the event group that you want to clear in the left-hand pane. Select Clear Log. To make a backup of your existing logs before you remove them, select Save and Clear. Pick a save location and a name and select Save. Alternatively, if you want to remove them entirely without any form of backup, select Clear. Repeat as necessary for any other categories of logs that you wish to clear. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Scan a Hard Drive Using 'Error Checking' Task Manager (What It Is & How to Use It) How to Delete Skype Conversations Windows 10 Battery Report: What It Is And How to Use It How to Cancel a Print Job How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows How to Use Night Light in Windows 10 What Is a Service? (Definition of a Windows Service) How to Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows How to View Windows Uptime in Windows 10 How to Recover Missing Emails in Gmail Latest Windows 10 Drivers (October 21, 2022) How to Check Free Hard Drive Space (Windows 11, 10, 8, +) How to Delete Facebook Posts in Bulk How to Change Screen Savers on Windows 10, 8 and 7 17 Best Free Uninstaller Programs (October 2022) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies