[2023 Guide] How to Delete System Log Files on Mac?

All Mac has the system log files. The system logs files to capture and saves the activities of system applications, problems, internal errors, and other services on the Mac which can be sent to developers for debugging purposes. It usually happens when an application crashes.

The system log file is typically a smaller file that accumulates a lot of information that takes up tons of space. However, you can clean up system logs to maintain app performance and save some space on your Mac.

If you are wondering how to delete system log files on Mac and how they affect the entire operating system, we have compiled all the important information needed including the steps on how to delete the system log files on Mac manually or automatically.

Part 1. How to Locate System Log Files Part 2. How to Automatically Delete System Log Files on Mac Part 3. How to Manually Delete System Log Files on Mac

Part 1. How to Locate System Log Files

Before you remove system log files from your mac, it is also a necessity for you to know where system log files are located. If you have known this part, please skip it and go to the next part.

How to Delete System Log Files on Mac

You can easily locate the system log files on MacOS Sierra, OS X El Capitan, and OS X Yosemite, by simply following the steps below:

Launch the Finder on your Mac
Enter: ~/Library/Logs or /var/log folder

You will now see the entire system log files on your Mac.

Use Console

The console is usually used to view the log messages that were accumulated and collected by Mac and as well as other connected devices. All other communication failures, errors, texts, messages, and system events are also stored inside the Console.

If there are issues with the system, you can view the console or the log activities. Other connected devices include iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. You can refer to the color legends below for the statuses:

Red- Faults
Yellow - Errors
Light Gray- Info log messages
Dark Gray- Debug log messages

You can view the log messages or activities in the console to check the status of the given item. If there is a specific log message you are looking for, you can simply press Command-F and it will give you the desired item.

Note: If there is no colored dot then it is the default type of log message.

Clear Log Files

Part 2. How to Automatically Delete System Log Files on Mac

To better and safely delete system log files on Mac, you need TechyCub Mac Cleaner to ensure that the important files are not deleted. Remember that some files are important so if you are not familiar with how to do it then we recommend that you automatically use TechyCub Mac Cleaner to eliminate any unwanted scenarios and issues.

Follow these steps on how to use TechyCub Mac Cleaner to delete system log files on Mac:

1. Download, install and launch TechyCub Mac Cleaner.

mac cleaner icon Mac Cleaner Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily. Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc. Speed up your Mac with simple clicks. Free Download

2. Click the "Junk Cleaner" and "Scan".

Select Junk Cleaner to Delete System Log Files on Mac

4. Review the items and select desired log files you want to delete. After that, click the Clean button to confirm and start cleaning. Then, all unnecessary files will be deleted.

Delete System Log Files on Mac Using Mac Cleaner

TechyCub Mac Cleaner also includes cleaning application cache, system cache, user logs, trash bin, and more. It scans the status of the Mac including the disk usage, CPU, memory usage, etc. TechyCub Mac Cleaner is safe to use and easily cleans up and speeds up your Mac any time anytime.

Part 3. How to Manually Delete System Log Files on Mac

Most users are asking if it is safe to delete system log files on Mac all by themselves. Well, we recommend that you should open the log messages first to see if there are programs going crazy and not performing on your Mac.

If you are quite familiar already, then you can choose to delete them manually by following the methods below.

To manually delete the system logs on Mac, first, you must do the following:

Launch the Finder on your Mac
Enter: ~/Library/Logs or /var/log folder
Highlight all files and press “Command + backspace”
Restart Mac

That’s it! You now have cleaned the system log files.

Tips:

Only remove the files inside the folders but not the folder itself. Some applications may have their system log files located somewhere inside the Mac Mail.
After manually deleting system log files, and if you want to free some space on your Mac, you can also clean up the Trash folder
Some files are stored inside the /var/log but not all the logs inside are safe to remove.

Manually Clear Log Filess

You have just learned how to save up a decent amount of space on your Mac by following our suggested methods above. To ensure that your Mac works on its optimum performance, check and view the system log files for the total accumulated space which can alter Mac's speed.

You can delete system log files on Mac using two options: manually by accessing the system log files folder itself or by using an effective program called TechyCub Mac Cleaner for auto-cleaning.

As for us, we highly recommend that for better and safer cleanup, use TechyCub Mac Cleaner. It will scan, sort, and clean the system log files without removing the important ones. This will help you save more time and fewer hassles too!