Steps to use Event Viewer in Windows 10

How to open Event Viewer on Windows 10

The easiest way to access Windows 10's Event Viewer is to search for it. Type Event Viewer into the Windows 10 search box and select the relevant result. It will open a new window for the Event Viewer, giving you access to many options and the Windows 10 event log.

Use Windows Event Viewer to read logs

If you want to see what apps are doing, their specific Windows 10 event log will give you all the information to work with. To access them, select Windows Logs > Application in the left panel.

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Alternatively, if you want to see Security logs , select Windows Logs > Security . To view system logs, go to Windows Logs > System .

The central window will then display all the recent logs that Windows and third-party applications have logged. You should be able to find the application that corresponds to each record by looking in the Source column .

The Level column will tell you what type of log it is. The most common type is Information , where the application or service logs only one event. A number will be listed as Warning or Error and signify that something is wrong. These labels are usually nothing serious, some simply emphasize that a service can't contact the server - even if it can on the next try - or an application crashes - even if you re-open it afterwards and it works fine.

The Date and Time columns let you know exactly when an event happened, helping you determine what could happen. Additionally, if you select an event, you can get more information in the bottom pane about what the event is about and additional notes that help explain it further.

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If you need more information, write down the Event ID . Searching for it online can give you more information to take action, if you think the event suggests a problem that needs addressing.

How to find specific Windows 10 logs

If you are looking for a specific log, Windows Event Viewer has a powerful search tool that you can use.

Step 1. Right-click or tap and hold on a specific log category and select Find.

Step 2. In the Find box , search for anything you want. It can be app name, event ID, event level or anything else.

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How to use the Filter system to find Windows 10 logs

For a more detailed search that provides more parameters, you may want to use the Filter system feature instead.

Step 1. Right-click or long-press on a specific log category ( Application, Security, Setup, System or Forwarded Events ) and select Filter Current Log . Alternatively, select Filter Current Log from the Actions pane on the right.

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Step 2. Select the Filter tab if not already done.

Step 3. Use the available options to fine-tune your Event Viewer log. The Logged menu helps you filter by the date or time the tool generated it. The event level allows you to highlight the type of log event you are looking for, such as Warning, Error or Information. And Source allows you to filter by specific application or service, and you can also filter by keywords, specific users or computer devices.

How to delete event log history on Windows 10

If you want to start from scratch and delete all existing logs to focus on the new ones that come in, clearing the Event Viewer logs is a great way to do it.

Step 1. Right-click or press and hold the event group that you want to delete in the left pane.

Step 2. Select Clear Log.

Step 3. To create a backup of existing logs before deleting them, select Save and Clear . Choose a save location and a name, and then select Save. Also, if you want to delete them completely without any form of backup, choose Clear.

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Step 4. Repeat the steps as needed for any other log categories you want to delete.

David Pac

Update 01 July 2021