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title View the SQL Server Error Log (SSMS)
description Learn about the SQL Server error log, which contains user-defined events and certain system events you can use for troubleshooting.
author MikeRayMSFT
ms.author mikeray
ms.date 08/21/2025
ms.service sql
ms.subservice performance
ms.topic how-to
ms.update-cycle 1825-days
helpviewer_keywords
viewing logs
displaying logs
errors [SQL Server], logs
logs [SQL Server], SQL Server error logs
logs [SQL Server], viewing

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

[!INCLUDE SQL Server]

The [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] 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:

    :::image type="content" source="media/view-the-sql-server-error-log-sql-server-management-studio/object-explorer.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Object Explorer in the SSMS menu.":::

  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.

    :::image type="content" source="media/view-the-sql-server-error-log-sql-server-management-studio/view-sqlserver-log-ssms.png" alt-text="View the SQL Server Log in SSMS.":::

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

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