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OpenClaw Reference (Mirrored)

Logging (macOS)

Mirrored from OpenClaw (MIT)
Canonical source: https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/mac/logging
This mirror is provided for convenience. OpenClawdBots is not affiliated with or endorsed by OpenClaw.

Logging (macOS)

Rolling diagnostics file log (Debug pane)

OpenClaw routes macOS app logs through swift-log (unified logging by default) and can write a local, rotating file log to disk when you need a durable capture.

  • Verbosity: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → Verbosity
  • Enable: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → "Write rolling diagnostics log (JSONL)"
  • Location: ~/Library/Logs/OpenClaw/diagnostics.jsonl (rotates automatically; old files are suffixed with .1, .2, …)
  • Clear: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → "Clear"

Notes:

  • This is off by default. Enable only while actively debugging.
  • Treat the file as sensitive; don't share it without review.

Unified logging private data on macOS

Unified logging redacts most payloads unless a subsystem opts into privacy -off. Per Peter's write-up on macOS logging privacy shenanigans (2025) this is controlled by a plist in /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ keyed by the subsystem name. Only new log entries pick up the flag, so enable it before reproducing an issue.

Enable for OpenClaw (ai.openclaw)

  • Write the plist to a temp file first, then install it atomically as root:
cat <<'EOF' >/tmp/ai.openclaw.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>DEFAULT-OPTIONS</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Enable-Private-Data</key>
        <true/>
    </dict>
</dict>
</plist>
EOF
sudo install -m 644 -o root -g wheel /tmp/ai.openclaw.plist /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ai.openclaw.plist
  • No reboot is required; logd notices the file quickly, but only new log lines will include private payloads.
  • View the richer output with the existing helper, e.g. ./scripts/clawlog.sh --category WebChat --last 5m.

Disable after debugging

  • Remove the override: sudo rm /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ai.openclaw.plist.
  • Optionally run sudo log config --reload to force logd to drop the override immediately.
  • Remember this surface can include phone numbers and message bodies; keep the plist in place only while you actively need the extra detail.