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Clear system and app logs

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.
  • macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Impact: Minimum

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

  • Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
  • 11 scripts
  • 1 categories
  • Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This category includes scripts that delete various operating system logs. These logs document system operations, user activities, application behavior, and errors. While essential for debugging and monitoring, these logs contain sensitive information and pose privacy risks.

Deleting these logs:

  • Reduces unauthorized access risks to personal data and system configurations.
  • Optimizes system performance by freeing up disk space.
Caution

Deleting these logs may hinder system troubleshooting and monitoring.

Safe for General Use
This script has Normal protection level option. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.

Apply Now​

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Free
  • Open-source

Normal — Everyday Privacy (Enterprise-Grade)​

  • Recommended for all
  • Safe for daily use
  • No impact on system stability

Read more about Normal and other protection levels

Help

How to apply "Clear system and app logs" using script​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 6 instructions
  1. 1

    Choose protection

    Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

    • Normal

      Some safe changes minimal system impact.

    • High

      Some potentially impactful changes with moderate system impact.
  2. 2

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
  3. 3

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  4. 4

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  5. 5

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  6. 6

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Shows the code
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply "Clear system and app logs" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Clear system and app logs
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

    Applying Normal to limit the impact.

  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide​

  • 11 Privacy settings
  • 1 Main categories
    • These settings are organized into 1 main categories for easy navigation.
    • Each main category contains subcategories, helping you find specific settings you might want to adjust.
  • 1 Total categories

Choose what to protect based on your needs:

Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Each change can be applied and reversed individually.

  • Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
  • Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.

Clear unified system and app logs

This category contains scripts for clearing unified logs on macOS. This system is referred to as the unified logging system, macOS Unified Logs, or Apple Unified Logging and Activity Tracing. It was introduced with macOS Sierra, version 10.12. This system centralizes all logs, providing a comprehensive and detailed record of both system and application activities. These logs are stored on both disk and in memory. They are used for debugging and offer insights into app behavior and system e...

Clear Apple System Logs (ASL)

This script deletes Apple System Log (ASL) files, enhancing your privacy and security. ASL files contain system information such as firewall activity, login details, application errors, and network data. The logs are located in the "/private/var/log/asl/" directory. You can also access them via "/var/log/asl/, since "/var" links to "/private/var". These files are in a binary format and have an ".asl" extension. They can be viewed using the "syslog` command. Originally, the ASL framework was inte...

Clear installation logs

This script deletes installation logs. These logs document software installations and updates, including dates and details. This data is valuable for troubleshooting and auditing. The logs are stored at "/private/var/log/install.log" on Mac OS X 10.3 and later. You can also access them via "/var/log/install.log", since "/var" links to "/private/var". Deleting these logs removes detailed records of installed software, enhancing your privacy and security. These logs are used in forensic analysis t...

Clear all system logs

This script deletes the main system logs from your computer. Deleting these logs enhances your privacy by eliminating records of your system usage. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk. This action also frees up disk space by removing files that can grow significantly over time. These logs are essential for monitoring system events and identifying unauthorized access incidents. The system periodically recycles these logs; therefore, their deletio...

Clear system application logs

This script clears the system application logs. The logs are stored at "/Library/Logs/". They include various logs and diagnostic reports. These logs are used for system-wide event logging. Third-party applications usually can't access these logs due to restricted permissions. However, some system-wide apps (like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint) store logs in this directory. These logs contain troubleshooting details and may include personal data. These logs are used in forensic analysis to stud...

Clear user application logs

This script deletes user application logs from your system. The logs are stored at "$HOME/Library/Logs". This directory contains logs specific to different applications. These logs are referred as application logs, user logs or user application logs. They detail software behavior and interactions. The deletion of these logs is considered safe. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk. Removing them enhances privacy by eradicating records that c...

Clear Mail app logs

This script deletes the log files of the Mail app. The logs are stored at "$HOME/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Logs/Mail". These logs may contain details of every connection made by the Mail app. These logs can grow significantly in size, particularly when connection activity logging is enabled. This growth can reduce system performance and Mail app responsiveness. Deleting these logs protects the privacy of your email interactions by removing records of connection details. Addi...

Clear user activity audit logs (login, logout, authentication, etc.)

This script deletes audit logs from your system, enhancing your privacy by erasing records of your activities. Audit logs document activities like file access, creation, and user authentication. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk. The logs use the OpenBSM audit framework. The framework was initially developed by SUN Microsystems and now maintained under the BSD license by the Trusted BSD Project. The logs are stored at "/private/var/audit". You...

Clear system maintenance logs

This script deletes system maintenance logs, enhancing user privacy by removing traces of system activity. Derived from Mac OS X's UNIX heritage, these logs are produced by scheduled scripts that clean system logs, manage temporary files, and handle tasks such as log file rotation and system statistics reporting. The logs are stored at "/private/var/log/daily.out", "/private/var/log/weekly.out", and "/private/var/log/monthly.out". You can also access them via `/var/log/{daily|weekly|monthly}.out...

Clear app installation logs

This script deletes logs that record the history of installed applications and updates. The logs are stored at "/private/var/db/receipts" and "/Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist". You can also access them via "/var/db/receipts", since "/var" links to "/private/var". The logs contain details such as the name of the installed package, its version, and the installation date. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk. Attackers can exploit this data t...

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

The guide below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.

These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

This specification: privacy cleanup — lays out a systematic approach to how to lock down private information as part of sensitive data privacy protection on macOS...

— Privacy cleanup

Same Goal​

Other guides in Privacy cleanup 

See settings that are in the same category as this guide.

Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

See all 12 guides

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process