Clear system application logs

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.

• Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
• macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
• Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
  This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
  This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
• Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
• 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 script clears the system application logs.

The logs are stored at /Library/Logs/ ^{1 2 3}. They include various logs and diagnostic reports ¹.

These logs are used for system-wide event logging ³. Third-party applications usually can't access these logs due to restricted permissions ¹. However, some system-wide apps (like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint ⁴) store logs in this directory.

These logs contain troubleshooting details and may include personal data. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk ¹.

By deleting these logs, the script helps protect user privacy by removing potential traces of user activity and system usage.

Caution

Deleting these logs may hinder system troubleshooting and monitoring.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources

PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

• Mac os x 10.9 artifacts location. forensics.wiki. (2024).
  Original: https://forensics.wiki/mac_os_x_10.9_artifacts_location
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240615112511/https://forensics.wiki/mac_os_x_10.9_artifacts_location/
• Analysis & Correlation of Mac Logs. Sarah Edwards. papers.put.as. (2022).
  Original: https://papers.put.as/papers/macosx/2012/Mac_Log_Analysis_Sarah_Edwards_DFIRSummit2012.pdf
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221206012352/https://papers.put.as/papers/macosx/2012/Mac_Log_Analysis_Sarah_Edwards_DFIRSummit2012.pdf
• macos - Which directory is the best for saving logs? - Stack Overflow. stackoverflow.com. (2024).
  Original: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70638430/which-directory-is-the-best-for-saving-logs
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240615132749/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70638430/which-directory-is-the-best-for-saving-logs
• Resources for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
  Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/mac-resources
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240615132755/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/mac-resources

Apply Now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly

• No app needed
• Offline usage
• Free
• Open-source

Apply protection

Help

How to apply or restore "Clear system application logs" using script

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: Web Browser
• Difficulty: Medium
• ≈ 5 instructions

1. 1

   Download

   Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
   Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
2. 2

   Keep the file

   If warned by your browser, keep the file.
3. 3

   Open

   Open the downloaded file.
4. 4

   Exit

   Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
5. 5

   Restart

   Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

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• Includes safety checks
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Help

How to apply or restore "Clear system application 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 script name: Clear system application logs
   2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
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.

Run commands

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge

Apply

Apply changes

# Clear directory contents: "/Library/Logs"
glob_pattern="/Library/Logs/*"
sudo rm -rfv $glob_pattern

Revert

Restore changes

IiI=

Help

How to apply or restore "Clear system application logs" using commands

• ≈ 2 min to complete
• Tools: Terminal app
• Difficulty: undefined
• ≈ 3 instructions

1. 1

   Open terminal

   Open Terminal app.
2. 2

   Copy code

   Copy the code:

   Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
3. 3

   Paste & run

   Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.

   Some changes require a system restart to take effect

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About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

• 

  undergroundwires

  • Certified security professional
  • 7+ years experience securing banks
  • Open-source developer since 2005
  • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
• Open-Source Contributors

  • 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
  • Audited and verified using automated security tests

• Public review by large community

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
  • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential 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