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Clear unified 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: Medium

    System Functionality / Data 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.
  • 2 scripts
  • No subcategories
  • 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 contains scripts for clearing unified logs on macOS.

This system is referred to as the unified logging system 1, macOS Unified Logs 2, or Apple Unified Logging and Activity Tracing 3. It was introduced with macOS Sierra 2 3, version 10.12 2. This system centralizes all logs, providing a comprehensive and detailed record of both system and application activities 1 2. These logs are stored on both disk and in memory 1. They are used for debugging 1 and offer insights into app behavior and system events 1 2 3.

However, these logs also present significant privacy and security concerns:

  • The logs collect extensive telemetry data 1 2.
  • They are often used for forensic analysis to study user behavior 2.
  • Unauthorized access may lead to privacy breaches, system exploits, and user tracking.

Clearing these logs enhances user privacy by mitigating the risk of exposing sensitive information.

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.

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.

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

High — Advanced Privacy​

  • For advanced privacy-conscious users
  • May affect some features

Read more about High and other protection levels

Help

How to apply "Clear unified system and app 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.
  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.

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 unified 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 unified system and app logs
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  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​

  • 2 Privacy settings

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.

Clear diagnostic logs

This script removes diagnostic logs. These logs document system and application activities. The data is stored in a compressed format called "tracev3". They include detailed data about processes, libraries, and events. The logs are stored in the "/private/var/db/diagnostics" directory. You can also access them via "/var/db/diagnostics/", since "/var" links to "/private/var". These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk. Unauthorized access to these logs ...

Clear diagnostic log details

This script removes extra logging details for diagnostic logs. This data provides additional details to existing system logs. This information includes detailed data on events such as crashes and system errors. The data is then mapped to their respective logs. The logs are stored in the "/private/var/db/uuidtext" directory. You can also access them via "/var/db/uuidtext/", since "/var" links to "/private/var". These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk...

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

Guides 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 category includes scripts that delete various operating system logs. These logs document system operations, user activities, application behavior, and errors...
Visit category page

Same Goal​

Other guides in Clear system and app logs 

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 9 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