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macOS logging

docs/platforms/mac/logging.md

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Logging (macOS)

Rolling diagnostics file log (Debug pane)

The macOS app logs through swift-log (unified logging by default) and can also write a rotating local file log for durable capture (DiagnosticsFileLog).

  • Enable: Debug pane -> Logs -> App logging -> "Write rolling diagnostics log (JSONL)" (off by default).
  • Verbosity: Debug pane -> Logs -> App logging -> Verbosity picker.
  • Location: ~/Library/Logs/OpenClaw/diagnostics.jsonl.
  • Rotation: rotates at 5 MB; up to 5 backups suffixed .1....5 (oldest dropped).
  • Clear: Debug pane -> Logs -> App logging -> "Clear" deletes the active file and all backups.

Treat the file as sensitive; do not share it without review.

Unified logging private data on macOS

Unified logging redacts most payloads unless a subsystem opts into privacy -off. This is controlled by a plist in /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ keyed by subsystem name. Only new log entries pick up the flag, so enable it before reproducing an issue. Background: macOS logging privacy shenanigans.

Enable for OpenClaw (ai.openclaw)

Write the plist to a temp file first, then install it atomically as root:

bash
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 required; logd picks up the file quickly, but only new log lines include private payloads. View the richer output with ./scripts/clawlog.sh --category WebChat --last 5m (--last/-l sets the time range, default 5m; --category/-c filters by category).

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.
  • This surface can include phone numbers and message bodies; keep the plist in place only while actively needed.