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View the Windows application log

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Applies to: SQL Server

SQL Server is configured to use the Windows application log, each SQL Server session writes new events to that log. Unlike the SQL Server error log, a new application log is not created each time you start an instance of SQL Server.

This article covers Windows 10 operating systems and later.

View the Windows application log

  1. On the Search bar, type Event Viewer, and then select the Event Viewer desktop app.

  2. In Event Viewer, expand the Windows Logs folder, and select the Application event log.

  3. SQL Server events are identified by the entry MSSQLSERVER (named instances are identified with MSSQL$<instance_name>) in the Source column. SQL Server Agent events are identified by the entry SQLSERVERAGENT (for named instances of SQL Server, SQL Server Agent events are identified with SQLAgent$<instance_name>). Microsoft Search service events are identified by the entry Microsoft Search.

  4. To view the log of a different computer, right-click Event Viewer (local). Select Connect to another computer, and fill in the fields to complete the Select Computer dialog box.

  5. Optionally, to display only SQL Server events, on the View menu, select Filter. In the Event source list, select MSSQLSERVER. To view only SQL Server Agent events, instead select SQLSERVERAGENT in the Event source list.

  6. To view more information about an event, double-click the event.

See also

View the SQL Server error log (SQL Server Management Studio)