Viewing the SQL Server Error Log

Applies to: SQL Server - Windows only

View the SQL Server error log to ensure that processes have completed successfully (for example, backup and restore operations, batch commands, or other scripts and processes). This can be helpful to detect any current or potential problem areas, including automatic recovery messages (particularly if an instance of SQL Server has been stopped and restarted), kernel messages, or other server-level error messages.

View the SQL Server error log by using SQL Server Management Studio or any text editor. For more information about how to view the error log, see Open Log File Viewer. By default, the error log is located at Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG and ERRORLOG.n files.

A new error log is created each time an instance of SQL Server is started, although the sp_cycle_errorlog system stored procedure can be used to cycle the error log files without having to restart the instance of SQL Server. Typically, SQL Server retains backups of the previous six logs and gives the most recent log backup the extension .1, the second most recent the extension .2, and so on. The current error log has no extension.

Be aware that you can also view the SQL Server error log on instances of SQL Server that are offline or cannot start. For more information, see View Offline Log Files.