Logcat is the Android logging system provides a mechanism for collecting and viewing system debug output. Logs from various applications and portions of the system are collected in a series of circular buffers.
Non-rooted device:
Matlog/Laughing Logger app (Recommended):
Android Studio:
ADB command line (Advanced):
Rooted device/emulator/virtual machine:
Download Matlog or Laughing Logger app for Android and install it
Launch the app and grant root permission
Now you can record logs
Laughing Logger file location:
Non-rooted device:
Matlog/Laughing Logger app (Recommended):
Download Matlog or Laughing Logger app for Android and install it
No PC method (Android 11 and above & Wi-Fi required)
Note: Some devices running Android 11 and above don't have Wireless Debugging. If you don't have Wireless Debugging, and don't have Wi-Fi, then you need PC
Download aShellYou app: Releases · DP-Hridayan/aShellYou
Follow the tutorial how to Connect Self Device: Wireless Debugging Setup
If you have problem connecting, use Shizuku method instead
github.com
After connecting, tap the ADB via Wireless Debugging or Local ADB card, select the connected device, and run one of the commands
Laughing Logger:
Matlog:
If it says "Process exited with code: 0", it means it is running successfully
PC method
Note: You need a basic knowledge of CMD/Terminal
To enable USB debugging on an Android device, you first need to activate Developer options by tapping the Build number in the "About phone" section of the settings multiple times. Then, navigate to Developer options and enable USB debugging.
After enabling USB debugging, it will allow Android Studio and other SDK tools to recognize your device when connected via USB on your computer. Allow the device to be trusted when asked.
Download standalone SDK Platform Tools for Windows/Mac/Linux: SDK Platform Tools release notes | Android Developers
Open CMD/Terminal.
Navigate to platform tools directory using "cd" command
Copy and paste this command into CMD/Terminal
Laughing Logger:
Matlog:
See more about ADB: Android Debug Bridge (adb) | Android Developers
Recording logs
After giving the app permisson to read logs, you can now record logs. During recording, make sure to replicate a bug or crash to catch the useful logs for diagnosis
Laughing Logger file location:
No PC method (Android 11 and above & Wi-Fi required)
Note: Some devices running Android 11 and above don't have Wireless Debugging. If you don't have Wireless Debugging, and don't have Wi-Fi, then you need PC
Download aShellYou app: Releases · DP-Hridayan/aShellYou
Follow the tutorial how to Connect Self Device: Wireless Debugging Setup
If you have problem connecting, use Shizuku method instead
Shizuku Setup
A material you designed app for your ADB needs. Contribute to DP-Hridayan/aShellYou development by creating an account on GitHub.
After connecting, tap the ADB via Wireless Debugging or Local ADB card, select the connected device, and run one of the commands
Laughing Logger:
Code:
adb shell pm grant org.laughing.logger android.permission.READ_LOGS
Matlog:
Code:
adb shell pm grant com.pluscubed.matloglibre android.permission.READ_LOGS
If it says "Process exited with code: 0", it means it is running successfully
PC method
Note: You need a basic knowledge of CMD/Terminal
To enable USB debugging on an Android device, you first need to activate Developer options by tapping the Build number in the "About phone" section of the settings multiple times. Then, navigate to Developer options and enable USB debugging.
After enabling USB debugging, it will allow Android Studio and other SDK tools to recognize your device when connected via USB on your computer. Allow the device to be trusted when asked.
Download standalone SDK Platform Tools for Windows/Mac/Linux: SDK Platform Tools release notes | Android Developers
Open CMD/Terminal.
Navigate to platform tools directory using "cd" command
Copy and paste this command into CMD/Terminal
Laughing Logger:
Code:
./adb shell pm grant org.laughing.logger android.permission.READ_LOGS
Matlog:
Code:
./adb shell pm grant com.pluscubed.matloglibre android.permission.READ_LOGS
See more about ADB: Android Debug Bridge (adb) | Android Developers
Recording logs
After giving the app permisson to read logs, you can now record logs. During recording, make sure to replicate a bug or crash to catch the useful logs for diagnosis
Laughing Logger file location:
- Android 11 and above: /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/org.laughing.logger/Laughing Logger/saved_logs/
- Android 10 and below: /storage/emulated/0/Laughing Logger/saved_logs/
- Android 11 and above: /storage/emulated/0/Documents/matlog/savedlogs
- Android 10 and below: /storage/emulated/0/matlog/savedlogs
Android Studio:
Note: Android Studio might be complicated to setup, but the logcat interface is easier to use
To enable USB debugging on an Android device, you first need to activate Developer options by tapping the Build number in the "About phone" section of the settings multiple times. Then, navigate to Developer options and enable USB debugging.
After enabling USB debugging, it will allow Android Studio and other SDK tools to recognize your device when connected via USB on your computer. Allow the device to be trusted when asked.
Download Android Studio for Windows/Mac/Linux: Download Android Studio & App Tools - Android Developers
Install Android Studio: Install Android Studio | Android Developers
After installation, open Android Studio and create a new project.
At the bottom of toolbar, open the logcat. Your device should be detected, and will constantly sending logs.
To save logs, simply select all (CTRL + A), copy (CTRL + C) and paste (CTRL + V) onto text editor, and save as text file.
Video tutorial:
To enable USB debugging on an Android device, you first need to activate Developer options by tapping the Build number in the "About phone" section of the settings multiple times. Then, navigate to Developer options and enable USB debugging.
After enabling USB debugging, it will allow Android Studio and other SDK tools to recognize your device when connected via USB on your computer. Allow the device to be trusted when asked.
Download Android Studio for Windows/Mac/Linux: Download Android Studio & App Tools - Android Developers
Install Android Studio: Install Android Studio | Android Developers
After installation, open Android Studio and create a new project.
At the bottom of toolbar, open the logcat. Your device should be detected, and will constantly sending logs.
To save logs, simply select all (CTRL + A), copy (CTRL + C) and paste (CTRL + V) onto text editor, and save as text file.
Video tutorial:
ADB command line (Advanced):
Download standalone SDK Platform Tools for Windows/Mac/Linux: SDK Platform Tools release notes | Android Developers
Open CMD/Terminal
Change directory to platform tools directory using "cd" command
Type
or on current directory
If you have more than one device connected, list your devices
And use -s flag
Nothing will appear on the prompt but it is actually running, it is because the output are saving to disk directly. To stop logging, simply close the window
See more about adb logcat:
developer.android.com
Video tutorial:
Open CMD/Terminal
Change directory to platform tools directory using "cd" command
Type
Code:
./adb logcat > (path)
or on current directory
Code:
./adb logcat > log.txt
If you have more than one device connected, list your devices
Code:
./adb devices
And use -s flag
Code:
./adb -s (device name) logcat > (path)
Nothing will appear on the prompt but it is actually running, it is because the output are saving to disk directly. To stop logging, simply close the window
See more about adb logcat:

Logcat command-line tool | Android Studio | Android Developers
Logcat is a command-line tool that dumps a log of system messages, including stack traces, when the device throws an error and sends messages that you have written from your app with the Log class.

Video tutorial:
Rooted device/emulator/virtual machine:
Download Matlog or Laughing Logger app for Android and install it
Launch the app and grant root permission
Now you can record logs
Laughing Logger file location:
- Android 11 and above: /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/org.laughing.logger/Laughing Logger/saved_logs/
- Android 10 and below: /storage/emulated/0/Laughing Logger/saved_logs/
- Android 11 and above: /storage/emulated/0/Documents/matlog/savedlogs
- Android 10 and below: /storage/emulated/0/matlog/savedlogs
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