How to Check VLC Log Files

Troubleshooting a video playback issue in VLC? Here's how you can check the VLC log files.

01 Sep 2023 3 min read

While watching your favorite videos on VLC, you might encounter issues related to codecs, timestamps, video playback, and a lot more.

But the good news is like you check the logs of your firewall, you can do the same with VLC to trace the root cause of the error.

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Unlike Linux, VLC does not save logs automatically, and once closed, all the logs are removed automatically, so you have to save them manually.

So make sure you save or read the log file before closing the VLC player.

Check and save VLC log files

While it sounds complex, this is the easiest method that not only allows you to save logs but also lets you read them without saving them to a file.

First, go to the Tools menu from the top menubar and select choose Messages, alternatively, you can also press Ctrl + M to save the same effect:

And it will show logs related to the currently playing video file.

Here, you have two choices: You can either read logs only or you can save them as well.

Once you click on the Messages, you will notice a tab for the Verbosity so let's take a look at the effect of multiple verbosity options you have.

Errors: This will only record the error messages only
Warnings: It will conclude error and warning messages
Debug: This level will include errors, warnings, and debug messages

After choosing the appropriate verbosity option, soon you will see logs related to the chosen option.

As you can see when I choose the debug option, it also included the warning logs.

To save logs, hit the Save as... button and it will open the file manager, from there, choose where you can to save the file and give it the appropriate name: