Viewing os_log messages in device console

The "Devices and Simulators" window only shows crash reports. Use the Console app or Terminal, via the log --stream command, to see live log output.

To see the device's live log messages via the Console app, either when running from Xcode or when running from the device directly:

  • Open Console.app.
  • Click on the device's name in the left side panel, under "Devices".
  • Select Action, then Include Info Messages from the menu. If you are also using .debug level messages, make sure to select Include Debug Messages as well. (Without those items selected, the Console displays .default, .fault, and .error level messages only.)

If you still don't see the messages, try entering this Terminal command to configure the logging levels for your app:

sudo log config --subsystem com.test.testapp --mode level:debug

This turns on .debug-level logging for subsystem "com.test.testapp" (which includes .info and .default messages).

If you want to persist the messages, rather than the default of memory-only, turn on persistence for the three levels at the same time, like so:

sudo log config --subsystem com.test.testapp --mode level:debug,persist:debug

Regardless of any log settings, though, only crash reports will appear in the "Devices and Simulators" window.


Another pitfall: If you have set OS_ACTIVITY_MODE to disable in your scheme, then you will not see any logs for your app in console.

You have to remove or uncheck that argument.