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Logging (macOS)

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Rolling diagnostics file log (Debug pane)

OpenClaw routes macOS app logs through swift-log (unified logging by default) and can write a local, rotating file log to disk when you need a durable capture.
  • Verbosity: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → Verbosity
  • Enable: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → “Write rolling diagnostics log (JSONL)”
  • Location: ~/Library/Logs/OpenClaw/diagnostics.jsonl (rotates automatically; old files are suffixed with .1, .2, …)
  • Clear: Debug pane → Logs → App logging → “Clear”
Notes:
  • This is off by default. Enable only while actively debugging.
  • Treat the file as sensitive; don’t share it without review.

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Unified logging private data on macOS

Unified logging redacts most payloads unless a subsystem opts into privacy -off. Per Peter’s write-up on macOS logging privacy shenanigans (2025) this is controlled by a plist in /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ keyed by the subsystem name. Only new log entries pick up the flag, so enable it before reproducing an issue.

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Enable for OpenClaw (ai.openclaw)

  • Write the plist to a temp file first, then install it atomically as root:
cat <<'EOF' >/tmp/ai.openclaw.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>DEFAULT-OPTIONS</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Enable-Private-Data</key>
        <true/>
    </dict>
</dict>
</plist>
EOF
sudo install -m 644 -o root -g wheel /tmp/ai.openclaw.plist /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ai.openclaw.plist
  • No reboot is required; logd notices the file quickly, but only new log lines will include private payloads.
  • View the richer output with the existing helper, e.g. ./scripts/clawlog.sh --category WebChat --last 5m.

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Disable after debugging

  • Remove the override: sudo rm /Library/Preferences/Logging/Subsystems/ai.openclaw.plist.
  • Optionally run sudo log config --reload to force logd to drop the override immediately.
  • Remember this surface can include phone numbers and message bodies; keep the plist in place only while you actively need the extra detail.