The short answer
If something went wrong while you were playing or running a server, send latest.log. It's in a folder called logs, inside the game folder or the server folder. If the game crashed, send the newest file in crash-reports too.
Client logs on Windows, macOS and Linux
The default game folder depends on your system:
- Windows:
%APPDATA%\.minecraft\logs\latest.log. To get there fast, press Win+R, type%appdata%\.minecraftand press Enter. - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/logs/latest.log - Linux:
~/.minecraft/logs/latest.log
Launchers like Prism Launcher, Modrinth App and CurseForge often keep every instance in its own folder. Open the instance's folder from the launcher (look for a Folder or Open folder button) and go into logs. Many launchers can also show or copy the log for you, no folders needed.
Server logs
On a server it's logs/latest.log, in the folder the server starts from. Hosting panels usually list it under Files, and the Console tab shows the same text as it's written.
Crash reports
When the game crashes it writes a report to the crash-reports folder. The file is named after the time of the crash, like crash-2026-09-20_20.49.02-client.txt. Newer versions add -client or -server to the end, older ones don't. Send the newest one.
Not sure what's in it? How to read a Minecraft crash report goes through one.
When Java itself crashes
Sometimes the game just vanishes and there's no crash report. Look for a file called hs_err_pid plus a number, like hs_err_pid12345.log, in the game folder or the server folder. Java writes it when it crashes itself. Send that too.
Older logs and debug.log
Every launch replaces latest.log. The old ones get compressed and named after the date, like 2026-09-20-1.log.gz. Some versions also write a debug.log with more detail. Start with latest.log, and only dig out the dated ones if the problem happened in an earlier session.
minelog can't open .gz files, so unpack the file first.
Questions
Where is latest.log on Windows?
In %APPDATA%\.minecraft\logs, unless your launcher keeps the game in its own instance folder. Press Win+R, type %appdata%\.minecraft and press Enter to open the game folder.
Which file should I send, latest.log or the crash report?
If the game crashed, send both. The crash report shows what failed, and latest.log shows what happened before it.
Should I send a screenshot of the error?
No. A screenshot cuts off the lines that matter and can't be searched. Send the whole file, or a link to it.
Where do I find logs on a hosting panel?
Open the Files tab and go to the logs folder for latest.log, or the crash-reports folder for crash reports. The Console tab shows the same output live.
Keep reading
- How to read a Minecraft crash reportA crash report looks like a wall of text, but the answer is usually in three places. Learn what Description, the stack trace and Caused by lines mean.
- How to share a log file without leaking private detailsLog files can hold your IP address, your Windows username and even login tokens. This is what to look for and how to share a log without exposing it.