LOG File

What are LOG files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a LOG file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your LOG files.

What is a LOG file?

LOG files have multiple uses, and Log is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Log File

Files that use the .log file extension are commonly used by a variety of computer operating systems and software applications to store plain text or binary logs of events that have occurred within the associated software program.

Log files are used for many different purposes. For example, they may be generated by operating systems to keep track of system events, by software installation programs to list the locations and names of files that have been installed on a user's system, and by other applications to keep track of actions performed before an application crash occurred.

Since log files can be in plain readable text or in a proprietary binary format, it is difficult to tell which program can open your specific log file. Try a few of the suggested editors and viewers that support viewing both text and binary formats.

How to open LOG files

We have identified two LOG openers that are compatible with this specific type of LOG file.

Programs that open Log files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

All known file formats using extension .LOG

While Log File is a popular type of LOG-file, we know of 15 different uses of the .LOG file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

AIBB Results Log File

Logfile created by Amiga Intuition Based Benchmark, a system benchmark tool for the Commodore Amiga home computer.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different LOG openers which you will find listed below.

AMIDiag Diagnostic Report

We know that one LOG format is AMIDiag Diagnostic Report. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

BTSnoop Capture Format Log File

We know that one LOG format is BTSnoop Capture Format Log File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Cabrillo Log File

Cabrillo refers to a universal log submission format created by Trey Garlough for the CQ World Wide WPX Contest.

CloudFront Log

We know that one LOG format is CloudFront Log. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Ddrescue Mapfile/Logfile

We know that one LOG format is Ddrescue Mapfile/Logfile. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

DxWnd Log

We know that one LOG format is DxWnd Log. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

HijackThis Log File

A HijackThis Log File is a plain text report created by the HijackThis tool (by Trend Micro) when you run a system scan. Its purpose is to list current Windows Registry settings, browser settings, running processes, startup entries, and other system areas that are commonly altered by malware, adware, or browser hijackers so that users or experts can review whether anything suspicious should be removed.

HijackThis generates the log by scanning various system components: it records version information (program, OS, browser), time of scan, running non-system processes, and then enumerates many system settings grouped into categories marked by codes (for example R-, F-, N-, O- followed by numbers). After generating the file, users typically open it in a text editor or share it with others for manual analysis rather than using HijackThis to automatically decide what to delete.

The file begins with a recognisable ASCII header signature: the very first bytes are "LogfileofTrendMicroHijackThis" (bytes beginning at offset 0x00) which identifies it as this specific log format.

LOG opener for Windows

We have identified one LOG opener that is compatible with this specific type of LOG file.

Microsoft IIS Log

We know that one LOG format is Microsoft IIS Log. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Nmap Scan Results Log File

Nmap Scan Results Log File is a text‐based report produced by the Nmap network scanning tool, saved when the "normal output" option (-oN) or directed output is used. It records what ports are open or closed, service details, timing, host status, and other summary information from a scan. The logs serve to preserve human‐readable scan results for later review or analysis.

Nmap creates these files by running a scan against specified hosts or address ranges. When the user supplies -oN

Files in this format often include lines starting with a hash (#) that serve as comments, especially at the beginning and end to document when the scan started and finished. They contain a header string indicating a scan initiation (for example "SCAN INITIATED" or "Nmap scan initiated") and fields like "PORT", "STATE", etc. Internally they may show a byte signature like bytes corresponding to "# map" or "scaninitiated" near the start of the file, to distinguish this format.

Programs that open these LOG files

We have identified one LOG opener that is compatible with this specific type of LOG file.

OGW Log

We know that one LOG format is OGW Log. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Siemens ORSI Log File

We know that one LOG format is Siemens ORSI Log File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Windows NT Registry Hive Log File

A Hive file is the Windows Registry's on-disk storage format. Log files are used for transaction history.

Wise Installer Log File

We know that one LOG format is Wise Installer Log File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of LOG files. Remember, different programs may use LOG files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about LOG file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.