Guide to accessing device logs on iOS and Android for Capacitor apps. Covers command-line tools, GUI applications, filtering, and real-time streaming. Use this skill when users need to view device logs for debugging.

iOS and Android Device Logs Complete guide to viewing and filtering device logs on iOS and Android. When to Use This Skill User needs to see device logs User is debugging crashes User wants to filter logs by app User needs real time log streaming User asks "how to see logs" Quick Commands iOS Logs Method 1: Console.app (GUI) 1. Open Console.app (Applications Utilities) 2. Select your device in sidebar 3. Click "Start Streaming" 4. Use search to filter: By process: process:YourApp By subsystem: subsystem:com.yourapp By message: "error" Method 2: devicectl (CLI Recommended) Method 3: simctl for Simulators Method 4: Xcode Device Logs 1. Window Devices and Simulators 2. Select device 3. Click "Open Console" 4. Or: View device logs for crash reports iOS Log Predicate Examples iOS Log Levels Level Description default Default messages info Informational debug Debug (hidden by default) error Error conditions fault Fault/critical Android Logs Method 1: adb logcat (CLI) Method 2: Android Studio Logcat (GUI) 1. View Tool Windows Logcat 2. Use filter dropdown: Package: package:com.yourapp Tag: tag:MyPlugin Level: level:error 3. Create saved filters for quick access Method 3: pidcat (Better CLI Tool) Android Log Priority Levels Letter Priority V Verbose D Debug I Info W Warn E Error F Fatal S Silent adb logcat Format Options Common Android Filters Viewing Crash Logs iOS Crash Logs Android Crash Logs MCP Integration Use MCP tools to fetch logs programmatically: Log Parsing Tips Extract JavaScript Errors Filter Network Requests Monitor Memory Troubleshooting Issue: No Logs Showing iOS : Ensure device is trusted: Xcode Window Devices Try restarting log stream Check Console.app filters Android : Enable USB debugging Run adb devices to verify connection Try adb kill server && adb start server Issue: Too Many Logs Use filters: Issue: Missing Debug Logs iOS : Debug logs are hidden by default Android : Ensure log level is set correctly Best Practices 1. Use structured logging Include context in log messages 2. Add timestamps Helps correlate events 3. Filter early Don't stream all logs 4. Save important logs Redirect to file for later analysis 5. Use log levels appropriately Debug for dev, error for production Resources iOS Unified Logging: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/os/logging Android Logcat: https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/logcat devicectl Reference: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement

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