Turn on error logs in Skype for Business

An error log is an ongoing record of the internal operations of a computer. Usually, logging levels are set by your support team when your software is installed. Most of the time, these options don't need to be changed. But occasionally you might be asked to send an error log to help troubleshoot a problem in Skype for Business or Windows. Then you'll need to know how to change the settings and collect error information.

Select a logging level for Skype for Business

Important:  Before you change Skype for Business logging settings or enable Windows event logging, review the Skype for Business Privacy Statement.

1. In the Skype for Business main window, click Options > General.

2. On the General tab, under Help your support team help you, click the drop-down arrow next to Logging in Skype for Business, and select the logging level you want:

   • Off: Records no information.

   • Light: (default) Records summary information and gathers information about specific errors.

   • Full: Creates a log file that contains detailed information.

Locate and gather information from the Skype for Business log file

1. In File Explorer, navigate to the Tracing folder in your user profile directory—for example, C:\Users\<your alias>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\<16.0 or 15.0>\<Skype for Business or Lync>\Tracing. (If you've just enabled Skype for Business logging, you'll need to sign out of Skype for Business and then sign back in for the log files to be created.)

2. Compress (or zip) the Tracing folder.

3. If directed to, send the compressed folder to your support team.

Enable or disable Windows Event logging

On the General tab, under Help your support team help you, select (to enable logging) or clear (to disable logging) the check box next to Also collect troubleshooting info using Windows Event logging.

View and gather information from a Windows Event log

1. In Windows 10, click the Windows logo, type Event Viewer, and then choose Event Viewer.

2. In the Event Viewer window, in the pane on the left, double-click Windows Logs, and then click Application.

3. Double-click the listing for the Skype for Business error you're trying to track down (usually the most recent Skype for Business error, or towards the top) to display the error details.

4. If directed to do so by your support team, in the Actions pane, click Copy > Copy Details as Text. Paste the error information into a text file or email message to send to your support team.