Android Crash & Error Logs

From a connected Android device, open Android Studio 🔗

  1. Connect the device via USB
  2. Approve USB debugging
  3. Open View → Tool Windows → Logcat
  4. Reproduce the issue
Android Studio Logcat Window
More details

Logcat displays real-time system logs from your device. Crashes usually appear as fatal or Exception entries under the AndroidRuntime tag.

Filter for Errors 🔗

  • Log level: Error
  • Keywords:
    • fatal
    • exception

Enable Developer Options 🔗

  1. Settings → About phone
  2. Tap Build number 7 times
  3. Settings → System → Developer options
  4. Enable USB debugging

Note: The location of Build number may vary depending on the device brand (Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.).

Why this is required

Developer Options unlock debugging access between your device and computer. USB debugging is mandatory for both Logcat and ADB-based log capture.


Install Android ADB Tools 🔗

  1. Download Android Platform Tools
  2. Extract to a known folder
  3. Open a terminal in that folder
adb version
More about ADB

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows command-line access to device logs and is ideal when Android Studio is unavailable or for CI / automation environments.

Common ADB Commands 🔗

adb devices -l
adb logcat
adb logcat *:E
adb logcat -d > logcat.txt

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