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How to Log Messages in Kotlin Android Apps With Logcat

Use android.util.Log in Kotlin, then find and filter app output in Android Studio Logcat or with adb logcat.
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To log a message from a Kotlin Android app, import android.util.Log and call a method such as Log.d(TAG, "Loading data"). Run the app, then open Android Studio’s Logcat window at View > Tool Windows > Logcat to find the entry. You can also inspect device logs from a terminal with adb logcat.

Write a message to Logcat from Kotlin

Android’s logging API is android.util.Log. A call supplies a tag, which identifies the source, and a message. This minimal example follows Android’s documented Kotlin pattern:

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import android.util.Log

private const val TAG = "MainActivity"

fun loadData() {
    Log.d(TAG, "Loading data")
}

Choose a priority that fits the diagnostic. Android provides verbose, debug, info, warning, and error logging methods; for example, Log.d writes a debug-level entry. Logcat displays the entry’s priority alongside its other metadata.

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When you need exception details during development, pass the throwable as the third argument:

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try {
    // Work that may fail
} catch (e: SomeException) {
    Log.d(TAG, "someOtherMethod()", e)
}

This writes exception information with the message, making the stack trace available in Logcat. Avoid putting passwords, tokens, or other sensitive user data in log messages.

Find app messages in Android Studio

  1. Build and run the app on an emulator or a physical Android device.
  2. In Android Studio, choose View > Tool Windows > Logcat.
  3. Use the device and app controls and the query field to narrow the entries you want to inspect.

Logcat includes output from the selected app as well as Android services and system components. An entry can show its timestamp, process and thread IDs, tag, package, priority, and message. Use the tag or package to recognize your app’s output, or filter by priority when you are looking for warnings and errors. The window also presents exception stack traces and includes controls to pause, clear, restart, or resume scrolling.

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Filter by tag, package, level, or age

Android Studio’s query field accepts key-value filters. Each of these is a separate example:

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package:mine
tag:MainActivity
level:INFO
age:5m

You can combine expressions. This example matches entries tagged MainActivity or at error level, then restricts the result to your app’s package:

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(tag:MainActivity | level:ERROR) & package:mine

Documented query keys include tag, package, process, message, level, and age. A level filter includes the chosen level and more severe levels, so level:INFO also matches warnings and errors. Age values use integer durations such as 5m; the comparison relies on the host timestamp, so clock differences between the computer and device can affect age filtering.

Use adb logcat in a terminal

For a command-line view, connect a device or start an emulator and run:

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adb logcat MyApp:D '*:S'

The MyApp:D rule requests debug priority and more severe entries for the tag MyApp. The *:S rule suppresses other tags. Keep the wildcard rule quoted in shells that might otherwise expand *.

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The command-line filter syntax is different from Android Studio’s key-value queries. The CLI also offers output formats with -v, including threadtime (the documented default), brief, and time. Available options can vary with the target device’s Android version; check adb logcat --help on that device if a format or option is unavailable.

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Choose the viewing route that fits your workflow

Consideration Android Studio Logcat adb logcat
Interface IDE window with device selection and a query field Terminal command
Filtering Key-value queries such as package:mine, tag:MainActivity, and level:ERROR Tag and minimum-priority rules such as MyApp:D and *:S
Output controls IDE view controls and query history -v formats such as threadtime and brief
A useful fit Finding and inspecting app output visually while working in the IDE Narrowing output or using a terminal-based workflow

Both routes inspect Android logs; neither is the only way to debug an app.

Keep debug logging out of release builds

Android’s debugging guidance recommends removing debug log messages and stack-trace print calls before publishing, or putting them behind a DEBUG flag. Review the release build deliberately rather than assuming logging is automatically stripped. This is a release-hygiene measure, not a guarantee that every kind of logged data is private.

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