Exporting Management Log Files in Windows 11
Mate, I’ve been there — trying to grab some logs for support on a managed device, whether it’s enrolled in your company’s MDM or locked down by an admin. Honestly, tracking down those diagnostic logs in Windows 11 felt like searching for a needle in a haystack at first. The options are there, but they can be tucked away or labelled oddly, depending on your build or how your device is set up.
Getting to the Log Export Settings
The first thing I did was open the Settings app—click the gear icon, standard stuff. From there, head into Accounts. On managed devices, this is usually where the logs are accessible because they’re linked to your work or school account.
Click on Access work or school. Sometimes, on certain builds or if your device’s management profile is configured differently, you might see a label like Connected or Managed Devices. Look out for something along those lines. The important bit is to find an option that says Export your management log files. Not going to lie, it’s not always front and centre — sometimes it’s hidden under Advanced options or inside a dropdown menu. I’ve seen it buried deeper in settings on older ASUS laptops, so don’t get discouraged if it’s not immediately obvious.
How to Export the Logs
Once you find that option, click Export, and Windows will generate a management log file. Usually, it gets saved somewhere within your user folder, like:
C:\Users\your_username\Documents\MDM Diagnostics
This makes life a lot easier because you won’t have to dig through the Windows system folders. These logs can be pretty detailed, including error reports and diagnostics that support or IT teams might need for troubleshooting.
Is the Process Different on Windows 10?
Good news — it’s quite similar on Windows 10. The path for exporting logs is roughly the same: Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. The labels might vary slightly, or the layout might shift a bit depending on your build or if your device is joined to a domain or Azure AD. But overall, the route is pretty much the same. The key point is that logs are usually saved to a predictable folder, so you don’t have to hunt everywhere.
Using Command Line — When the GUI Doesn’t Cut It or You’re Feeling Lazy
If the graphical method doesn’t work or you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can use PowerShell or an elevated Command Prompt. It’s dead easy. Just open Command Prompt as an administrator (right-click the Start button, then choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin)) and run:
mdmdiagnostics.exe /export "C:\Path\to\save\LogFile.zip"
This command will export the management diagnostics directly into a ZIP file you specify. Just make sure the folder you’re saving to exists — you don’t want it to fail. Sometimes, you’ll need to locate mdmdiagnostics.exe, which is usually in C:\Windows\System32. But some OEMs or admins might move or disable it, so be aware.
Other Places Where Logs Might Be Stored
If you’re just having a look around, Windows also keeps logs in folders like:
C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI
or
C:\Windows\Logs\Management
But these are more for seasoned sysadmins or folks comfortable with raw data. They might need special tools or scripts to interpret. Honestly, most users won’t need to go down that route unless they’re troubleshooting deeply or doing some scripting.
Final Tips I Learned Along the Way
- Make sure you’re running as an administrator — otherwise, the system might silently block the export due to permission issues.
- Check that the export completed successfully. Permission issues or locked files can sometimes stop the process without showing a clear error.
- Understanding what’s in the logs can really speed things up. If you can interpret some error codes or messages, troubleshooting becomes a whole lot easier.
It took me a few frustrating tries to find the right menu, especially on a managed device where options can shift after updates. But once you get the hang of it, exporting management logs becomes a routine task — and it might save you heaps of time when you need to get support or troubleshoot an issue. Just remember to double-check where the files are saved and that you have the right permissions.
Hope this helps — it took me longer than it should have to figure all this out. Hopefully, it saves someone else a weekend of poking around menus!