Recipe 16.20. Enabling Outlook Logging

Problem

You want to troubleshoot some connection problems with Outlook. You can enable logging, which will show interactions between Outlook and any POP3, SMTP, or IMAP servers.

Solution

Use the following steps to enable Outlook logging:

1. Open Outlook.

2. From the Tools menu, select Options.

3. Click the Other tab.

4. Click the Advanced Options button.

5. Check the box beside Enable mail logging.

6. Click OK.

7. Restart Outlook for the logging to start.

Discussion

There are two locations for the log files that Outlook generates. For MAPI, POP3, and SMTP connections, Outlook writes out status information to the following file: C:\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\temp\OPMLog.log

For IMAP connections, Outlook writes out log files for each IMAP server you have configured. These log files are located in the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\temp\Outlook Logging\<IMAPServerName>\

If you've enabled logging, restarted Outlook, and still don't see the logs, you may need to close Outlook before the log files are generated. Also remember to disable logging after you are done so the files don't take up disk space unnecessarily.

See Also

MS KB 300479, "How to Enable Transport Logging"