How to Send a Debug Log to IT (When Apps Keep Crashing)

Estimated Time to Fix: 5 minutes

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary

When an application on your computer crashes randomly, telling IT "it closed" makes it very difficult for them to fix it. Every time an app crashes, Windows secretly records exactly why it crashed in a hidden text file. If you can attach that file to your IT ticket, the technician can often fix your problem in minutes instead of hours.

Prerequisites

• You must be able to log into Windows.
• You need to know the approximate time the app crashed (e.g., "around 2:15 PM").

Instructions

1. Open the Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is a built-in Windows tool that acts like an airplane's black box, recording every error.

1. Click the Start Menu, type Event Viewer, and press Enter.
2. The program might take a few seconds to load.
3. On the left side of the window, you will see a folder list. Click the small arrow next to Windows Logs to expand it.
4. Click on Application. The middle of the window will populate with thousands of events.

2. Find the Crash Event

Now you need to find the specific error that matches your app crash.

1. Look at the middle pane. You will see a list of events sorted by Date and Time.
2. Scroll down to the approximate time your application crashed.
3. Look for a row where the "Level" column has a red exclamation mark and says Error.
4. The "Source" column will usually say Application Error.
5. Click on that row once. In the gray box below, the text should mention the name of the app that crashed (for example, Faulting application name: OUTLOOK.EXE).

3. Save the Error Log

Once you have found the right error, you need to save it so you can email it.

1. With the correct Error row highlighted, look at the far right panel (the "Actions" menu).
2. Click Save Selected Events...
3. A "Save As" window will appear. Choose your Desktop as the location.
4. Name the file something obvious, like OutlookCrashLog.
5. Ensure the "Save as type" dropdown is set to Event Files (*.evtx).
6. Click Save.
7. Note: A Display Information box might pop up asking about languages. leave it on the default setting ("No display information") and click OK.

4. Attach It to Your Ticket

You now have a file on your desktop named OutlookCrashLog.evtx.

1. Open your company's IT ticketing portal or email the Help Desk.
2. Describe your issue and attach the .evtx file to the ticket.
3. The IT technician can now open that file on their own computer and see the exact memory address or missing file that caused your crash.

Troubleshooting

TIP

If you cannot find the crash in the "Application" log, check the System log (located right below "Application" in the left folder list). The System log records errors caused by hardware, like a bad network card or an overheated processor.

Symptom / Error	Potential Cause	Solution
I have thousands of red errors! Is my PC broken?	Normal Windows behavior	No, this is completely normal. Windows logs hundreds of minor, invisible errors every day. Only look for the specific error that matches the exact time your app closed.
The "Save Selected Events" button is grayed out	Permissions issue	Your IT department may have restricted access to exporting logs. You will need to take a screenshot of the error text instead and attach the picture to your ticket.

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