Changing Log Folder Location on Tableau Desktop

From Tableau Desktop 2025.2.3, 2025.1.8 or later, it is possible to change the location of the default log folder by following the steps below.   It may be necessary to work with your IT administrator if not familiar with updating the Windows Registry or Mac plist files.

On Windows:

1. Open the Windows Registry Editor

2. Navigate to the registry path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Tableau\Tableau <version>\Directories

   • Add or modify the Logs registry string value to the desired path

3. To save the the log files back to the default location, follow the steps above and either remove the Logs registry string value altogether or set it to an empty string value (“”).

On Mac:

Modify the /Users/<local user>/Library/Preferences/com.tableau.Tableau-<version>.plist by adding a Directories.Logs key and the directory path value. Restart the application to see your changes.

1. Run the following command from the Terminal command prompt: 

defaults write com.tableau.Tableau-<version> Directories.Logs "<file_path>"

2. To save the log files back to the default location, either:

   1. Remove the Directories.Logs key by running the following command:

defaults delete com.tableau.Tableau-<version> Directories.Logs

2. Set the value to an empty string value (“””) using the following command:

defaults write com.tableau.Tableau-<version> Directories.Logs ""