---
title: Configuring verbose logging in the admin console
description: Select or clear the Verbose log setting check box for each PingAccess-specific logging category to adjust log levels more conveniently and quickly.
component: pingaccess
version: 9.0
page_id: pingaccess:pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide:pa_configuring_verbose_logging
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingaccess/9.0/pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide/pa_configuring_verbose_logging.html
revdate: June 13, 2024
section_ids:
  before-you-begin: Before you begin
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Configuring verbose logging in the admin console

Select or clear the **Verbose** log setting check box for each PingAccess-specific logging category to adjust log levels more conveniently and quickly.

## Before you begin

If you have customized your `log4j2.xml` file, you must merge this file with the `log4j-categories.xml` file introduced in PingAccess 7.3. Otherwise, you receive a warning message after opening the **Log Settings** page. If you receive this warning, it means that your changes have been saved, but can't be implemented until you have merged the categories that you referenced into the `log4j2.xml` file.

## About this task

Logging levels, sometimes abbreviated to log levels, control the amount of information displayed in each log entry for a specific category. The `log4j-categories.xml` file, first introduced in PingAccess 7.3, defines and allows references to PingAccess-specific logging categories. The **Verbose** log setting enables you to adjust log levels in the admin console as opposed to directly within the `conf/log4j2.xml` file. Any changes you make with this setting are effective immediately.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
|   | PingAccess records runtime, administrative server activities, and audit activity in the respective log files contained in the `<PA_HOME>/log` folder. For more information on logging in PingAccess, see the [Log configuration](../configuring_and_customizing_pingaccess/pa_logging_configuration.html) section. |

## Steps

1. In PingAccess, go to **Settings → System → Log Settings**.

2. In the **Verbose** column, select the check boxes that correspond with the categories you want to change.

   By default, all categories (except for the five audit categories) are set to the `INFO` level. Enabling verbose logging changes the log level for the designated category to `DEBUG` or `TRACE`, respectively. When verbose logging is turned off for a designated category, the log level returns to `INFO`.

   |   |                                                                                                                                                                           |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | Leaving log categories set to `DEBUG` or `TRACE` can decrease your server performance, so make sure to turn off verbose logging when you've finished reviewing your logs. |

   For more information on the categories that are available for you to adjust, see [Log level category descriptions](pa_log_level_category_descriptions.html).

3. Click **Save**.