Clear EventLog - PowerShell

Overview

Clear-EventLog removes all events from one or more specified event logs. It allows you to clear logs to free up storage space or troubleshoot persistent log issues.

Syntax

Clear-EventLog [-LogName] <String[]> [-ComputerName] <String>
              [-Confirm] [-WhatIf] [-Force]

Options/Flags

• -LogName: Specifies the name of the event log to clear. Multiple logs can be cleared by specifying an array of log names.
• -ComputerName: Specifies the remote computer on which to clear the event log. If not specified, the local computer is targeted.
• -Confirm: Prompts for confirmation before clearing the event log.
• -WhatIf: Shows what would happen if the command were run without actually executing it.
• -Force: Suppresses the confirmation prompt and clears the event logs without asking for confirmation.

Examples

Clear a single local event log:

Clear-EventLog -LogName Application

Clear multiple local event logs:

Clear-EventLog -LogName Application,System,Security

Clear event logs on a remote computer:

Clear-EventLog -LogName Application -ComputerName remotepc

Clear event logs without confirmation:

Clear-EventLog -LogName Application -Force

Common Issues

• Ensure that you have sufficient permissions to clear the event logs. By default, only administrators can clear event logs.
• If the event log is actively logging events, new events may be added while the Clear-EventLog command is running, resulting in incomplete clearing.

Integration

Clear-EventLog can be used in conjunction with other PowerShell commands for advanced tasks. For example, you can use the Get-EventLog command to filter and retrieve specific events before clearing them.

Related Commands

• Get-EventLog: Gets events from one or more specified event logs.
• New-EventLog: Creates a new event log.