OS Manuals

/usr/bin/journalctl

The systemd System and Service Manager

From systemd 262.2-r1 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running journalctl --help (exit 0). permalink

> journalctl [OPTION…] [MATCH…]

Query the journal.

Source Options:
     --system                   Show the system journal
     --user                     Show the user journal for the current user
  -M --machine=CONTAINER        Operate on local container
  -m --merge                    Show entries from all available journals
  -D --directory=PATH           Show journal files from directory
  -i --file=PATH                Show journal file
     --root=PATH                Operate on an alternate filesystem root
     --image=PATH               Operate on disk image as filesystem root
     --image-policy=POLICY      Specify disk image dissection policy
     --namespace=NAMESPACE      Show journal data from specified journal namespace

Filtering Options:
  -S --since=DATE               Show entries not older than the specified date
  -U --until=DATE               Show entries not newer than the specified date
  -c --cursor=CURSOR            Show entries starting at the specified cursor
     --after-cursor=CURSOR      Show entries after the specified cursor
     --cursor-file=FILE         Show entries after cursor in FILE and update FILE
  -b --boot[=ID]                Show current boot or the specified boot
  -u --unit=UNIT                Show logs from the specified unit
     --user-unit=UNIT           Show logs from the specified user unit
     --invocation=ID            Show logs from the matching invocation ID
  -I                            Show logs from the latest invocation of unit
  -t --identifier=ID            Show entries with the specified syslog identifier
  -T --exclude-identifier=ID    Hide entries with the specified syslog identifier
  -p --priority=RANGE           Show entries within the specified priority range
     --facility=FACILITY…       Show entries with the specified facilities
  -g --grep=PATTERN             Show entries with MESSAGE matching PATTERN
     --case-sensitive[=BOOL]    Force case sensitive or insensitive matching
  -k --dmesg                    Show kernel message log from the current boot

Output Control Options:
  -o --output=STRING            Change journal output mode (short, short-precise, short-iso,
                                short-iso-precise, short-full, short-monotonic, short-unix, verbose,
                                export, json, json-pretty, json-sse, json-seq, cat, with-unit)
     --output-fields=LIST       Select fields to print in verbose/export/json modes
  -n --lines[=[+]INTEGER]       Number of journal entries to show
  -r --reverse                  Show the newest entries first
     --show-cursor              Print the cursor after all the entries
     --utc                      Express time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
  -x --catalog                  Add message explanations where available
  -W --no-hostname              Suppress output of hostname field
     --no-full                  Ellipsize fields
  -a --all                      Show all fields, including long and unprintable
  -f --follow                   Follow the journal
     --no-tail                  Show all lines, even in follow mode
     --truncate-newline         Truncate entries by first newline character
  -q --quiet                    Do not show info messages and privilege warning
     --synchronize-on-exit=BOOL Wait for Journal synchronization before exiting

Pager Control Options:
     --no-pager                 Do not start a pager
  -e --pager-end                Immediately jump to the end in the pager

Forward Secure Sealing (FSS) Options:
     --interval=TIME            Time interval for changing the FSS sealing key
     --verify-key=KEY           Specify FSS verification key
     --force                    Override of the FSS key pair with --setup-keys

Commands:
  -h --help                     Show this help
     --version                  Show package version
  -N --fields                   List all field names currently used
  -F --field=FIELD              List all values that a specified field takes
     --list-boots               Show terse information about recorded boots
     --list-invocations         Show invocation IDs of specified unit
     --list-namespaces          Show list of journal namespaces
     --disk-usage               Show total disk usage of all journal files
     --vacuum-size=BYTES        Reduce disk usage below specified size
     --vacuum-files=INT         Leave only the specified number of journal files
     --vacuum-time=TIME         Remove journal files older than specified time
     --verify                   Verify journal file consistency
     --sync                     Synchronize unwritten journal messages to disk
     --relinquish-var           Stop logging to disk, log to temporary file system
     --smart-relinquish-var     Similar, but NOP if log directory is on root mount
     --flush                    Flush all journal data from /run into /var
     --rotate                   Request immediate rotation of the journal files
     --header                   Show journal header information
     --list-catalog             Show all message IDs in the catalog
     --dump-catalog             Show entries in the message catalog
     --update-catalog           Update the message catalog database
     --setup-keys               Generate a new FSS key pair

See the journalctl(1) man page for details.
Options (68)
OptionDescriptionSource
--systemShow the system journalhelp
--userShow the user journal for the current userhelp
-M --machine=CONTAINEROperate on local containerhelp
-m --mergeShow entries from all available journalshelp
-D --directory=PATHShow journal files from directoryhelp
-i --file=PATHShow journal filehelp
--root PATHOperate on an alternate filesystem roothelp
--image PATHOperate on disk image as filesystem roothelp
--image-policy POLICYSpecify disk image dissection policyhelp
--namespace NAMESPACEShow journal data from specified journal namespacehelp
-S --since=DATEShow entries not older than the specified datehelp
-U --until=DATEShow entries not newer than the specified datehelp
-c --cursor=CURSORShow entries starting at the specified cursorhelp
--after-cursor CURSORShow entries after the specified cursorhelp
--cursor-file FILEShow entries after cursor in FILE and update FILEhelp
-b --boot[=IDShow current boot or the specified boothelp
-u --unit=UNITShow logs from the specified unithelp
--user-unit UNITShow logs from the specified user unithelp
--invocation IDShow logs from the matching invocation IDhelp
-IShow logs from the latest invocation of unithelp
-t --identifier=IDShow entries with the specified syslog identifierhelp
-T --exclude-identifier=IDHide entries with the specified syslog identifierhelp
-p --priority=RANGEShow entries within the specified priority rangehelp
--facility FACILITY…Show entries with the specified facilitieshelp
-g --grep=PATTERNShow entries with MESSAGE matching PATTERNhelp
--case-sensitive BOOLForce case sensitive or insensitive matchinghelp
-k --dmesgShow kernel message log from the current boothelp
-o --output=STRINGChange journal output mode (short, short-precise, short-iso, short-iso-precise, short-full, short-monotonic, short-unix, verbose, export, json, json-pretty, json-sse, json-seq, cat, with-unit)help
--output-fields LISTSelect fields to print in verbose/export/json modeshelp
-n --lines[=[+]INTEGERNumber of journal entries to showhelp
-r --reverseShow the newest entries firsthelp
--show-cursorPrint the cursor after all the entrieshelp
--utcExpress time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)help
-x --catalogAdd message explanations where availablehelp
-W --no-hostnameSuppress output of hostname fieldhelp
--no-fullEllipsize fieldshelp
-a --allShow all fields, including long and unprintablehelp
-f --followFollow the journalhelp
--no-tailShow all lines, even in follow modehelp
--truncate-newlineTruncate entries by first newline characterhelp
-q --quietDo not show info messages and privilege warninghelp
--no-pagerDo not start a pagerhelp
-e --pager-endImmediately jump to the end in the pagerhelp
--interval TIMETime interval for changing the FSS sealing keyhelp
--verify-key KEYSpecify FSS verification keyhelp
--forceOverride of the FSS key pair with --setup-keyshelp
-h --helpShow this helphelp
--versionShow package versionhelp
-N --fieldsList all field names currently usedhelp
-F --field=FIELDList all values that a specified field takeshelp
--list-bootsShow terse information about recorded bootshelp
--list-invocationsShow invocation IDs of specified unithelp
--list-namespacesShow list of journal namespaceshelp
--disk-usageShow total disk usage of all journal fileshelp
--vacuum-size BYTESReduce disk usage below specified sizehelp
--vacuum-files INTLeave only the specified number of journal fileshelp
--vacuum-time TIMERemove journal files older than specified timehelp
--verifyVerify journal file consistencyhelp
--syncSynchronize unwritten journal messages to diskhelp
--relinquish-varStop logging to disk, log to temporary file systemhelp
--smart-relinquish-varSimilar, but NOP if log directory is on root mounthelp
--flushFlush all journal data from /run into /varhelp
--rotateRequest immediate rotation of the journal fileshelp
--headerShow journal header informationhelp
--list-catalogShow all message IDs in the cataloghelp
--dump-catalogShow entries in the message cataloghelp
--update-catalogUpdate the message catalog databasehelp
--setup-keysGenerate a new FSS key pairhelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.