Cannot access CrashPlan app logs on Mac

Overview

This article describes a known issue which prevents you from accessing CrashPlan app log files on computers running Mac OS.

To correct this problem, follow the steps below to use the chmod Terminal command to change the permissions of the CrashPlan app log directory.

Affects

macOS devices with the CrashPlan app installed for everyone. (Per-user installations are not affected.)

Considerations

You must have administrative access to your machine to use the chmod command. Learn more about enabling administrative access on OS X.

Diagnosing

Verify the problem by viewing the permissions on the CrashPlan app log directory:

1. Go to Applications > Utilities.
2. Open Terminal.app
   The Terminal opens.
3. Enter this command:cd /Library/Application Support/Crashplan/log
   The Terminal attempts to open the CrashPlan app's log directory.
4. If the terminal reports Permission denied, follow the recommended solution below.

For example:

prompt$ cd /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log
-bash: cd: /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log: Permission denied

Recommended solution

Resolve the issue by changing permissions for the /Library/Application Support/Crashplan/log directory:

1. From the Finder, open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Enter this command: sudo chmod 755 /Library/Application Support/Crashplan/log
3. Enter your password when prompted.
   The password doesn't display as you enter it.
4. Verify that you have changed the directory's permissions by entering this command:cd /Library/Application Support/Crashplan/log
5. The Terminal opens the CrashPlan app's log directory.
6. Enter this command: pwd
   The Terminal confirms that /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log is open.

Here's what the series of commands and replies look like all together:

prompt$ cd /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log
-bash: cd: /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log: Permission denied
prompt$ sudo chmod 755 /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log
Password: ***
prompt$ cd /Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log
prompt$ pwd
/Library/Application Support/CrashPlan/log