Where Are IIS Log Files Stored?
IIS files per site request logs under inetpub logs, one W3SVC numbered folder per website.
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Every IIS request can leave a line on disk. The LogFiles directory sorts them by service and site ID, with web sites under W3SVC1, W3SVC2, and so on. FTP and SMTP get their own prefixes beside them.
The files are plain W3C text, greppable and importable into log analyzers without tooling. Default fields cover client IP, status, and timing, extendable per site. When disk space vanishes on a web server, this directory is suspect number one.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles
One W3SVC numbered folder per site with daily logs inside. Enable per site rollover and retention in IIS Manager instead of deleting by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Which W3SVC folder is my site?
Match the site's ID in IIS Manager to the W3SVC number on disk. Each site logs to its own numbered folder, so the default site and siblings never mingle. The ID shows in the Sites list.
Can IIS rotate and clean logs itself?
Yes, natively: Logging settings per site set rollover by size or schedule with automatic deletion of old files. Prefer that over manual purges or scheduled scripts deleting blindly.
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