How to View the Log of MS SQL Server Express to Check for Login Status

  1. You can choose what type of login activity that you want the SQL Server to log. By default, SQL Server will log the “Failed logins only” activity only. To choose the login activity, right-click at your “Server <instance name>” -> “Properties”. In Server Properties, click “Security” and choose the activity in Login auditing area:
    • None
    • Failed logins only
    • Successful logins only
    • Both failed and successful logins
  2. To view the MS SQL Server log files, expand “Management” -> expand “SQL Server Logs“, click any log date that you want to view:
  3. All the login activities can be viewed in the Log file summary area: