WSS_Logging is growing with 7 days retention on

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WSS_Logging is growing with 7 days retention on

Andriy Granovsky 0

Hi,

__WSS_Logging file is growing resulting in low free space on disk. Our retention is already set at 7 days. Please advise on how to manage it so that it doesnt grow so quickly.

Thanks,__

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Teddie-D 16,370 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Andriy Granovsky

This behavior is expected in SharePoint Server.

The “Number of days to keep log files” setting only determines how long logs are retained. It does not limit the volume of logs generated. The amount of logging primarily depends on the configured logging level and overall farm activity.

According to Configure diagnostic logging in SharePoint Server - SharePoint Server | Microsoft Learn, diagnostic logging can generate large amounts of data depending on configuration. Even with a 7‑day retention period, the WSS_Logging (ULS) folder can grow quickly if logging is set to Verbose/VerboseEx, or if the farm is producing a high volume of events.

To help prevent rapid growth, consider the following best practices:

-Restrict log disk usage: Configure a maximum size so SharePoint automatically deletes older logs once the limit is reached: Central Administration > Monitoring > Configure diagnostic logging.

-Review logging levels Use Medium, Warning, or Unexpected for normal operations. Enable Verbose only temporarily when troubleshooting.

-Move logs to a separate drive

I hope this information is helpful.

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Teddie-D 16,370 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-12T23:23:28.35+00:00

Hi @Andriy Granovsky
I wanted to follow up and ensure the information provided was useful to you. If you have any new updates or further inquiries, please let me know. Thank you!
Andriy Granovsky 0 Reputation points

2026-05-13T18:54:46.75+00:00

Hi, thanks. We made adjustments in Central Administration → Monitoring → Configure usage and health data collection and disabled number of entries from it. Our retention is at 5 days. This means WSS_Logging.mdf will stop growing but does NOT mean it will begin decreasing in size, correct? What are the steps for it to decrease in size after these changes? Thanks
Teddie-D 16,370 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-14T05:00:47.25+00:00

Hi @Andriy Granovsky

Reducing the retention period or disabling usage/health data providers will help reduce future growth of the WSS_Logging database, but it does not automatically reduce the physical size of the existing WSS_Logging.mdf file.

In SQL Server, when data is deleted due to retention cleanup, the space inside the database becomes available for reuse internally, but the database file itself typically remains the same size unless you explicitly perform a shrink operation.

Microsoft documentation confirms that unused space can remain allocated in the database file and that it will continue to occupy disk space unless the database is shrunk.

After allowing sufficient time for the retention cleanup job to complete, you can reduce the physical database size by performing a SQL shrink operation. Recommended steps:

-Confirm retention cleanup has completed and old data has been removed.

-Verify available free space inside the database.

-Perform a shrink operation on the WSS_Logging database.

You can follow this guide Shrink a Database - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn

Please note that shrinking is generally considered a one-time corrective action, not regular maintenance, because it can cause index fragmentation and impact performance.

For additional reference, you may also review: wss_logging database shrink - Microsoft Q&A.
Teddie-D 16,370 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-15T00:28:49.8333333+00:00

Hi @Andriy Granovsky
May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer? If you need further assistance, please feel free to let me know. Thank you!
Teddie-D 16,370 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-17T23:28:06.19+00:00

Hi @Andriy Granovsky
Just wanted to follow up and see if you need any additional help on this thread.

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WSS_Logging is growing with 7 days retention on

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