---
title: "Diagnostics"
description: "Copy a short report for support, without your keys, tokens or conversations, and see what Codewhale keeps on your computer when something goes wrong."
works_on: [desktop]
---

# Diagnostics

Send support what they need to help, without your keys, tokens or
conversations.

**Works on:** the desktop app. Checked on Linux; macOS and Windows are not
checked yet. The phone and the web: not available yet.

![This window stopped unexpectedly, with Reload, Copy diagnostics and Quit](images/diagnostics-window-stopped.png)

## Copy diagnostics for support

Choose **Help › Copy diagnostics**. Codewhale puts a short report on your
clipboard and says "Diagnostics are on your clipboard." Paste it into your
message to support.

The report says:

- which version of Codewhale you have, and the system and language it runs
  on;
- whether updates are set up, and whether you're signed in;
- whether the Codewhale you run came with the app or was installed
  separately, and where;
- each open window's folder, whether it's working, and its version;
- the crash files kept on this computer, by name, size and time;
- recent problems Codewhale noticed, such as a window that stopped, and how
  Codewhale closed last time, with that run's problems;
- "Saved reports (n newest)": the start of the newest saved reports (up to
  three), so support sees what happened before.

It leaves out keys, tokens, sign-in tickets, passwords and email addresses,
and shows them as `[redacted]` or `[email]`. Folders inside your home folder
start with `~`. Your conversations and files are never in it.

## When a window stops

If a window stops unexpectedly, Codewhale says "This window stopped
unexpectedly." and "Your conversations are safe."

- **Reload** brings the window back where you were.
- **Copy diagnostics** copies the report, then asks again.
- **Quit** closes Codewhale.

If a window stops responding, Codewhale says "This window isn't responding."
Choose **Wait** to give it time, or **Reload** to start it again.

## When Codewhale itself runs into a problem

Codewhale says "Codewhale ran into a problem and needs to restart." Choose
**Restart**, **Copy diagnostics** or **Quit**.

These windows use the language Codewhale was showing, so they still speak
Simplified Chinese if that's what you chose, even when the window that
failed can't answer.

![The same window in Simplified Chinese](images/diagnostics-app-problem-zh.png)

## What stays on your computer

When a window stops or Codewhale itself runs into a problem, Codewhale saves
a report before it asks you anything, to a file only you can read, under
`diagnostics/reports` in its data folder. It keeps the newest ten. A window
that isn't responding is noted in the next report instead.

| System | Data folder |
| --- | --- |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Codewhale` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\Codewhale` |
| Linux | `~/.config/Codewhale` |

Crash files stay on this computer too. Codewhale never uploads them or the
reports. Sending them is always your choice, by copying and pasting.

## Related

- [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md)
- [Updates](updates.md)

Previous: [Updates](updates.md)