Control Event Log behavior when the log file reaches its maximum size
- Policy ID
- Channel_Log_Retention_3
- Scope
- Computer Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Vista
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Event Log Service › Setup
Description
This policy setting controls Event Log behavior when the log file reaches its maximum size.
If you enable this policy setting and a log file reaches its maximum size, new events are not written to the log and are lost.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting and a log file reaches its maximum size, new events overwrite old events.
Note: Old events may or may not be retained according to the "Backup log automatically when full" policy setting.
Registry
ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- RetentionREG_SZ