App Installation History Mac OS X: How to View It

To view your Mac’s app installation history in macOS, open the Console app (in /Applications/Utilities) and search the system log for install or installer entries, or check the InstallHistory.plist file in /Library/Receipts/ for a list of major software installations. This article explains both methods, along with what they show, what they miss, and how to use the data.

What the Installation History Actually Contains

macOS keeps two distinct types of installation records. The first is a property list file at /Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist that logs installations performed by Apple’s Installer framework—this includes macOS system updates, security updates, and apps installed via a traditional .pkg installer. The second is the unified system log, accessible via Console, which records a wider range of events, including app launches, background daemon installations, and even some drag-and-drop app copies if they trigger system components.

Neither source is a complete, user-friendly list like “all apps ever installed.” Apps downloaded from the Mac App Store appear in the App Store’s “Purchased” tab, but that list only shows apps tied to your Apple ID, not the date they were installed. Apps copied to /Applications by dragging them from a DMG are often not logged at all unless they install a helper tool or kernel extension.

Method 1: Using Console to See Detailed Logs

Console is the built-in log viewer that gives you the most granular view of installation activity. Here’s how to use it:

Open Console from /Applications/Utilities.
In the search bar (top-right), type installer or install.
Click the Start button (or press Command+L) to stream live logs, or scroll through past entries.
Look for entries from processes named installd, installer, or softwareupdated.
Click an entry to see the full message, including the app name, version, and timestamp.

To filter for a specific app, type its name along with installer (e.g., installer Google Chrome). You can also use the Logs tab and the Predictive Search feature to narrow results. The log retains data for a rolling period—typically a few weeks to a few months—so it won’t show very old installations.

Method 2: Reading InstallHistory.plist

The InstallHistory.plist file is a structured list that’s easier to parse than raw logs. To view it:

Open Terminal.
Run: plutil -p /Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist
The output shows an array of dictionaries, each with displayName (e.g., “macOS Ventura 13.5”), processName (e.g., “installer”), installDate (a Unix timestamp), and packageIdentifiers.

To convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date, run: date -r 1690000000 (replace the number with your timestamp). This file is only updated when the Installer framework is used—so it includes macOS updates and .pkg installers, but not App Store downloads or simple drag-and-drop apps.

Where App Store and Drag-and-Drop Apps Fit In

If you need to know when you installed an app from the Mac App Store, open the App Store, click your name (bottom-left), then Purchased. The list shows all apps you’ve downloaded with your Apple ID, but it does not show dates. For drag-and-drop apps (the majority of third-party apps), there is no central record. However, you can check the app’s Date Modified in Finder:

Right-click the app in /Applications and choose Get Info.
Look at “Modified” under the General section—this usually reflects the date the app was last updated, not necessarily installed.

For a more accurate install date, check the app’s Contents/Info.plist for a CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion or the com.apple.quarantine attribute in the extended attributes, which often includes a download timestamp.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One frequent misconception is that the installation history shows every app you’ve ever installed. In reality, macOS does not log drag-and-drop app copies unless they involve system extensions or privileged helpers. Another issue is that logs in Console are not permanent—they rotate and eventually disappear. If you need a long-term record, you’d have to manually export logs or use a third-party tool.

Another problem: InstallHistory.plist may be empty if you’ve never installed a .pkg or macOS update. Also, the timestamps in the plist are in Unix epoch time, which can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the format. Finally, if you’re looking for when a specific app was first launched, that information is not stored in the installation history—you’d need to check the app’s own logs or the system’s com.apple.openscripting logs, which are rarely available.

What to Do If You Can’t Find a Record

If the installation history doesn’t show what you need, consider these alternatives:

Check Time Machine backups—if you have an older backup, you can see when the app appeared in /Applications.
Look at the app’s preferences files in ~/Library/Preferences/—their creation dates often match the first run.
Use Spotlight to search for the app, then press Command+Enter to reveal its location, and check the file’s creation date.
If you use a package manager like Homebrew, run brew list --versions to see when packages were installed (though this only covers Homebrew-managed software).

Privacy and Security Considerations

Your installation history is stored locally on your Mac and is not sent to Apple unless you explicitly share analytics. However, the InstallHistory.plist file is readable by any user with admin access, so be mindful if you share your Mac. Also, some malicious software can modify logs or clear them to hide its presence—if you suspect tampering, check the system.log for gaps or unusual entries.

When troubleshooting, the installation history can help you identify a recent update that caused problems. For example, if a printer driver stopped working after a macOS update, you can see the update’s install date in the plist and correlate it with the issue. This is a legitimate use of the data, but avoid sharing your logs publicly—they may contain app names and timestamps that reveal your habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does macOS keep a full list of all installed apps?

No. macOS only records installations done via the Installer framework (.pkg files) and system updates. Apps from the App Store are listed in your Purchased tab, but without dates. Drag-and-drop apps are not recorded at all unless they install system components.

Can I see when a specific app was installed?

If the app was installed via a .pkg, check InstallHistory.plist or search Console for the app name. For drag-and-drop apps, check the app’s creation date in Finder (Get Info) or look at the com.apple.quarantine extended attribute, which often contains the download date.

How long does the log data stay on my Mac?

Console logs are stored in a ring buffer that typically holds data for a few weeks to a few months, depending on system activity. The InstallHistory.plist file is not automatically deleted, so it can contain entries from years ago.

Is there a way to export my installation history?

You can copy the InstallHistory.plist file to another location, or use Console’s File > Export to save the current log view. For a more structured export, use a command like plutil -convert xml1 -o output.plist /Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist.

Why is my InstallHistory.plist empty?

If you’ve never installed a .pkg file or a macOS update, the file may be empty or not exist. It also won’t show App Store or drag-and-drop installs. Try checking Console logs instead for more recent activity.

Can I clear my installation history?

You can delete the InstallHistory.plist file, but it will be recreated the next time you install a .pkg. To clear Console logs, you can use the log erase command in Terminal (requires sudo), but this will also erase other system logs, which may affect diagnostics.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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