> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.helix-db.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# helix logs

> For the complete documentation index optimized for AI agents, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

View logs for a local or Helix Cloud instance.

* For **local** instances, logs come from `docker logs` / `podman logs`.
* For **Helix Cloud** instances, logs are fetched over a time range from Helix Cloud and require `helix auth login`.

## Usage

```bash theme={"languages":{"custom":["languages/helixql.json"]}}
helix logs [INSTANCE] [OPTIONS]
```

## Arguments

| Argument   | Description                                                                                                                          |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `INSTANCE` | Instance name. If omitted in a TTY with multiple instances, the CLI prompts. Defaults to `dev` when present and no prompt is needed. |

## Available flags

| Flag             | Type               | Description                                                                     | Default              |
| ---------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| `-f`, `--follow` | Boolean            | Stream live logs. **Local only** — rejected for Helix Cloud instances.          | `false`              |
| `-r`, `--range`  | Boolean            | Query historical logs from Helix Cloud over a time range. **Helix Cloud only**. | `false`              |
| `--start`        | RFC 3339 timestamp | Start of the range. Requires `--range`.                                         | `--end` minus 1 hour |
| `--end`          | RFC 3339 timestamp | End of the range. Requires `--range`.                                           | Now (UTC)            |

`--range`, `--start`, and `--end` are rejected for local instances with:

```
--range, --start, and --end are only supported for Enterprise logs;
local logs use docker/podman logs
```

`--follow` against a Helix Cloud instance is rejected with:

```
live Enterprise logs are not supported yet; use --range instead
```

## Examples

```bash theme={"languages":{"custom":["languages/helixql.json"]}}
# Dump local container logs once
helix logs dev

# Stream local logs
helix logs dev --follow

# Last hour of Helix Cloud logs (defaults: end=now, start=end-1h)
helix logs production --range

# Fixed Helix Cloud log range
helix logs production \
  --range \
  --start 2026-05-12T10:00:00Z \
  --end   2026-05-12T11:00:00Z
```