Where to find the PSM installation log in Windows: the AppData Local Temp folder

Finding the PSM installation log: a simple guide you can trust

If you’ve ever stepped through a CyberArk Sentry deployment, you know the drill: you click through prompts, watch progress bars, and—after it’s done—hope everything lined up nicely. The real truth-teller in those moments is the installation log. It’s the detailed diary of what happened, when, and where things might have gone off the rails. And for PSM (Privileged Session Manager), that log is particularly helpful when you need to confirm a clean setup or troubleshoot a hiccup without pulling your hair out.

Where the PSM installation log lives, exactly

Here’s the practical answer you’ll want to remember:

• The PSM installation log is stored in the user’s temporary files folder, specifically at:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp

Yes, that’s A in the multiple-choice you might have seen: the per-user temporary directory. The reason this location pops up so often is simple: installers use temporary space to stash progress data, error messages, and status events during the setup. It’s a convenient, non-intrusive place to write logs without demanding extra permissions—that’s a win for a smooth installation experience.

Let me explain why this folder, why not somewhere else

Think about it this way: installers want to be respectful of user context. If a setup writes logs into a system-wide area, it might require elevated rights or create permissions headaches for обычных users. By dumping logs into the per-user Temp folder, the installer can keep things lean and accessible. After the install completes, you’ve still got a clear trail to review if anything didn’t go as planned.

That’s also why you’ll hear about other log locations, too—because once the PSM is installed, the day-to-day logs look a little different.

• C:\Program Files\CyberArk (and subfolders like C:\Program Files\CyberArk\Logs): These locations are generally where the application stores its runtime data and ongoing logs. They reflect post-install activity rather than the setup process itself.

• C:\CyberArk\Logs: Some environments use dedicated CyberArk log directories for ongoing operations, audits, and troubleshooting. These files are about how the software behaves after it’s installed, not how the installer worked.

• C:\Windows\Temp: This is a system-wide temporary space. It’s more about background processes and broader system tasks than a single user’s installer session.

If you’re troubleshooting a PSM install, you’ll often start in the user’s Local Temp folder and then branch out to these other locations if you don’t find the installation details there.

How to actually get to the log without pulling your hair out

Let’s make this concrete. Here are quick, no-nonsense steps to locate and read the PSM install log on a Windows machine:

• Open the Run dialog (Windows key + R) and type %LOCALAPPDATA%\Temp, then press Enter. This instantly takes you to the per-user temporary folder.

• Look for files that have install-related names or timestamps around the moment you ran the PSM installer. Common patterns include terms like “install,” “setup,” or “PSM” in the filename.

• If you don’t see something obvious, sort by date and check the files created during the installer session. A log file may be a plain .log or sometimes a .txt—don’t assume it’s missing just because the name isn’t crystal clear.

• If you still can’t locate it, search the entire C: drive for keywords like “PSM,” “Install,” or “CyberArk” using Windows Search. You can also scan the Windows Event Viewer for installer-related events, though the event logs won’t always contain the full installation narrative.

What the log typically shows and why it matters

The PSM installation log is your narrative of the install. It captures:

• Steps the installer attempted to perform

• Time stamps for each action

• Any warnings or non-fatal issues

• Explicit error messages if something failed

• Confirmation lines that indicate a successful completion

Reading through the log isn’t about computer spotting; it’s about pattern recognition. If you see repeated errors, missing prerequisites, or permissions denials, you’ve got a clear signal to re-check those prerequisites or run the installer with the right privileges. If you see a “Completed successfully” line, that’s your green light.

A few practical tips for interpreting logs without getting lost

• Use a text search for keywords like Error, Warning, or Failed. They’re your red flags.

• Pay attention to timestamps. They help you correlate events with your actions and identify exactly when things changed.

• Look for entries specific to PSM components. If you see “PSM” or “Privileged Session Manager” in the entries, you know you’re looking at the right thread.

• Don’t panic over a single minor warning. Some installers log non-critical warnings as a form of caution. If nothing else looks off, you’re probably fine.

• If you need to share logs with a teammate or support, copy the relevant chunk that shows the sequence of installation steps and any errors, along with the final success line.

Beyond the initial install: what happens to those logs later

After the installation settles in, the per-user Temp folder isn’t where you’ll live with those logs forever. They’re part of a transient workspace, often cleaned up over time. If you expect to revisit them later, a good habit is to:

• Copy the install log to a dedicated folder or a ticketing system right after installation

• Rename the file with a date and host name for easy retrieval (for example, PSM_Install_2025-10-29_Host01.log)

• Archive important logs in a long-term storage location so they don’t vanish during a cleanup sweep

This approach keeps your troubleshooting trail intact and makes audits or post-install checks straightforward.

Common scenarios you might encounter (and how logs help)

• Scenario 1: The installer stalls at a certain percentage. The log will reveal whether it’s waiting on a pre-check, downloading a component, or waiting for a service to start. The timestamp line will help you pinpoint the exact phase and investigate the root cause (permissions, firewall rules, or missing dependencies).

• Scenario 2: A prerequisite isn’t met. The log usually contains a clear message like “Prerequisite failed: .NET version mismatch” or “SQL client not found.” That’s your cue to install or update the required component before re-running the installer.

• Scenario 3: A service won’t start after install. Logs often show “Service failed to start” with a code or a description that points you toward event logs or service permissions. You’ll know where to focus next.

• Scenario 4: Post-install integration hiccups. If PSM tries to register with a vault or policy server and runs into connectivity issues, the install log combined with runtime logs in C:\Program Files\CyberArk\Logs will reveal the full story.

Practical tips to keep things tidy (without becoming an overachiever)

• Don’t rely on memory. When you finish a PSM installation, take a moment to locate and save the install log. A quick copy-and-rename can save hours later.

• Keep a simple, consistent naming scheme for logs across servers. It makes cross-machine comparisons painless.

• If you’re scripting installations, consider a small post-install step to collect the relevant log files to a shared location for easy reference.

A friendly reminder about context and nuance

Every environment is a little different. The exact file names within the temp folder aren’t guaranteed to be identical across every PSM deployment, and some organizations use custom paths or additional logging layers. The core idea stays the same, though: the user-specific temporary directory (C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp) is the starting point for the PSM install log. If that folder doesn’t yield answers, you’re equipped to look at runtime logs in the usual CyberArk locations and still arrive at a clear, actionable understanding of what happened during setup.

Bringing it all together

If you’re working through a CyberArk Sentry deployment, the installation log is your first and most honest witness to the process. It lives in the per-user Temp folder, waiting to tell you whether the PSM installation sailed through or where a snag appeared. It’s not glamorous, but it’s incredibly practical. And with a little know-how, you can read it like a map—finding the right path to a successful setup without unnecessary detours.

So next time you embark on a PSM installation, bookmark that Temp folder in your mind (and maybe on your desktop). You’ll thank yourself later when you need to confirm a clean install, diagnose a hiccup, or simply reassure a teammate that everything lined up as it should. After all, those logs aren’t just files—they’re the quiet record of a careful, deliberate setup that keeps your privileged access smoothly guarded.