# Exporting the email log

Source: https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/export-the-log/
Updated: 2026-10-19 · By Duane Garner

Download the email log as a CSV file to open in a spreadsheet, share with your team or keep as a record.

You can download the whole email log as a CSV file and open it in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers or any other spreadsheet. This article explains how, what the file contains, and what to keep in mind. It is for administrators who need a record outside WordPress, or want to analyse their email in a spreadsheet.

 

## Download the file

 
1. Open the log
  Go to **CRM-NG SMTP → Settings → Email Log**.
2. Press Export CSV
  The button sits next to **Filter**, above the list of emails.
3. Save the file
  Your browser downloads a file named like `crm-ng-smtp-log-2026-10-17.csv`. The date is today's date in UTC.

 

> **The export always includes everything:** The CSV contains every entry currently in the log, newest first. The status menu and search box do **not** limit the export. If you only need some rows, filter them in your spreadsheet after you open the file.

 

## What the file contains

 

One row per logged email, with these columns:

 

| Column | Contents |
| --- | --- |
| Date (UTC) | When the email was sent, in UTC, not your site's time zone |
| Status | sent, sent-backup, failed, blocked or pending |
| Mailer | The mailer's short name, such as sendgrid, smtp or smtp-backup-route |
| From | The sending address |
| To | Main recipients, separated by commas |
| Subject | The subject line |
| Error | The error text, if the email failed or went to the backup |
| Opens | Total open requests counted for the email |
| Clicks | Total link clicks counted for the email |

 

The file does not include message bodies, headers, attachments, CC or BCC addresses, or delivery status. **Opens** and **Clicks** are total counts. The **Unique opens / clicks** figures you see on screen are not in the file.

 

## Opening it in a spreadsheet

 

The file is UTF-8 with a header row. Most spreadsheets open it with a double-click. If accented letters look wrong in Excel, use **Data → From Text/CSV** and choose UTF-8.

 

You may notice that some cells start with an apostrophe (`'`). CRM-NG SMTP adds it in front of any value that begins with `=`, `+`, `-` or `@`. This stops a spreadsheet from treating a subject line or address as a formula, which protects you from booby-trapped content. You can remove the apostrophe safely if you need the original text.

 

## Who can export

 

Only users who can manage CRM-NG SMTP settings see the button. Each download is protected by a security token, so the link cannot be reused by someone else.

 

## Handle the file with care

 

The export holds email addresses and subject lines. These can count as personal data, and subjects sometimes reveal private details, such as "Your test results are ready".

 
- Store the file somewhere access-controlled.
- Delete it when you no longer need it.
- Do not email it around more widely than you need to.
- Check your privacy policy covers keeping this information.

 

> **Keeping a long-term record:** The log only keeps entries for the number of days in **Retention**. If you must keep records longer, export on a regular schedule, for example on the first of each month, and store the files safely.

 

## Related

 
- [Viewing the email log](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/viewing-the-email-log/)
- [Searching and filtering the email log](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/search-and-filter-the-log/)
- [Retention and deleting log entries](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/log-retention-and-deleting/)
- [Email reports](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/email-reports/)
- [What the plugin stores and sends](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/privacy-and-data/)