MacOS 15.4 removes rsync —log-file option?

Developer Tools & Services General
secondstagerob OP
Created Apr ’25
Replies 7
Boosts 2
Views 988
Participants 5

I installed MacOS Sequoia 15.4 and now my backup script no longer works.

My script is using rsync in this way: rsync -avz —delete —log-file=“$LOG_FILE” “$SRC_DIR” “$DEST_DIR”

This has been working fine for a very long time.

After updating to 15.4, this produces the error “rsync: unrecognized action —log-file=/users/admin/logs/backuplog_***.log”.

The log file path is correct (and hasn’t changed).

Interestingly, the man page for rsync no longer shows the —log-file as an option.

I know I can use: rsync -avz —delete “$SRC_DIR” “$DEST_DIR” > “$LOG_FILE”`

or even rsync -avz —delete “$SRC_DIR” “$DEST_DIR” > “$LOG_FILE” 2>&1`

to also capture stderr.

However, I liked the output from the built-In log option.

Does anyone know why this might have been removed or if there is a way to get it back?

Thanks.

Answered by secondstagerob in 845896022

Just coming back to this. It’s been fixed in macOS 15.6 beta and also in Tahoe.

Replies  7
Boosts  2
Views  988
Participants  5
MPR3 OP
Apr ’25

I am experiencing the same problem. All my automation scripts are now broken. This is absolutely terrible. When will it be fixed?

1
sql2sec OP
Apr ’25

I am using the older Intel based Mac so I checked my version of rsync --version which returned the 2.6.9 version.
So, I installed rsync via Homebrew and then did brew --prefix rsync which gave me the directory of /usr/local/opt/rsync. Then I found the executable at /usr/local/opt/rsync/bin/rsync.

I changed my scripts then to use that full path instead of just rsync. In your example I would then use: /usr/local/opt/rsync/bin/rsync -avz —delete —log-file=“$LOG_FILE” “$SRC_DIR” “$DEST_DIR” OR /opt/homebrew/bin/rsync -avz —delete —log-file=“$LOG_FILE” “$SRC_DIR” “$DEST_DIR” if you are using Apple Silicon.

Hope this helps.

0
markatlnk OP
Apr ’25

I am running a mac studio M2 Ultra and have been running the same backup script for years. After updating to 15.4, rsync now gives an unexpected end of file error and *****. Checking the version of rsync, it is also 2.6.9

0
markatlnk OP
Apr ’25

I solved it by just running: brew install rsync The brew path is searched first so it now functions as expected. Odd that the version is still 2.6.9.

0
DTS Engineer OP
Apple
Apr ’25

So, yeah, macOS 15.4 does include a significant revision to the built-in rsync. If that’s causing you grief, I encourage you to file a bug about the specific problem you’re having. Please post your bug number, just for the record.

Share and Enjoy
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Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

1
secondstagerob OP
Apr ’25

I filed feedback: FB17130207.

I sure hope this gets addressed.

From above, I realize that I could install a different version of rsync, but for my purposes, I’d really like to stick with the built-in version.

0
secondstagerob OP
Jun ’25
Recommended

Just coming back to this. It’s been fixed in macOS 15.6 beta and also in Tahoe.

0
MacOS 15.4 removes rsync —log-file option?
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