How to Enable Step Debug Logging in GitHub Actions

Setting ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG to true surfaces the debug() messages that actions emit but the normal log hides.

Add a repository secret or variable named ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG with value true, then re-run the workflow. The log now includes ##[debug] lines from every action.

Steps

• Open Settings then Secrets and variables then Actions.
• Add a repository (or environment) variable ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG set to true.
• Re-run the failed run; the expanded steps now show ##[debug] output.

Set it from the gh CLI

gh variable set ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG --body true
# remove it once you are done to keep logs clean
gh variable delete ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG

Gotchas

• A repository variable works, but a secret of the same name also works and is what older docs reference.
• Step debug logging only affects new runs; re-run the workflow after setting it.
• It does not enable runner diagnostic logs; set ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG for those.

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