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Get the Raw WMS Request Generated by QGIS

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Jeff McKenna edited this page May 28, 2026 · 22 revisions

How to open the Network Logger in QGIS

  • since QGIS Pi / 3.14 you just press F12 on your keyboard to open the "Debugging/Development Tools" panel (no plugins needed!)

    • click on the "Network Logger" icon on the left-side of that panel
    • make sure to click on the "Record Log" button in the top of that panel

  • from QGIS 3.6 upto 3.14 you would use the "QGIS Network Logger" plugin: https://plugins.qgis.org/plugins/qgisnetworklogger/

    • once you install the plugin, you can open it through the menu: Plugins / QGIS Network Logger

Screencapture of Network Logger in action

QGIS Network Logger (thanks RichardD !)

  • Or, here is an alternative method to capture requests:

    • download and install the software "Fiddler" (Google will help you find its current download location)
    • start Fiddler and leave it running
    • in QGIS goto /Settings/Options/Network
    • click on "Use proxy for web access"
    • for Proxy Type select "HttpProxy"
    • for Host enter: 127.0.0.1
    • for Port enter: 8888
    • presss "ok" button
    • now Add a WMS/WFS/WCS layer in QGIS again, but watch the Fiddler window
    • click on the request in Fiddler (such as GetCapabilities, GetMap, or GetCoverage)
    • to see the full requested url in Fiddler, check the 'Inspector' tab, and then select 'Raw'
    • then you can copy the raw url into a new browser window, load it, and examine the error and the url parameters

This is a handy trick especially when debugging MapServer services. (beware that QGIS caches the service though, see previous warnings by me for that).

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