diff --git a/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/GBApplication.java b/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/GBApplication.java
index f292133a..640ce2db 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/GBApplication.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/GBApplication.java
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.Lock;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
 
+import ch.qos.logback.classic.spi.ILoggingEvent;
+import ch.qos.logback.core.Appender;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.database.ActivityDatabaseHandler;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.database.DBConstants;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.database.DBHandler;
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ public class GBApplication extends Application {
     //if preferences have to be migrated, increment the following and add the migration logic in migratePrefs below; see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16397848/how-can-i-migrate-android-preferences-with-a-new-version
     private static final int CURRENT_PREFS_VERSION = 2;
     private static LimitedQueue mIDSenderLookup = new LimitedQueue(16);
+    private static Appender<ILoggingEvent> fileLogger;
 
     public static final String ACTION_QUIT
             = "nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.gbapplication.action.quit";
@@ -86,7 +89,7 @@ public class GBApplication extends Application {
 
         // don't do anything here before we set up logging, otherwise
         // slf4j may be implicitly initialized before we properly configured it.
-        setupLogging();
+        setupLogging(isFileLoggingEnabled());
 
         if (getPrefsFileVersion() != CURRENT_PREFS_VERSION) {
             migratePrefs(getPrefsFileVersion());
@@ -122,32 +125,68 @@ public class GBApplication extends Application {
         return sharedPrefs.getBoolean("log_to_file", false);
     }
 
-    private void setupLogging() {
-        if (isFileLoggingEnabled()) {
-            try {
+    public static void setupLogging(boolean enable) {
+        try {
+            if (fileLogger == null) {
                 File dir = FileUtils.getExternalFilesDir();
                 // used by assets/logback.xml since the location cannot be statically determined
                 System.setProperty("GB_LOGFILES_DIR", dir.getAbsolutePath());
-                getLogger().info("Gadgetbridge version: " + BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME);
-            } catch (IOException ex) {
-                Log.e("GBApplication", "External files dir not available, cannot log to file", ex);
-                removeFileLogger();
+                rememberFileLogger();
             }
-        } else {
-            removeFileLogger();
+            if (enable) {
+                startFileLogger();
+            } else {
+                stopFileLogger();
+            }
+            getLogger().info("Gadgetbridge version: " + BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME);
+        } catch (IOException ex) {
+            Log.e("GBApplication", "External files dir not available, cannot log to file", ex);
+            stopFileLogger();
         }
     }
 
-    private void removeFileLogger() {
+    private static void startFileLogger() {
+        if (fileLogger != null && !fileLogger.isStarted()) {
+            addFileLogger(fileLogger);
+            fileLogger.start();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void stopFileLogger() {
+        if (fileLogger != null && fileLogger.isStarted()) {
+            fileLogger.stop();
+            removeFileLogger(fileLogger);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void rememberFileLogger() {
+        ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger root = (ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger) LoggerFactory.getLogger(Logger.ROOT_LOGGER_NAME);
+        fileLogger = root.getAppender("FILE");
+    }
+
+    private static void addFileLogger(Appender<ILoggingEvent> fileLogger) {
         try {
             ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger root = (ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger) LoggerFactory.getLogger(Logger.ROOT_LOGGER_NAME);
-            root.detachAppender("FILE");
+            if (!root.isAttached(fileLogger)) {
+                root.addAppender(fileLogger);
+            }
         } catch (Throwable ex) {
             Log.e("GBApplication", "Error removing logger FILE appender", ex);
         }
     }
 
-    private Logger getLogger() {
+    private static void removeFileLogger(Appender<ILoggingEvent> fileLogger) {
+        try {
+            ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger root = (ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger) LoggerFactory.getLogger(Logger.ROOT_LOGGER_NAME);
+            if (root.isAttached(fileLogger)) {
+                root.detachAppender(fileLogger);
+            }
+        } catch (Throwable ex) {
+            Log.e("GBApplication", "Error removing logger FILE appender", ex);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static Logger getLogger() {
         return LoggerFactory.getLogger(GBApplication.class);
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/activities/SettingsActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/activities/SettingsActivity.java
index d541af9c..c8bfe835 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/activities/SettingsActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/nodomain/freeyourgadget/gadgetbridge/activities/SettingsActivity.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import android.widget.Toast;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.GBApplication;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.R;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.devices.miband.MiBandPreferencesActivity;
 import nodomain.freeyourgadget.gadgetbridge.util.FileUtils;
@@ -88,16 +89,18 @@ public class SettingsActivity extends AbstractSettingsActivity {
         pref.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener() {
             @Override
             public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference preference, Object newVal) {
-                if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(newVal)) {
-                    try {
+                boolean doEnable = Boolean.TRUE.equals(newVal);
+                try {
+                    if (doEnable) {
                         FileUtils.getExternalFilesDir(); // ensures that it is created
-                    } catch (IOException ex) {
-                        GB.toast(getApplicationContext(),
-                                getString(R.string.error_creating_directory_for_logfiles, ex.getLocalizedMessage()),
-                                Toast.LENGTH_LONG,
-                                GB.ERROR,
-                                ex);
                     }
+                    GBApplication.setupLogging(doEnable);
+                } catch (IOException ex) {
+                    GB.toast(getApplicationContext(),
+                            getString(R.string.error_creating_directory_for_logfiles, ex.getLocalizedMessage()),
+                            Toast.LENGTH_LONG,
+                            GB.ERROR,
+                            ex);
                 }
                 return true;
             }
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml
index f9665cef..56557e6d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Name/Alias</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Anzahl der Vibrationen</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Schlafmonitor</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Log-Dateien schreiben (Neustart erforderlich)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Log-Dateien schreiben</string>
   <string name="initializing">initialisiere</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Hole Aktivitätsdaten</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Von %1$s bis %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml
index f4e48054..6dc1e3cc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Nombre/Apodo</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Número de vibraciones</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Monitor de sueño</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Guardar logs (requiere reiniciar)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Guardar logs</string>
   <string name="initializing">iniciando</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Recuperando datos de actividad</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Desde %1$s a %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml
index 0d578e24..5df0e5f7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Nom/Pseudo</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Nombre de vibrations</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Moniteur de sommeil</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Écrire les fichiers journaux (redémarrage requis)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Écrire les fichiers journaux</string>
   <string name="initializing">Initialisation</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Récupération des données d\'activité</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">De %1$s à %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml
index fa3cd0d7..14f87afb 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Nome / Soprannome</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Numero vibrazioni</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Monitoraggio del sonno</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Salva il log su file (richiede riavvio)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Salva il log su file</string>
   <string name="initializing">inizializzazione in corso</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Recupero dati attività</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Da %1$s a %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-ja/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-ja/strings.xml
index 6cf3ba01..3dd91611 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-ja/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-ja/strings.xml
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">名前/別名</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">バイブレーション回数</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">睡眠観測</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">ログファイルを出力 (再起動が必要)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">ログファイルを出力</string>
   <string name="initializing">初期化中</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">活動データを取得中</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">%1$sから%2$sまで</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-ko/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-ko/strings.xml
index 407990cd..e8cf584d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-ko/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-ko/strings.xml
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">이름/별명</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">진동 횟수</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">수면 측정계</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">기록 파일 작성 (재시작 필요)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">기록 파일 작성</string>
   <string name="initializing">초기화 중</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">활동 데이터 가져오는 중</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">%1$s에서 %2$s(으)로</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml
index 1047a982..f1748748 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Nazwisko/Pseudonim</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Liczba wibracji</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Monitor snu</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Zapisuj logi (wymaga restartu)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Zapisuj logi</string>
   <string name="initializing">Uruchamianie</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Pobieranie danych aktywności</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Od %1$s do %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
index 6b444aec..1531fe66 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Имя/псевдоним</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Количество вибраций</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Анализ сна</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Записывать  файлы журнала (нужен перезапуск)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Записывать  файлы журнала</string>
   <string name="initializing">Инициализация</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Получение данных активности</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">От %1$s до %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-tr/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-tr/strings.xml
index 3e58a5bf..58421a74 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-tr/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-tr/strings.xml
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
     <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Titreşim adedi</string>
 
     <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Uyku Monitörü</string>
-    <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Kütük dosyalarını yaz (yeniden başlatmak gerekir)</string>
+    <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Kütük dosyalarını yaz</string>
     <string name="initializing">başlatılıyor</string>
     <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Aktivite verisi alınıyor</string>
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-uk/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-uk/strings.xml
index d0aac7a8..66d1f3f6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-uk/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-uk/strings.xml
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Ім\'я/нік</string>
   <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Кількість вібрацій</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Аналіз сну</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Записувати файли звіту (потрібен перезапуск)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Записувати файли звіту</string>
   <string name="initializing">Ініціалізація…</string>
   <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Отримання даних активності</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Від %1$s до %2$s</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-vi/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-vi/strings.xml
index 9d059902..af3de63c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-vi/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-vi/strings.xml
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
   <string name="candidate_item_device_image">Ảnh thiết bị</string>
   <string name="miband_prefs_alias">Tên/Bí danh</string>
   <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Trình giám sát giấc ngủ</string>
-  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Ghi tập tin nhật ký (cần khởi động lại)</string>
+  <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Ghi tập tin nhật ký</string>
   <string name="initializing">đang khởi chạy</string>
   <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">Từ %1$s đến %2$s</string>
   <string name="miband_prefs_wearside">Đeo bên trái hay phải?</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 5f43f764..1df50a7a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
     <string name="pref_header_vibration_count">Vibration Count</string>
 
     <string name="title_activity_sleepmonitor">Sleep Monitor</string>
-    <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Write Log Files (needs restart)</string>
+    <string name="pref_write_logfiles">Write Log Files</string>
     <string name="initializing">initializing</string>
     <string name="busy_task_fetch_activity_data">Fetching Activity Data</string>
     <string name="sleep_activity_date_range">From %1$s to %2$s</string>