Bug reports and QA

Record a bug report a developer can actually fix

Narrate what you were doing while you do it, so the recording carries the steps instead of just the symptom.

~45sec to do
macOS, Windows

Most bug reports arrive as a sentence and a screenshot. The person fixing it cannot see what you clicked, what you expected, or whether it happens every time, so the first reply is always a list of questions. Recording the attempt answers those questions before they get asked.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Start a recording with your microphone on

    Pick the window or the region rather than the whole screen, so nothing private ends up in the frame.

  2. 2

    Say what you expect to happen before you click

    One sentence is enough. It gives whoever watches it the intent, not just the actions.

  3. 3

    Reproduce the bug, then keep going for two more seconds

    Stopping the instant it breaks often cuts off the error message.

  4. 4

    Stop the recording and paste the link

    The share link is on your clipboard as soon as the recording ends.

What you end up with

A link that shows the steps, the failure, and your narration of what you expected. Paste it into an issue, a Slack thread, or a reply to support.

Questions

Should I record the whole screen or just the window?

Just the window, unless the bug involves more than one. Full-screen recordings tend to catch notifications, tabs, and anything else you had open.

Do I have to talk?

No, but it is the difference between a recording that shows a symptom and one that explains a problem. If you would rather not, add a sentence of context alongside the link.

Try it yourself

QuickSnip is free to start. Record or snap, and the link is on your clipboard before the window closes.

Download QuickSnip

Next

How to Record a Bug Report (Steps Developers Can Follow)