How to make a short screen clip for a bug report

A bug can be hard to explain in a message, especially if it happens only after a few steps. A short screen clip can show what you clicked, what you expected, and what appeared instead.

Use the Screen Recorder to capture a screen, window, or browser tab. A useful report does not need a long recording: prepare the steps first, record the problem once, then review the clip for private information before sharing it.

Record the bug clearly

1. Open the Screen Recorder on a computer. It does not work on phones. Decide which screen, window, or browser tab contains the issue, and close unrelated windows.
2. Prepare the bug before you start recording. Write down the shortest steps that make it happen, and return the app or page to the starting point.
3. Start a recording and choose the screen, window, or tab you want to show in the browser's capture prompt. Choose a single window or tab if that gives support enough context.
4. Show the relevant steps at a steady pace. Include the page or app area where the problem occurs, the action that triggers it, and the unexpected result. If a click or typed value matters, make it visible.
5. Stop soon after the problem appears. For many simple bugs, 10 to 30 seconds is enough. If the problem needs more setup, keep the setup steps brief and avoid recording unrelated activity.
6. Play the recording back before sending it. Check that the problem is visible and understandable, and that the clip does not show passwords, private messages, customer details, or other information that the recipient does not need.

You can include microphone audio if a brief spoken explanation is clearer than showing every step. The Screen Recorder can record with sound, microphone, and camera. For a bug report, leave the camera off unless seeing you is relevant, and do not narrate private information aloud.

Choose what the clip should show

A browser tab is enough

Select a tab when the bug happens on one website and support does not need to see other apps. This keeps the recording focused and reduces the chance of showing unrelated windows. If the problem depends on another app, a browser tab will not show that app, so choose a window or the full screen instead.

The whole screen provides useful context

Choose the full screen only when the problem crosses between apps, involves a notification, or depends on how the desktop is arranged. Before recording, close private tabs and documents, hide notifications if possible, and move sensitive information out of view.

A spoken explanation helps with timing

Use microphone audio to explain a step that is difficult to understand visually, such as “I selected this item, then the page froze.” Keep the explanation factual and short. If the bug is easy to see, silent video may be clearer and avoids picking up room conversations.

The result is not visible in the clip

The recording may have started too late, used the wrong source, or stopped before the unexpected result appeared. Make another short clip from the starting point. Do not rely on a long recording and expect the reviewer to search for the important moment.

Fix common recording problems

1. Choose the right capture source. If you select a tab, the recording will not show other windows you switch to. Start again and select the specific window or screen needed to demonstrate the issue.
2. Allow screen capture in the browser. When the browser asks what to share, select the intended screen, window, or tab and confirm sharing. If the prompt is missing, reload the page and try again. A managed work or school browser may restrict screen capture.
3. Allow microphone access only if you need narration. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and allow microphone access for the browser. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow the browser. The browser will also ask for permission before using the microphone.
4. Check macOS screen recording permission. If the browser cannot capture the screen, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and allow the browser, if it appears in the list. Then quit and reopen the browser before trying again. The exact label can vary by macOS version.
5. Close other recording or sharing sessions. Another app or browser tab may already be using screen capture. Stop that session, then try the Screen Recorder again.
6. Use a supported desktop browser. If screen capture still does not start, try a current desktop browser and check whether a work or school policy blocks it. Screen Recorder is not available on phones.

Keep the report useful and safe

Show enough context for someone else to repeat the problem, but no more than necessary. If the bug involves a form, use a test account or harmless sample data when possible. Replace real names, email addresses, order numbers, and other personal details before recording.

Describe the expected result and the actual result in the report text, even when the clip seems obvious. Add the app or website name, the device and browser if relevant, and the steps that led to the problem. The clip is evidence, not a substitute for those details.

The Screen Recorder runs in your browser, and recordings stay on your device until you choose to share them. Review the clip and its destination before sending it, especially if the report includes workplace or customer information.