How to record a bug report video developers can use
Short answer
Record only the app that has the bug, start a few seconds before the problem, say what you expected out loud, and keep it under two minutes. In Simple Recorder use Window, 30 fps, 1080p, sound on, and a 3 second delay, then attach the MP4 to the ticket.
"It doesn't work" is the hardest bug report to act on. A short video of the bug happening answers most of the questions a developer would ask: what you clicked, what you saw, and what you expected instead.
What a good bug video shows
- Where you started. Begin a few seconds before the problem, on a screen the developer will recognize.
- Every step. Click slowly. Do not skip steps because they seem obvious.
- The problem itself. Pause on the wrong result for a second or two so it is easy to find in the video.
- What you expected. Say it out loud: "I expected the total to update here, but it stayed at zero."
- Nothing else. Close unrelated windows and keep the video short, ideally under two minutes.
Settings in Simple Recorder
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Record | Window | Only the app with the bug, so nothing private gets in |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | Smooth enough for clicks and page changes |
| Quality | 1080p | Text is readable, file stays small enough to attach |
| Sound | On | You can explain what you expected |
| Start delay | 3 sec | Time to put your cursor in place |
| Auto stop | Off | Stop when the bug has shown |
Step by step
- Open the app with the bug and get it to the screen just before the problem.
- Open Simple Recorder and click Start Recorder Bar.
- Choose Window on the bar and pick the app. Turn Sound on.
- Press Record. After the countdown, reproduce the bug while you describe it.
- Press Stop, or
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S. - Open Takes in Simple Recorder, find the recording under today's date, and attach the MP4 to the ticket, chat thread, or GitHub issue.
What to write next to the video
The video shows what happened. A few lines of text make it searchable and fill in what the video cannot show:
- What you were doing, in one sentence.
- What you expected and what happened instead.
- App version and Windows version (Windows 10 or 11).
- Whether it happens every time or only sometimes.
Common questions
How long should a bug report video be?
Under two minutes is best. Start just before the bug and stop once it has shown.
Should I record my whole screen for a bug report?
Usually not. Recording only the app's window keeps notifications and other private windows out of the video.
What file format should a bug report video be?
MP4. It plays in browsers, Slack, Teams, Discord, GitHub, and Jira without converting. Simple Recorder saves every take as MP4.