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How to Record a Bug Report Video on Mac

Updated November 13, 2026 · By KIM YOOGEON, maker of Quibble

A short video often explains a bug better than a paragraph of text. The developer sees what you clicked and what happened, and does not have to guess. This guide shows how to record one on a Mac with the free built-in tool, and how to turn spoken feedback into notes with Quibble.

What a good bug report video contains

Keep it short, one bug per video. Cover five things:

  1. Where you are. Show the page or screen, and say its name.
  2. What you expected. One sentence.
  3. The steps. Do them slowly, and say each one as you go.
  4. What happened instead. Show the problem, and say what you see.
  5. Context. Say the app version, the macOS version and the date, or show them on screen, if the developer will ask.

Write the same facts in the ticket as text. A video is easier to understand, but text is easier to search.

Before you record

  • Close notifications and windows you do not need.
  • Make sure no private data is on screen: names, emails, tokens, other tabs.
  • Reproduce the bug once without recording, so you know the steps.
  • Make the window large and the text readable.
  • Decide whether to talk. A voice saves typing, and the developer hears your intent.

Method 1: The built-in Mac tool (free)

  1. Press Shift-Command-5 to open the toolbar.
  2. Choose Record Entire Screen, Record Selected Portion or Record Selected Window. Selected window needs macOS Tahoe 26 or later.
  3. Click Options. Choose a Microphone if you want to talk. You can also turn on Show Mouse Clicks, so the developer sees where you clicked.
  4. Click Record.
  5. Reproduce the bug and describe it.
  6. Click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc.

The file is saved as a .mov, by default to your desktop. A thumbnail appears in the corner, and you can click it to edit the recording. These steps come from Apple's guide, linked below.

What it does not do: it does not add captions, mark moments, or turn what you say into notes. For a long recording, the developer has to watch the whole video to find the problem. A tip: say the time out loud, such as "at 0:20 the page freezes," or put the timestamps in the ticket.

Method 2: Quibble (notes from what you say)

Quibble is a Mac screen recorder that keeps notes while you record. There is no mode to turn on: with the microphone on, point at something and say what is wrong. Each remark becomes a note with a timestamp and a thumbnail. With a license, Quibble also cuts a short clip for each note.

  1. Open Quibble and press Option-Command-R to start recording. Your microphone is recorded by default.
  2. Use the app. When you hit the problem, point at it with the mouse and say what is wrong.
  3. If you misspoke, say just "cancel" within 5 seconds of the note appearing. Quibble turns that note off; it stays in the list, marked off, and you can turn it back on.
  4. Stop. The editor opens, and your notes are there.
  5. Cut dull parts if you want: press B for the Split tool and click the timeline, press B again, select the part and press Delete.
  6. Your notes are saved automatically as Markdown, CSV and JSON files in the recording's folder. Click Show in Finder in the Notes tab to open them.
  7. Press Done Editing to save the video as MP4 (this step needs a license).

Recording, notes, editing and previewing are free. Saving the video and exporting need a license ($7.99 per month, $79 per year or $129 once, 14-day refund). Quibble needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 15 or later.

Captions are made on your Mac a few seconds after you stop, in English or Korean. Recordings, audio and notes stay on your Mac.

If you also want a highlight on what you point at, hold ⌘ and move the mouse to draw a yellow highlight into the video. Rough circles and boxes snap into clean shapes. See our guide to highlighting the mouse pointer in a Mac screen recording.

What Quibble does not do

  • No share links or cloud upload. You send the MP4 or the exported notes yourself, for example by attaching them to a ticket.
  • No team plan. One license covers one Mac.
  • No built-in link to a ticket tool. Notes are saved as Markdown, CSV and JSON files that you attach or paste yourself.
  • Captions in English and Korean only.

How to send the video

  • Attach the file to the ticket if your tracker allows the size.
  • Paste the Markdown notes into the ticket description, so the steps are searchable.
  • Say what is in the video in one line, for example: "Checkout button does nothing after step 3."
  • If your team shares by link, upload to the service your team already uses.

Giving feedback with screen recording (not only bugs)

The same approach works for design reviews and product feedback. Record while you click through, and say what you like and what is confusing. In Quibble, spoken remarks become notes in every recording. For a recording that explains how something works, see how to record a tutorial video on Mac.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a bug report video be?

Short enough to show one bug. We have no data on an ideal length.

Should I add a voiceover?

Usually yes. It tells the developer what you expected. If you cannot talk, add a text description in the ticket.

Can the built-in Mac recorder do this?

It records the screen and a microphone, and can show mouse clicks. It does not make notes or captions.

Does Quibble send my bug report anywhere?

No. Quibble does not upload recordings, and it has no share links. You send the file or the exported notes.

How do I record a bug report when it only happens sometimes?

Start recording before you try, and keep going until the bug appears. Then cut the quiet parts. In Quibble, the Split tool (B) and Delete remove the dull parts.

Sources

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