Skip to content

How to Record and Capture Every Step You Take and Click in Windows – Problem Steps Recorder

Have you ever wondered how to record all the steps that you went through to get to an error in a program you are using on Windows? There is an app for that! Like, literally, though! Microsoft shares the following guide on their support page.

Pro-Tip: What is cool is that you can use this application to record the steps on how to use a new piece of software to your friend or family member who asks. And if you are in enterprise, this is a handy tool for designing a Standard Operating Procedure manual.

To record and save steps on your computer

  1. To open Steps Recorder, select the Startbutton, and then select Windows Accessories > Steps Recorder (in Windows 10), or Accessories > Problem Steps Recorder (in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1).
  2. Select Start Record.
  3. Go through the steps to reproduce the problem you’re trying to diagnose. You can pause and resume the recording at any time.
  4. (Optional) As you record, select Add Comment, use your mouse to select the part of the screen that you want to comment on, type your comment, and then select OK.
  5. When you’re done, select Stop Record.
  6. Review the record of the steps you followed to make sure it shows what you want it to show. Select Save, name the .zip file, choose where to save it, and then select Save. Now you can attach and send this .zip file to the person helping you troubleshoot the problem on your PC. It can be viewed in any web browser.

To adjust settings

  1. In Steps Recorder, select the down arrow next to the Help button, and then select Settings.
  2. You can change the following:
    • Output location.If you don’t want to be prompted for a location and file name every time you save a file, select Browse to set a default location and file name.
    • Enable screen capture.Select No if you don’t want to capture screen shots—for example, if the screen might reveal personal information that you don’t want to share. The app will still record a text description of your steps.
    • Number of recent screen captures to store.The default is 25 screens, so if you need to record more than that, increase this number.

Please note that this application will not record text that you type in fields, some programs will not work with this app if they fill up the screen, the settings you make for your new recording will not be permanent. When you close the Steps Recorder or Problem Steps Recorder app, the settings you made for the session will be lost.

If your Windows System does not have this app or if there are functionalities you need, the site alternative to suggests some options.