Step Recorder

Steps Recorder is a tool available in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 that helps you document an issue with your computer so someone else can help you troubleshoot it and figure out what’s wrong, a program that helps you troubleshoot a problem on your device by recording the exact steps you took when the problem occurred. You can then send this record to a support professional to help them diagnose the problem.. 

Notes

• Steps Recorder doesn’t record text that you type (such as a password), except for function and shortcut keys.
• Some programs, like a full-screen game, might not be captured accurately.

With Steps Recorder, formerly called Problem Steps Recorder or PSR, a recording is made of the actions you take on your computer which you can then send to the person or group helping you with your computer problem. 

Making a recording with Steps Recorder is extremely easy to do which is a major reason it’s such a valuable tool. There have always been programs that could record your screen but Microsoft has made this process very easy and specific to problem-helping. 

How long it takes to use Steps Recorder depends almost entirely on how long of a recording you’re making but most will probably be less than a few minutes in length. 

Task Recorder: 

How to Use Steps Recorder 

1. Tap or click on the Start button, or open Run via WIN+R or the Power User Menu. 

2. Type the following command in the search or Run box and then hit the Enterkey or press the OK button. 
    

psr  

Unfortunately, Steps Recorder/Problem Steps Recorder is not available in operating systems prior to Windows 7. This, of course, includes Windows Vista and Windows XP. 

3. Steps Recorder should start immediately. Remember, prior to Windows 10 this program is called Problem Steps Recorder but is otherwise identical. 
    

This is an unusually small, rectangular program (as shown in the screenshot above) and it often appears near the top of the screen. It could be easy to miss depending on what you already have open and running on your computer. 

4. Close any open windows other than Steps Recorder. 

Steps Recorder will make screenshots of what’s on your computer screen and include those in the recording you save and then send off for support. Unrelated open programs in the screenshots could be distracting. 

5. Before you start the recording, think about the process involved in producing whatever issue you’re trying to demonstrate. 

• For example, if you’re seeing an error message when saving a new Microsoft Word document, you would want to make sure you’re ready to open Word, type a few words, navigate to the menu, save the document, and then, hopefully, see the error message pop up on the screen. 
• In other words, you should be prepared to properly reproduce whatever problem you’re seeing so Steps Recorder can catch it in action. 

6. Tap or click the Start Record button in Steps Recorder. Another way to start recording is to hit the Alt+A hotkey with your keyboard, but this only works if Steps Recorder is “active” (i.e. it was the last program you clicked on). 
    

Steps Recorder will now log information and take a screenshot every time you complete an action, like a mouse click, finger tap, program opening or closing, etc. 

You can tell when Steps Recorder is recording when the Start Record button changes to a Pause Record button and the title bar reads Steps Recorder - Recording Now. 

7. Complete whatever steps necessary to show the problem you’re having. 

Note: If you need to pause the recording for some reason, tap or click the Pause Record button. Press Resume Record to restart the recording. 

During a recording, you can also press the Add Comment button to highlight a section of your screen and manually add a comment. This is really useful if you’d like to point out something specific that’s occurring on the screen to the person who’s helping you out. 

8. Click or tap the Stop Record button in Steps Recorder to stop recording your actions. 

9. Once stopped, you’ll see the results of the recording in a report that appears below the original Steps Recorder window. 
    

In early versions of Problem Steps Recorder, you may be first prompted to save the recorded steps. If so, in the File name: textbox on the Save As window that appears, give a name to this recording and then press the Save button. Skip to Step 11. 

10. Assuming the recording looks helpful, and you don’t see anything sensitive in the screenshots like passwords or payment information, it’s time to save the recording. 

• Tap or click Save and then, in the File name: textbox on the Save As window that appears next, name the recording and then tap or click Save. 

A single ZIP file containing all of the information recorded by Steps Recorder will be created and saved to your Desktop unless you chose a different location. 

11. You can now close Steps Recorder. 

12. The only thing left to do is get the file you saved in Step 10 to the person or group helping you out with your problem. 

• Depending on who’s helping you (and what kind of problem you’re having right now), options for getting the Steps Recorder file to someone might include: 

• Attaching the file to an email and sending it to tech support, your computer expert friend, etc. 

13. Copying the file to a network share or flash drive. 

14. Attaching the file to a forum post and asking for help. 

15. Uploading the file to a file sharing service and linking to it when asking for help online. 

More Help With Steps Recorder 

If you’re planning a complicated or lengthy recording (specifically, more than 25 clicks/taps or keyboard actions), consider increasing the number of screenshots that Steps Recorder will capture. 

You can do this by choosing the down arrow next to the question mark in Steps Recorder. Click or tap on Settings… and change Number of recent screen captures to store: from the default of 25 to some number above what you think you might need.