How to get better bug reports from beta testers
Most tester reports say what went wrong but not what they expected or where it happened. Here is how to get complete reports without making testers do more work.
A tester writes “checkout is broken” and moves on. You now have to work out which screen, which device, what they tapped and what they expected instead. By the time you ask, they have forgotten.
What a useful report has
- What they did: the action just before the problem.
- What they saw: the wrong value, the message, or that nothing happened.
- What they expected instead: the outcome they wanted.
- Where it happened: the screen, the app version and the device.
Testers almost always give you one or two of these. The rest has to come from somewhere else.
Capture what you can automatically
The screen, app version, device, language and a screenshot don’t need to be typed by anyone. Capture them when the report is sent, and cover private details before anything leaves the device.
Ask a short follow-up, at the right moment
The best time to ask what was missing is while the tester is still looking at the problem. Ask a short follow-up about the missing part, and let them skip it. A long form or a chat makes people give up.
Meet testers where they already are
Testers already take screenshots when something looks wrong. Offering “Report a problem?” right after a screenshot turns that habit into a report, without a separate tool to open.
Try it
Bopmigo does all of this for websites and iPhone apps. Read the quick start or start a free trial.