Android · Troubleshooting
Generate a detailed technical diagnostic report
Captures a comprehensive technical snapshot of the device's current state, including system logs, running processes, and recent errors, useful for sharing with developers or Google support when troubleshooting complex bugs.
How to open Capture Bug Report Tool
- Open Settings → System → Developer options
- Tap 'Bug report'
- Choose Full report or Interactive report
- Wait for capture to complete, then share the generated file as needed
What you should know
- Available in interactive, full, or wear-optimized report formats depending on the device
- Requires Developer options to be enabled first
- Generated report is saved as a shareable file, not automatically transmitted
- Far more detailed than a standard feedback submission
Bug reports can contain sensitive technical information such as network names and app activity, so only share them with trusted developers or official support channels.
Why it matters
When an issue is too complex or intermittent for standard feedback to capture, a full bug report gives developers and Google's support team deep technical visibility into what the device was actually doing, including system logs, running processes, and error traces at the moment of the problem. This is the diagnostic tool of last resort for stubborn issues, and it's often specifically requested by app developers or Google support agents when other troubleshooting steps haven't identified the cause.
Best practices
- Reproduce the issue immediately before or during report generation for the most relevant logs
- Only share the generated report through official, trusted channels given its technical detail
- Use the interactive report option to add screenshots and a description of the specific issue
- Delete old bug report files afterward, since they can be large and are usually only needed once
Common problems and fixes
- Bug report option isn't available
- Enable Developer options first, since the bug report tool is nested within it.
- Report generation takes a long time or seems stuck
- This is normal for full reports, which can take several minutes to capture all system logs.
- Unsure where the generated report file is saved
- Check the notification shade for a share prompt, or look in the Files app under the report's save location.
Tips and tricks
- Use the interactive bug report option so you can annotate exactly when and how the issue occurred
- Generate the report as soon as possible after an issue happens, since relevant logs can be overwritten over time
Frequently asked questions
Is a bug report the same as Send Feedback?
No, Send Feedback is a simpler user-facing tool, while a full bug report captures much deeper technical system data.
Does generating a bug report send anything automatically?
No, it only creates a local file that you choose to share afterward.
Can I read the contents of a bug report myself?
Yes, though it's a raw technical log file primarily intended for developer or support analysis rather than casual reading.
Related settings
- Developer OptionsDeveloper options is a hidden settings menu, invisible until unlocked, that exposes low-level tools like USB debugging, animation scaling, background process limits, and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi diagnostic logs. It's built for app developers and advanced troubleshooting, not everyday configuration.
- Send FeedbackSend feedback lets you report a problem straight to Google (or an app's own developers) with an automatically attached diagnostic report and, optionally, a screenshot with areas you can highlight or blur out.
- App Crash & ANR ReportsShows a log of recent app crashes and 'Application Not Responding' (ANR) events, letting you identify which apps are unstable and access details useful for reporting bugs to developers.
More Troubleshooting guides for Android
- Factory ResetFactory data reset erases all data on your device and restores its original settings — useful for resolving persistent software issues, or before selling or recycling the device.
- Safe Mode & RecoverySafe mode is a temporary boot state that disables all third-party apps, making it easy to tell whether a downloaded app is causing a crash, freeze, or battery drain. Recovery mode is a separate, more powerful boot menu — accessed with hardware buttons before Android fully loads — used for wiping the cache partition, sideloading an update, or performing a factory reset when the device won't start normally.
- Phone DiagnosticsPhone diagnostics tools — built into some manufacturers' software or provided by your carrier — run guided tests on hardware components like the touchscreen, speakers, cameras, sensors, and buttons to confirm they're working correctly.
- Battery UsageBattery usage breaks down exactly how much charge each app and system component has consumed since the last full charge, making it the go-to screen for diagnosing unexpectedly fast battery drain.
- Network & SIM DiagnosticsProvides tools to check SIM status, run network diagnostics, and reset APN settings to troubleshoot problems like no signal, failed calls, or data connectivity issues.
- Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & BluetoothResets Wi-Fi networks, saved passwords, mobile network/APN settings, and Bluetooth pairings back to factory defaults, without erasing personal files, photos, or installed apps.