How to generate a HAR file for troubleshooting browser issues

A HAR (HTTP Archive) is a file format that contains information about a web page’s performance, including the resources that the page loads such as images and scripts, the size of those resources, and the time it takes for them to load. The file can be used to analyze and troubleshoot website performance issues and can be exported from web browsers.

Below is shown how to create HAR files in the most popular web browsers. The instructions apply to both Windows and Mac computers.

To generate a HAR file in Chrome

1. Access the website for which you want to generate the HAR file in Google Chrome.

2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” in the menu.

Inspect

3. Click on the “Network” tab in the Developer Tools console that appears in Chrome.

Network > Export HAR file

4. Reload the page, then perform the actions that trigger the issue you want to capture in the log.

5. Click the small arrow pointing down at the top of the console to export the HAR log.

Export HAR file

6. Save the file to your computer when prompted.

To generate a HAR file in Firefox

1. Open the website for which you want to generate the HAR in Mozilla Firefox.

2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” in the menu.

Inspect

3. Click on the “Network” tab in the Developer Tools console that appears in Firefox.

Network > Export HAR file

4. Reload the page, then perform the actions that trigger the issue you want to capture in the log.

5. Click the cogwheel icon ⚙︎ in the Network tab, then select “Save All As HAR”.

Export HAR file

6. Save the file to your computer when prompted.

To generate a HAR file in Edge

1. Open the website for which you want to generate the HAR file in Microsoft Edge.

2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” in the menu.

Inspect

3. Click on the “Network” tab in the Developer Tools console that appears in Edge.

Network > Export HAR file

4. Refresh the page, then perform the actions that trigger the issue you want to capture in the log.

5. Click the small arrow pointing down at the top of the console to export the HAR log.

Export HAR file

6. Save the file to your device when prompted.

To generate a HAR file in Safari

1. Open the website for which you want to generate the HAR file in Safari.

2. Go to Safari in the top menu bar and select “Preferences”.

3. Click on “Advanced” then check the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” box.

4. Now select “Developer” in the menu bar and choose the “Show Web Inspector” option or press these three keys together: Option+Command+I

Show Web Inspector to export HAR file

5. Click on the “Network” tab in the Developer Tools console that appears in Safari.

Network

6. Reload the page, then perform the actions that trigger the issue you want to capture in the log.

7. Click the Export button.

Export HAR file

8. Save the file to your Mac when prompted.

To generate a HAR file in Opera

1. Open the website for which you want to generate the HAR file in Opera.

2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect element” in the menu.

Inspect element

3. Click on the “Network” tab in the Developer Tools console that appears in Opera.

Network

4. Reload the page, then perform the actions that trigger the issue you want to capture in the log.

5. Click the small arrow pointing down at the top of the console to export the HAR log.

Export HAR file

6. Save the file to your device when prompted.

How to generate a HAR file for troubleshooting browser issues

To generate a HAR file in Chrome

To generate a HAR file in Firefox

To generate a HAR file in Edge

To generate a HAR file in Safari

To generate a HAR file in Opera

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