15 Free Bug Report Templates & Forms for Bug Tracking in 2024

No software is perfect. Despite all the hard work, something will likely go wrong, which is expected and common. It’s what you do afterward that matters.

A proper bug-reporting template is a lifesaver for any engineering team. It helps team members document and manage bugs quickly and accurately and ensures they are addressed by the right people at the right time. ⌛

In this article, we’ll explore the best bug report templates to improve the bug reporting process in your organization and cut down on unnecessary meetings. We’ll explain what each offers regarding features and customization options and how they streamline your workflow.

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What is a Bug Report Template?

Bug reporting is the process of documenting issues that occur in software applications found either by users or QA testers. Related bug reports are pre-built frameworks that should make this process easier and more effective. A good bug report usually contains the following information:

• Who found/reported the bug
• Date of report creation
• Bug severity
• Steps to reproduce the bug
• Expected vs. actual outcome
• The environment in which the bug happened
• Visual proof

The bug report template typically includes the assignee’s name, priority label, and progress status.

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What Makes a Good Bug Report Template?

Here are the four must-haves of an effective bug-tracking template:

1. Optimized bug report collection: Helps you gather bug reports from various sources and quickly turn them into tasks within a project management tool
2. Clear and consistent format: Contains all the necessary information for software development teams, presented in a concise way or with as much detail as possible
3. Customization: It’s flexible and adaptable to various teams and workflows
4. Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other tools you use

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15 Bug Report Templates To Streamline Your Debugging

To save time and prevent headaches, use a bug report template from our list of 15. They’ll help you log issues efficiently and ensure potential problems are addressed promptly, leading to a better product and satisfied clients. Check out our favorites below!

1. ClickUp Bug Tracking Report Template

ClickUp’s Bug Tracking Report Template has everything you need for successfully reporting bugs that come your way. It’s beginner-friendly, so even non-tech-savvy users can quickly get the hang of this bug report.

The List view is the foundation of this template and all the other views, such as Kanban board and Gantt chart. It contains the necessary info on all tasks and subtasks, organized in columns. 

By default, the columns include bug source, environment, dates, and comments, but you can customize them and choose between various column types, from simple text and numbers to checkboxes, dropdown menus, tags, and progress bars.

To get a specific overview, you can filter or group tasks by status, assignee, priority, due date, or tag. The bug report template already includes various customizable status categories. By clicking on a task, you’ll open a window revealing more information about it. In the window, you can view the task description, activity log, and attached project documentation and create task relationships and rollup fields, add comments and checklists, and estimate and track time.

In ClickUp, you can automate your workflow by selecting one of the presets or defining your conditions and actions. You can fine-tune user permissions and easily convert lists into sprints. To save time, get the ClickUp Chrome extension and capture bugs with screenshots or create tasks via email.

2. ClickUp Agile Bug Tracking Template

ClickUp’s Agile Bug Tracking Report Template is a Kanban-style board perfect for Agile teams. It allows powerful visualization of issues at hand. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can make changes to your bug report in seconds. 

By playing with the Group By menu settings, you can reorganize the board however you find convenient. The board contains columns by default, but you can also enable swimlanes, i.e., rows. 

Be it a row or column—you can choose various criteria to classify tasks. The most common choices are priority and status because they help you isolate the wheat from the chaff and tackle the most important tasks first. Others include bug severity, assignee, environment, and due date, but you can also define custom criteria. 

The Board can display lists, folders, spaces, or the entire workspace with the Everything view. Create tasks by clicking on the button below the existing tasks or the one in the bottom right corner. 

Make multiple changes at once in the Bulk Action Toolbar, which will show up once you start selecting tasks. Finally, jazz up your Board by adding a stunning cover image. ✨

3. ClickUp Bug Report Form Template

With ClickUp’s Bug Report Form Template, you can fully streamline bug reporting. Create your Bug Submission Form and share it with anyone, be it a guest or member, then automatically turn issues into tasks. Keep in mind that this feature is reserved for subscribers of the Unlimited plan and up.

To edit the contents, drag and drop fields from the left panel into the form. Fields can include the submitter’s name, report source, affected environment, attachments, description, and many others. You can also add custom fields and hide certain fields to have the system fill them out automatically using your unique URL or embed code.

If you upgrade to the Business plan, you’ll be able to add a personal touch, customizing the text shown after submission as well as the appearance of the form. Showcase your unique brand personality via different fun themes and colors and add an image or logo to your bug-tracking tool. 🖼️

To capture specific info, introduce dynamic logic to your form with a set of rules and conditions. You can automatically assign bugs to team members before they even arrive. Once your form is completed, embed it in a shareable doc or directly on your website. You can export your sample bug report as a CSV file.

4. ClickUp Bug Tracking by Feature Template

ClickUp’s Bug Tracking by Feature Template groups your issues by the product features they’re connected with, giving you a clear overview of the tasks at hand. More importantly, it helps you identify patterns and single out features that might need a revamp rather than a fix.

The bug report template is in List form, allowing you to select columns to display or add your own. Create dependencies, add checklists, and track time, as in any ClickUp List template. 

If a feature is particularly problematic, you can select all the tasks from that feature group and quickly turn them into a sprint (provided you created a separate sprint folder beforehand). And just like that, you’ll be sprinting toward bug-reporting success with ClickUp!

5. ClickUp Bug & Issue Tracking Template

ClickUp’s Bug and Issue Tracking Template is a framework designed to drive visibility and effective cross-functional collaboration. It’s advanced, so if you’re a newbie, you might need guidance when learning to use this bug report template. Thankfully, ClickUp includes an instructional doc in all of its templates.

It’s worth the effort because the outcome is a comprehensive system that optimizes your entire workflow and reduces the frequency of those tedious status meetings most of us dread. 🥱

This issue tracking template is in the form of a Folder and consists of Defect Master, Reported Bugs, and Limitations and Workarounds lists. It also includes a Team Doc where you can outline the triage and reporting processes or any other information your team should be aware of. Each list contains various views to fit different contexts when reporting bugs.

Stay on top of all fixes and organize them based on status, severity, and priority in the Defect Master list. Create task relationships and click on them to view additional info, add comments, and log time.

6. ClickUp Priority Bug & Issue Tracking Board Template

With ClickUp’s Priority Bug & Issue Tracking Board Template, you can single out the most urgent tasks and see their current status, which helps you divvy up your resources and prioritize like a pro. 😎

This Kanban board is preset with priority criteria in the columns and status in the swimlanes, but you can customize it to fit your current bug-reporting needs and workflow. Besides these two criteria, you can group tasks by the due date, assignee, tag, or custom fields. Changing a task’s priority label or status is a breeze—drag and drop it to a different column or lane so bug reports remain collaborative and easy to adjust.

The essential info about the task is located on the card. If you want to see more or reveal additional settings, click on the card to open the task window. You can view the change history, add checklists, track time, and leave comments in this bug report template.

7. ClickUp Priority Bug & Issue Tracking by Squad Template

In the ClickUp Priority Bug & Issue Tracking by Squad Template, you and your dev squad can see which tasks are assigned to which team and how they progress. This layout shows each team’s workload and helps you assign upcoming tasks realistically and fairly.

It also makes communication smoother and less hiccup-prone. You can quickly identify who’s responsible for which task and contact the right collaborator in the case of overlaps. This makes it easier for determining expected and actual results.

This template is in standard List view and contains columns such as status, bug environment, product features, bug severity, priority labels, and the total number of reports. As was the case with all the previous templates, you can add custom columns.

8. ClickUp Bug & Issue Tracking Process Template

ClickUp’s Bug & Issue Tracking Process Template is a Kanban board with bugs and issues grouped by status. This type of grouping gives you a bird’s eye view of all defects and their current status. 

Cards contain only the crucial information about the bugs by displaying the name, assignee, and priority label, which is incredibly convenient when you deal with many tasks at once and don’t want the space to get overcrowded. Still, clicking on individual tasks lets you see all the details, such as the history of changes, attachments, and checklists.

9. ClickUp Backlogs & Sprints Template 

Use ClickUp’s Backlogs & Sprints Template to efficiently plan all upcoming tasks, be it new features or bug fixes. It shows which tasks must be completed in each sprint and how they align with the overall project goals. 

Whether dealing with resource constraints or not, this layout helps you assign tasks to the right team members, ensuring your project progresses smoothly and on time when reporting bugs. The template comes in the form of a Space consisting of two Folders—Backlog Management and Sprint. 

In the Backlog list, you can view all epics and user stories and indicate their urgency with Sprint Points, MoSCoW categories, or via a custom method. You can also link them with tasks. For optimal visualization, try different views, such as Board and Gantt charts. The folder also contains a list of software bugs, similar to the previous templates.

The Sprint Folder allows you to strategize and map out a timeline to ensure timely releases. It has many viewing modes to plan and track progress, including Daily Standup Board, Box Team View, Calendar, Timeline, Workload, and Activity. 

Want to share your thoughts on a task with your teammates about the software development process? No need to wait for a meeting! Add a Chat view to your space and get the conversation started in no time. 💬

10. ClickUp RPA Template

RPA projects are typically massive, complex, and demanding. To make yours more manageable, use this RPA Project Plan Template by ClickUp. Besides storing and presenting all your data clearly, it helps you assess risk, set clear expectations, and effectively collaborate with all departments involved.

The template contains several views, including the main List view, Task and Planning Progress boards, as well as a Gantt chart and Workload view for efficient time and resource management. In the List view, tasks are grouped by the section they belong to, but you can select other criteria to better suit your workflow. 

The columns display the tasks’ due date, which department they belong to, and their current status. You can analyze risk and prioritize the tasks by assigning them different impact and effort levels. All categories and columns are customizable.

Bonus: You can also use our collection of prompts to help you improve your bug reporting.

11. Excel Issue Tracker Template

Maintain a simple yet effective reporting method with the Excel Issue Tracker Template. Ideal for users who prioritize simplicity and familiarity, this template is designed to capture the key points of every bug – description, severity, assigned to, status, and resolution date – within a traditional spreadsheet format. The advantage of this bug report template lies in its versatile accessibility and easy-to-navigate layout. Excel’s built-in features can also be utilized for sorting and filtering tasks, improving efficiency and clarity in your bug tracking process.

12. Google Sheets Bug Report Template

Take advantage of a familiar interface with the Google Sheets Bug Report Template. Crafted with a streamlined layout and user-friendly design, this template offers a reliable solution for capturing and managing bug reports.

Critical details such as bug description, priority level, who encountered the issue, assigned team member, and any necessary resolution notes can be meticulously tracked. Its key advantage lies in its collaborative aspect – multiple users can use and update the sheet in real-time, making it an ideal fit for teams working simultaneously. The cell-based format comes with Google’s in-built functionality to sort, filter, and organize tasks seamlessly!

13. GitHub Bug Report Template

Maximize your development workflow with the GitHub Bug Report Template. Aimed at teams familiar with the GitHub environment, this template enables seamless tracking of bugs within the context of your development repositories. The template allows you to log critical details such as the bug’s nature, the file or feature it affects, reproduction steps, and the proposed resolution. Its main advantage is the highly integrated nature within a familiar dev ecosystem. You can effortlessly link bugs to code commits, utilize labeling and milestone features for organization, and foster collaborative discussions on every issue. Plus, take advantage of GitHub’s native notification system to keep all team members updated in real time.

14. PDF Bug Report Template by Jotform

Embrace the simplicity and flexibility of written documents with the PDF Bug Report Template by Jotform. This solution provides an excellent way to record, print, and share bug tracking information in a well-structured document format. The bug report template helps you log essential aspects, including bug description, screenshots, reported by, assigned to, and the plan of action. It particularly shines in the offline accessibility and shareability it provides, making it excellent for teams who prefer physical copies or email-based, non-real-time collaboration. For an added benefit, this template integrates with Jotform’s form builder, allowing you to collect bug reports directly into individual PDFs for streamlined management and distribution.

15. Microsoft Loop Issue Tracker Template

Stay on top of your bug tracking with the Microsoft Loop Issue Tracker Template. This is a comprehensive solution for teams already using Microsoft suite products and prefer to stay within a unified ecosystem. Designed within the collaborative framework of Microsoft Loop, this template is excellent for capturing the crucial specifics of each bug, like descriptions, severity, reporter details, assignee details, timelines, and resolution status. Unique to this tool is its real-time shared canvas feature, allowing team members to work together dynamically, reducing back-and-forths.

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Bug Report and Tracking Templates: An Overview 

Here’s a brief rundown of our favorite templates to report bugs and some of their benefits:

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Start Managing and Reporting Bugs More Efficiently

Bug reporting and tracking is an essential part of IT project management. With a proper planning and prioritization system, you can log all issues that come your way and resolve them without much hassle. 

So, report bugs with one of these templates and never let those pesky bugs bother you again. 🐛