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How to filter recordings by behavior on Hotjar

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18
Quick Answer

Filter recordings by behavior in Hotjar by accessing the Recordings section, using the behavior filters panel, and selecting specific actions like clicks, scrolls, or form interactions. This helps you analyze user patterns and identify usability issues more effectively.

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Prerequisites

  • Active Hotjar account
  • Recordings enabled on your website
  • Basic understanding of user behavior analytics
  • Admin or member access to your Hotjar site

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Navigate to the Recordings section

Log into your Hotjar dashboard and click on Recordings in the left sidebar menu. Select the site you want to analyze if you have multiple sites configured.
Make sure you have sufficient recording data before filtering - at least 50+ recordings will give you better filtering results.
2

Access the behavior filters

Click on the Filters button located at the top of the recordings list. In the filters panel, locate the Behavior section which contains various behavioral filtering options.
3

Select click-based behavior filters

Under the behavior section, you can filter by:
  • Clicked on element - Enter CSS selectors or element text
  • Rage clicks - Users who clicked rapidly on the same element
  • Dead clicks - Clicks that didn't trigger any response
Use specific CSS selectors like <code>#button-id</code> or <code>.class-name</code> for more precise filtering.
4

Apply scroll and navigation filters

Configure scroll-based filters by selecting:
  • Scrolled to element - Users who scrolled to specific page sections
  • Visited URL - Filter by specific pages or URL patterns
  • Referrer - Filter by traffic source
Combine scroll filters with time-based filters to identify users who spent significant time on specific sections.
5

Set up form interaction filters

For form-related behaviors, enable:
  • Filled form field - Users who interacted with specific form fields
  • Submitted form - Completed form submissions
  • Form abandonment - Users who started but didn't complete forms
6

Configure device and user filters

Enhance your behavior analysis by adding:
  • Device type - Desktop, tablet, or mobile
  • Browser - Specific browser types
  • Country - Geographic location
  • User attributes - Custom user properties if configured
Combining device filters with behavior filters often reveals device-specific usability issues.
7

Apply filters and review results

Click Apply Filters to execute your behavior-based search. Review the filtered recordings list and click on individual recordings to watch user sessions that match your criteria.
Save frequently used filter combinations using the <strong>Save Filter</strong> option for quick access later.
8

Export or share filtered results

Use the Export button to download recording data or click Share to create a link with your applied filters. This allows team members to view the same filtered results without reconfiguring filters.
Exported data includes session URLs, timestamps, and basic user information for further analysis.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

No recordings appear after applying behavior filters

Check if your CSS selectors are correct and ensure you have sufficient recording data. Try broadening your filter criteria or check if the elements you're filtering for actually exist on your pages.

Behavior filters not detecting form interactions

Verify that your forms have proper HTML structure with name or id attributes. Some dynamic forms may require custom event tracking setup in your Hotjar configuration.

Rage clicks or dead clicks not showing expected results

These behavioral indicators may take 24-48 hours to process after recording. Ensure your site has proper JavaScript event handling and that Hotjar tracking code is correctly implemented.

Saved filters not working properly

Clear your browser cache and try reapplying the filters. If the issue persists, recreate the filter combination as saved filters may become outdated after site changes or Hotjar updates.

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