How to set up session recordings on Hotjar

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Setting up session recordings on Hotjar involves creating a new recording in your dashboard, configuring capture settings, and activating the recording. The process takes just a few minutes and starts capturing user sessions immediately.

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Prerequisites

Active Hotjar account
Hotjar tracking code installed on your website
Admin or edit permissions for your Hotjar site

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access your Hotjar dashboard

Log into your Hotjar account at hotjar.com and select the website you want to set up recordings for from the site switcher in the top navigation bar.

Make sure you're on the correct site before proceeding, as recordings are site-specific.

Navigate to Recordings section

In the left sidebar, click on Recordings. If this is your first time setting up recordings, you'll see a welcome screen with setup options.

Create a new recording

Click the + New Recording button in the top right corner. This will open the recording configuration wizard where you can customize your capture settings.

You can create multiple recordings with different settings for various parts of your site.

Configure basic settings

Enter a descriptive name for your recording in the Recording Name field. Choose your Device Type (Desktop, Mobile, or Both) and select the Sample Rate percentage to control how many sessions to capture.

Start with a 10-20% sample rate to avoid overwhelming amounts of data while still getting meaningful insights.

Set up page targeting

In the Page Targeting section, specify which pages to record. You can choose All Pages or use URL Contains, URL Starts With, or URL Matches Exactly options to target specific pages.

Focus on key pages like checkout flows or landing pages for more actionable insights.

Configure privacy settings

Review the Privacy Settings section and enable Suppress Text and Suppress Numbers if you want to hide sensitive information like form inputs, credit card numbers, or personal data from recordings.

Always enable privacy settings when recording pages with sensitive user information to comply with privacy regulations.

Set user targeting (optional)

In the User Targeting section, you can add filters to record only specific users based on attributes like Country, Browser, Operating System, or custom user attributes if configured.

Leave targeting broad initially, then create focused recordings later based on your analysis needs.

Activate your recording

Review all your settings and click Start Recording to activate session capture. Your recording will show as Active in the recordings list and will begin capturing sessions within minutes.

Sessions typically appear in your dashboard within 5-10 minutes of user activity on your site.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

No recordings are appearing after activation

Verify that your Hotjar tracking code is properly installed and that you have sufficient traffic matching your targeting criteria. Check the Installation section in your dashboard to confirm the tracking code is working.

Recordings are not capturing on mobile devices

Ensure your recording is configured for Mobile or Both device types. Mobile recordings may take longer to process due to network conditions and device performance.

Recording stopped automatically

Check if you've reached your plan's recording limits in the Usage section. Hotjar automatically pauses recordings when monthly limits are exceeded. Consider upgrading your plan or adjusting sample rates.

Sensitive information is visible in recordings

Edit your recording settings and enable Suppress Text and Suppress Numbers in the privacy section. You can also add custom CSS selectors to suppress specific elements using the Suppress Elements option.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Hotjar website before purchasing.

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