What is an HAR file and how to record it in different browsers

2026-02-22 00:13:06

A HAR file is a data archive of web traffic containing complete information about all HTTP requests and responses that occur during the loading of a web page. Understanding what a HAR file is and how to obtain it is critical for diagnosing website loading issues and analyzing network protocol performance. This format is used by support specialists, developers, and performance analysts to identify bottlenecks in internet operation.

Developer tools built into modern browsers allow easy capture and export of these data. Let’s go through how to record a HAR archive in each of the popular browsers.

Main Features of the HAR Format and Why It’s Important

Before recording a HAR file, it’s essential to understand its value. A HAR archive contains detailed information about each network request: data size, server response time, protocols used, request headers, and much more. This information is invaluable when diagnosing connection problems or slow page loads.

Make sure you are using the latest version of your browser before starting the recording. Up-to-date versions ensure the accuracy of captured data and stability of developer tools.

Recording a HAR file in Google Chrome

Open the web page in Chrome whose network traffic you want to record.
Click the menu (three dots) in the top right corner, then select More tools → Developer tools (or press F12).
Switch to the Network tab. All network requests will be displayed here.
Check the Preserve log option at the top left of the panel. This ensures logs are not cleared when navigating to other pages.
Look for the red indicator on the right (a circular dot)—it shows active recording. If it’s black, click it to start recording.
Refresh the page (F5 or Ctrl+R) to begin capturing all HTTP requests.
After recording, right-click on any entry in the log and select Save as HAR with content or click the Export HAR icon to save the file to your computer.

Export HAR in Firefox

Open the desired page in Firefox whose data you want to save.
Open Developer Tools via the main menu Tools → Network, or press F12.
Switch to the Network tab.
Click the network settings gear icon and check Persist logs.
Reload the page to start recording network data.
Once finished, right-click on any log entry and select Save all as HAR or click the Export HAR icon to download the archive.

Saving HAR data in Safari

Navigate to the web page in Safari for traffic analysis.
Open Safari menu, then Preferences, go to the Advanced tab, and enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the Develop menu, select Web Inspector.
In the Resources tab, check Preserve log.
Switch to the Network tab to view network operations.
Refresh the web page to start capturing HTTP requests.
After recording, select the log data, right-click, and choose Copy All as HAR. The data will be copied to the clipboard.
Create a new text file in a text editor, save it with the extension .har, and paste the copied content. Save the file for further sharing.

Generating a HAR file in Microsoft Edge

Open the target page in Edge.
Open Developer Tools via More tools → Developer tools (or F12).
Switch to the Network tab.
Disable Clear entries on navigate.
Ensure the Start profiling session button is active (green), indicating real-time recording.
Reload the page to capture all network data.
When finished, click Export HAR to save the file to your computer.

How to get HAR in Brave browser

Launch Brave and open the web page for analysis.
Open Developer Tools via More tools → Developer tools (or F12).
Switch to the Network tab.
Enable Preserve log.
Check for the red recording indicator in the top left. Click it if it’s black to start recording.
Refresh the page to capture HTTP data.
After recording, right-click on the logs and select Save as HAR with content or click Export HAR to download the archive.

Conclusion: When and Why to Use a HAR File

A HAR archive is one of the most powerful tools for diagnosing issues related to web content loading and site performance. Regardless of which browser you use—Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Brave—the process is fundamentally the same: open DevTools, enable recording, refresh the page, and export the results.

These files are especially useful when working with technical support or analyzing connection problems. Now you know how to obtain the necessary data in any major browser and are ready to diagnose network issues professionally.

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.