How to record and replay a macro in Chrome

Chrome has no built-in macro recorder. To record a macro in Chrome you need an extension that watches your clicks and typing and saves them as a replayable sequence. This guide uses Replayo, which is free and needs no account to record and replay.

Before you start

• Sign in to the site you are automating. Recording a login means storing credentials in the macro — avoid it if you can.
• Know your starting page. A macro replays from where you began recording, so start somewhere you can reliably get back to.
• Do a dry run. Walk through the task once without recording so the real recording has no detours in it.

Step 1 — Install and pin the extension

Add Replayo from the Chrome Web Store, then pin it to your toolbar so the popup is one click away. Everything happens from that popup.

Step 2 — Open the extension and press Record

Click the Replayo icon and hit Record. Recording starts immediately — from this point every click, keystroke and page change is captured.

Step 3 — Do the task once

Work at your normal pace. Click the same buttons, type the same values, apply the same filters. Let each page finish loading before moving on. There is nothing special to do here — the whole point is that you are just doing the task.

Step 4 — Pick a value to email yourself (optional)

If the task ends in a number or status you care about, point at that element while recording. Replayo marks it as the value to read, and every run will email you its current value. This is what turns a macro into a monitor.

Step 5 — Stop recording

Finish the recording from the popup. The macro is saved under a name you choose and runs once immediately — watch that first replay. If it does what you expected, you are done.

Step 6 — Replay or schedule it

• Replay on demand — open the popup and press play next to the macro.
• Schedule it — every 30 minutes, hourly, or daily at a set time, running in your own browser. More on scheduling.

Fixing a macro that stops working

• It stops early — a page was probably slower than at record time. Re-record at a steadier pace.
• It clicks the wrong thing — the target was likely a list item that moved. Re-record targeting a stable element.
• Nothing happens — check you are still signed in.
• The site changed — re-record. There is no script to patch, so re-recording is the fix, and it takes a minute.

Tips for macros that last

• Keep them short. Two five-step macros beat one ten-step macro.
• Name them by outcome — "Weekly revenue check," not "Macro 3."
• Start from a bookmark or the site's home page, not from deep in a session.
• Re-record instead of fighting a flaky macro. It is nearly always faster.

Frequently asked questions

Does Chrome have a built-in macro recorder?

No. Chrome's DevTools include a Recorder panel aimed at developers measuring performance and generating scripts, but there is no user-facing macro recorder in the browser itself — you need an extension.

How long does recording a macro take?

As long as the task itself, because recording is doing the task once. Most macros take under two minutes to create.

Can I replay a macro on a different site?

No. A macro is tied to the pages and elements you recorded it on. Record a separate macro for each site.

Do I need an account to record a macro?

No. Recording and replaying work without signing in. Signing in is only needed for the emailed-value feature and for a paid upgrade.