Web Recorder does not Stop test execution when "Stop" is clicked

Bug Report
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1

*Summary
Web Recorder does not Stop test execution when “Stop” is clicked

*Steps to reproduce

  1. record web test
  2. play test case in web recorder PLUS
  3. click stop

*Expected Results

test stops I can record from that point or check captured objects etc. pp.

*Actual Results

web recorder thinks it has stopped, but the browser still executes the test

*Operating System
Windows Server 2025

*Katalon Studio version
11.01

*Katalon Studio logs

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:38.793
!MESSAGE c.k.k.c.w.util.WebDriverPropertyUtil - User set preference: [‘args’, ‘[–disable-search-engine-choice-screen, --start-maximized, --lang=de-DE]’]

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:38.795
!MESSAGE c.k.k.c.w.util.WebDriverPropertyUtil - User set preference: [‘prefs’, ‘{download.default_directory=C:\Users\luj\Desktop\Test, download.prompt_for_download=false}’]

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:40.833
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.p.ExecutionSettingsBuilder - Disabling self-healing for record-playback execution at platform level

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:40.843
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.p.ExecutionSettingsBuilder - Disabling self-healing for record-playback execution

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:40.878
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.p.ExecutionSettingsBuilder - Record playback is enabled with captured test objects file: C:\Users\magadmin\AppData\Local\Temp\2\Katalon\record\8a8db59e-e723-4b65-9433-cb4603d44537\captured_objects.json

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:18:40.879
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.p.ExecutionSettingsBuilder - Finished building execution settings

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:19:08.780
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.e.ExecutionEventsPublisher - Firing WEBUI_VERIFICATION_EXECUTION_FINISHED event with statusValue=FAILED

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:19:09.125
!MESSAGE c.k.e.c.i.RecorderExecutionController - Recorder execution job completed with status: COMPLETED

!ENTRY org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench 1 0 2025-03-20 08:19:09.125
!MESSAGE c.k.e.s.e.ExecutionEventsPublisher - Firing WEBUI_VERIFICATION_EXECUTION_FINISHED event with statusValue=FAILED

Environment (for Web Testing)
Chrome 145.0.7632.117

1 Like
3

This is not your script issue — this is a Recorder Plus execution engine limitation/bug in Katalon Studio 11.x, especially when running on newer Chrome 145 and Windows Server environments.

Let’s break it down properly.

What Is Actually Happening

When you click Stop in Web Recorder Plus:

  • Recorder UI stops its job

  • RecorderExecutionController marks job as COMPLETED

  • But the underlying WebDriver session keeps running

  • Chrome continues executing queued commands

From your log:

Recorder execution job completed with status: COMPLETED
WEBUI_VERIFICATION_EXECUTION_FINISHED event

This means:

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Recorder UI stopped

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Execution thread did NOT terminate WebDriver session

So browser keeps executing.

Why This Happens (Technical Root Cause)

Recorder Plus runs execution in:

RecorderExecutionController

It does NOT:

  • Force kill WebDriver session

  • Interrupt active WebUI thread

  • Send driver.quit() on Stop

It only stops the recording job — not the actual Selenium execution thread.

This becomes worse when:

  • STOP_ON_FAILURE is used

  • callTestCase is used

  • Long waitForElementPresent() exists

  • Heavy JS execution is happening

  • Chrome 145 async behavior is involved

Important Observation From Your Logs

Disabling self-healing for record-playback execution

Self-healing disabled = execution behaves differently than normal Run mode.

Recorder execution is NOT same as normal Test Case execution.

SOLUTIONS (From Practical Experience)

Solution 1 — Don’t Use Recorder to Execute Full Flow

Best practice:

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Use Recorder ONLY to capture steps

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Execute test from normal Test Case editor

Recorder execution engine is not production-grade.

Since you are experienced in automation, I strongly recommend:

  • Pre-login manually

  • Record only post-login steps

  • Use normal execution for full runs

Solution 2 — Force Browser Close When Stop Is Clicked

Add this at top of your test case:

Runtime.getRuntime().addShutdownHook(new Thread({
    WebUI.closeBrowser()
}))

If Recorder sends termination signal, browser closes.

:warning: Not 100% reliable, but improves behavior.

Solution 3 — Add Execution Timeout Guard (Recommended)

Add global timeout wrapper:

Thread.start {
    sleep(30000)  // 30 sec max
    WebUI.closeBrowser()
}

This prevents infinite execution if Stop fails.

Professional-Grade Fix (What I Recommend For You)

Since you are already refactoring keywords like ShippingDetails and improving framework:

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Stop using Recorder for execution completely

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Use it ONLY for object capture

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Build login as keyword

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Execute via Test Suite

Recorder execution engine is meant for beginners and demos.

For someone at your level (Katalon + Playwright experience), it becomes a limitation.

Why This Happens More on Chrome 145

Chrome 145 introduced:

  • More async WebDriver handling

  • Different DevTools protocol sync

  • Background tab execution handling changes

Recorder doesn’t properly interrupt active driver commands.

Immediate Workaround (Most Reliable)

When it gets stuck:

  1. Click Stop in Recorder

  2. Immediately click Terminate in Katalon Console

  3. If still running → manually kill chromedriver.exe

1 Like
4

bug in Katalon Studio 11.0.1 Web Recorder Plus: Stop button registers in UI but playback continues in browser (Active Browsers mode).​

Fix

  • Preferences > Katalon > Beta Features → Disable/enable Web Recorder Plus; restart.
  • Use Custom Profile Browser mode (not Active); recorder forces clean stop.
  • Rollback to 10.4.x or update to 11.0.2+ (fixes per release notes).

Kill browser via Task Manager if stuck

1 Like
5

Hi @mae1,

How’re you doin? Have you found any workaround for your issue? If any of above answer helps you, feel free to mark it as solution. If no, let us know more. Thank you

6

hi @mae1

try to update the katalon studio and webdriver to the latest one.
hope this help

7

My workaround is to go back to the old web recorder and wait for updates for a more fully fledged and fixed web-recorder plus. I prefer the old UI anyway, because it allows me to look at the steps and captured objects at the same time.

Thanks to everyone for all the replies and in-depth explanations!

1 Like