troubleshooting

American  

[truhb-uhl-shoot-ing] / ˈtrʌb əlˌʃut ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of discovering and resolving problems, disputes, or mechanical or technical issues.

   The first step in cellphone troubleshooting is simple: restart your device.

   The customer support position involves troubleshooting, researching solutions, and providing resolutions to consumer problems.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the process of discovering and resolving problems, disputes, or mechanical or technical issues.

   If you’ve already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, please make sure to mention them.

Etymology

Origin of troubleshooting

First recorded in 1915–20; troubleshoot ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; troubleshoot ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

Mr. Brand devotes many pages to the joys of how-to media, from Diderot’s “Encyclopédie” to “Chilton’s Motorcycle Troubleshooting Guide” to the countless instructional videos available on YouTube today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Troubleshooting: If your fritters aren’t spreading, add more water to the batter, 1 tablespoon at a time.

From Washington Post • Dec. 13, 2022

Troubleshooting efforts proved unsuccessful within the limited time, and at about 8:40 a.m.

From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2022

Troubleshooting If you’re experiencing issues, like input lag or hanging in load screens with a certain game, you can mess around with their settings in either launcher, which may help solve the problem.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2022

Troubleshooting In Debian, as in life, things don't always work as you might expect or want them to.

From Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage by Goerzen, John