diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
index 1cd44a489..016576bf8 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ body:
   - type: markdown
     attributes:
       value: |
-        Thanks for the report. Issues without reproduction steps and logs get closed, so please fill in every required field. Redact API keys before pasting anything.
+        Thanks for the report. Reproduction steps and relevant errors help us investigate. If installation failed before you could run a command, say which command failed and why. Redact API keys, tokens, and personal information; do not paste your .env file.
   - type: textarea
     id: what
     attributes:
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ body:
     id: env
     attributes:
       label: OS, Node version, browser
+      description: Include the versions you can find. Write "unknown" for anything unavailable.
       placeholder: "Windows 11, Node 24.14.0, Chrome 151"
     validations:
       required: true
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ body:
     id: commit
     attributes:
       label: Version or commit
-      description: Output of `git rev-parse --short HEAD`, or the release tag.
+      description: Output of `git rev-parse --short HEAD`, or the release tag. If unavailable, say when you installed or last updated.
       placeholder: "aacfa06"
     validations:
       required: true
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ body:
     id: doctor
     attributes:
       label: Output of `npm run doctor`
-      description: It reports which providers are configured without printing key values.
+      description: Run this in the app directory. It reports which providers are configured without printing key values. If it cannot run, describe the failure instead.
       render: text
     validations:
       required: true
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ body:
     id: logs
     attributes:
       label: Server log and browser console
-      description: Terminal output from the dev server (or the Pinokio log) plus browser console errors. Redact keys.
+      description: Paste the relevant error lines from the terminal or Pinokio log and browser console. If no log is available, explain what prevented it. Redact credentials and personal information.
       render: text
     validations:
       required: true