Phasmophobia: How to Complete The On Record Challenge (July 2025)

I've just spent the last week mastering Phasmophobia's On Record challenge, and let me tell you – this Chronicle update challenge is a game-changer! After countless attempts and finally nailing that perfect $5,000 reward, I'm here to share everything you need to dominate this weekly challenge. Whether you're struggling with the new Sound Recorder or can't seem to fill your Media tab properly, this guide will transform you from a terrified rookie into a media-collecting machine.

The On Record challenge perfectly showcases everything new in the Chronicle v0.13 update, and completing it three times is your ticket to serious cash and XP. But here's the kicker – you only have one week to master it before it rotates out!

Quick Challenge Overview

Challenge Aspect	Details
Map	Bleasdale Farmhouse (mandatory)
Completions Required	3 successful ghost identifications
Base Reward	$5,000 + 5,000 XP
Equipment	Mixed Tier I & II (customized loadout)
Starting Sanity	100%
Setup Time	60 seconds
Cursed Object	Music Box (tea room location)
Special Rules	High ghost activity, UV evidence lasts 3 minutes
Difficulty	Moderate (easier than most challenges)

What is the On Record Challenge in Phasmophobia?

The On Record challenge is Phasmophobia's newest weekly challenge mode, introduced specifically to showcase the Chronicle update's revolutionary media collection system. Unlike regular investigations where you bring your own equipment, this challenge provides a pre-selected loadout designed to test your ability to capture photos, videos, and the brand-new audio evidence.

As someone who's completed every challenge mode in Phasmophobia, I can confidently say this one strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and challenge. You're not dealing with the nightmare difficulty of Sanity Survival or the equipment limitations of other challenges – instead, you're learning to master the new evidence system while hunting ghosts in a beautifully reworked farmhouse.

The challenge rotates weekly every Monday at Midnight UTC, giving you exactly seven days to complete it three times. Miss the window, and you'll have to wait 26 weeks for it to come back around!

How to Start the On Record Challenge?

Starting the On Record challenge requires a specific sequence that many players miss. Here's my foolproof method:

1. From the Main Menu: Navigate to the Difficulty Settings board (it's the one with all the difficulty options)
2. Find the Challenge: Scroll right past Insanity difficulty – you'll see "On Record" listed as the current weekly challenge
3. Apply Settings: Click the "Apply" button in the bottom-right corner (this is crucial – forgetting this step is the #1 mistake)
4. Select the Map: Move to the Map Selection board and choose Bleasdale Farmhouse (bottom-left corner)
5. Ready Up: The challenge loadout will automatically be applied – you cannot change any equipment

Pro Tip: If you're playing with friends using crossplay features, make sure everyone has the challenge selected before starting. Only the host needs to apply the settings, but all players will receive completion credit.

Challenge Rules & Settings

Understanding the specific modifications in On Record is crucial for success. After analyzing the challenge settings, here's what makes this mode unique:

Player Modifications

• Sanity Drain: 200% decline rate (your sanity drops twice as fast as normal)
• Starting Sanity: 100% (rare for challenge modes)
• Sanity Recovery: Enabled with Sanity Medication available
• Sprint Duration: Standard
• Player Speed: Normal multiplier

Ghost Behavior

• Activity Level: Significantly increased (makes finding evidence much easier)
• Roaming Frequency: Reduced (ghost stays in favorite room longer)
• Event Frequency: Higher than normal
• Hunt Behavior: Standard thresholds but more aggressive during hunts
• Evidence: Standard evidence types with no forced evidence

Environmental Settings

• Weather: Always foggy (reduces visibility but adds atmosphere)
• Fuse Box: Starts ON (one less task to worry about)
• Setup Timer: 60 seconds from door opening
• Hiding Spots: All standard locations available
• Cursed Possession: Music Box (always spawns in tea room)

Equipment Loadout Breakdown

The On Record challenge provides a carefully curated equipment selection that's missing some items but includes everything essential for media collection. Here's what you get:

Tier I Equipment

• Firelight: Your portable light source (weaker than flashlight but unlimited)
• Head Gear: Hands-free lighting option

Tier II Equipment

• Evidence Tools: EMF Reader, Spirit Box, Ghost Writing Book, DOTS Projector, UV Light, Thermometer
• Media Collection: Photo Camera (only 1), Video Camera, Sound Recorder
• Support Items: Motion Sensor, Salt, Incense, Crucifix (2), Sanity Medication, Igniter, Flashlight, Tripod

Missing Equipment

• Sound Sensor: Can't monitor audio remotely
• Parabolic Microphone: No long-range sound detection
• Second Photo Camera: Limited photo opportunities

This loadout forces you to be strategic about media collection. With only one photo camera, you can't spam photos like in regular investigations. The inclusion of the Sound Recorder is obviously intentional – this challenge wants you to master the new audio evidence system.

Bleasdale Farmhouse: Map Strategy

The reworked Bleasdale Farmhouse is a medium-sized map with multiple floors and an outdoor area. Here's my room-by-room strategy:

Ground Floor Priority Rooms

1. Kitchen: Check freezing temps first – ghosts love this room
2. Living Room: High activity area, great for setting up video cameras
3. Dining Room: Often overlooked but frequently haunted
4. Tea Room: Contains the Music Box cursed object

Second Floor Hotspots

1. Master Bedroom: Largest upstairs room, check early
2. Boy's/Girl's Bedroom: Small but common ghost rooms
3. Bathroom: Quick to check with thermometer
4. Hallway: Set up DOTS here for coverage

Attic & Outdoor Areas

• Attic: Accessed via second floor, often ignored by players
• Backyard: Motion-activated lights can trigger false positives
• Garage: Detached area that requires specific attention

Speed Run Strategy: I always start with a thermometer sweep of the ground floor (30 seconds), then hit bedrooms upstairs (20 seconds), leaving the attic and outdoor areas for last if needed.

Step-by-Step Completion Guide

After perfecting my approach across dozens of runs, here's my optimized strategy:

Phase 1: Initial Setup (0-60 seconds)

1. Grab Essential Gear: Flashlight, Thermometer, EMF Reader
2. Team Split: One person checks ground floor, one goes upstairs
3. Temperature Sweep: Ghost room is always coldest
4. EMF Monitoring: Look for early Level 2 activity
5. Mark Ghost Room: Use UV stick or salt to mark the door

Phase 2: Evidence Gathering (1-5 minutes)

1. Place Equipment: Set up cameras, DOTS, and writing book in ghost room
2. Deploy Crucifixes: Two crucifixes cover most rooms completely
3. Sound Recorder Ready: Keep it on and in your hand
4. Begin Testing: Spirit Box (in dark), check for fingerprints
5. Monitor Activity: Watch for interactions and EMF spikes

Phase 3: Media Collection (5-10 minutes)

1. Unique Photos:
   • Ghost during event/hunt
   • Fingerprints/Footprints
   • Ghost Writing
   • Interactions (thrown objects)
   • Cursed Possession
2. Video Evidence:
   • Ghost manifestations
   • Ghost events
   • DOTS figure
   • Interactions
   • Hunt footage
3. Audio Recordings:
   • Ghost whispers/talking
   • Footsteps
   • Object throws
   • Spirit Box responses
   • Paranormal sounds

Phase 4: Final Evidence (10+ minutes)

1. Review Journal: Check which evidence you have
2. Force Activity: Use Music Box if needed
3. Confirm Ghost Type: Cross-reference all evidence
4. Fill Media Tab: Aim for all unique entries
5. Identify & Leave: Don't risk death after identification

Media Collection Mastery

The key to On Record success lies in understanding the new media system. Here's how to maximize your collection:

Photo Strategy (5 Maximum)

Since you only get five photos, each one must count:

1. Guaranteed Uniques: Fingerprints, Ghost Photo, Ghost Writing
2. Interaction Window: Photos must be taken within 20 seconds
3. Quality Matters: Tier II camera gives better rewards
4. Delete Duplicates: You can remove 3 photos per investigation

Video Recording Tips

Videos are easier to capture but require active recording:

1. Hold to Record: Must hold use button continuously
2. CCTV Recording: Can record from truck monitors
3. Best Moments: Ghost events give clearest footage
4. Multiple Angles: Each camera position counts as unique

Sound Recording Mastery

This is where most players struggle. My proven technique:

1. Always On: Keep recorder activated constantly
2. Visual Cues: Watch the meter/lights while investigating
3. Ghost Proximity: Must be close for quality recording
4. Common Sounds: Whispers, footsteps, Spirit Box responses
5. Patience Required: Don't chase sounds – let them come to you

Pro Strategies for Success

The Music Box Method

The Music Box is your ace in the hole:

1. Find it immediately in the tea room
2. Save it for when you need guaranteed activity
3. Use it for: Ghost photo, singing audio, event video
4. Warning: Don't let it fully deplete (causes cursed hunt)

Sanity Management

With 200% drain rate, sanity management is crucial:

• Take photos early while sanity is high
• Use medication strategically (not panic-driven)
• Lighter players stay in bright areas
• One player maintains high sanity for late-game safety

Team Coordination

Playing with friends across platforms requires coordination:

• Assign roles: Evidence, Media, Support, Truck
• Communicate all interactions immediately
• Share equipment based on sanity levels
• Rotate dangerous tasks

Solo Strategies

Soloing On Record is absolutely doable:

• Prioritize finding ghost room quickly
• Set up all equipment before focusing on media
• Use truck intermittently for safety
• Accept that perfect investigations are harder solo

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from my failures and watching others struggle, here are the pitfalls to avoid:

Equipment Mistakes

1. Forgetting the Sound Recorder: It's new, easy to forget
2. Not Using Tier II Gear: Higher tier = better rewards
3. Hoarding Photos: Take them early before hunts
4. Ignoring Video Cameras: They're not just for orbs anymore

Strategic Errors

1. Rushing Media Collection: Evidence first, media second
2. Ignoring the Music Box: Free guaranteed activity
3. Poor Sanity Management: 200% drain catches people off-guard
4. Focusing on Perfect Investigation: Completion > perfection

Technical Issues

1. Not Holding Record Button: Videos and audio need continuous holding
2. Wrong Interaction Timing: 20-second window for photos
3. Duplicate Media: Each type must be unique
4. Deleting Wrong Evidence: Can only delete 3 items

Rewards & Why It's Worth It

Completing On Record three times nets you:

Guaranteed Rewards

• $5,000 Base: Paid after third completion
• 5,000 XP: Massive progression boost
• Contract Money: Additional earnings from each run
• Perfect Investigation Bonus: Possible with good media collection

Why This Challenge Matters

1. Learning Opportunity: Masters new Chronicle mechanics
2. Relatively Easy: More forgiving than other challenges
3. Great for Teams: Encourages coordination
4. Equipment Practice: Forces Sound Recorder usage
5. Weekly Exclusive: Limited time makes it special

As a beginner, this challenge teaches crucial skills while remaining accessible. Veterans get to explore the new systems without extreme difficulty modifiers.

FAQs

How long do I have to complete the On Record challenge?

You have exactly one week from Monday at Midnight UTC until the next Monday when it rotates to the next challenge. In 2025, this gives you 7 full days to complete three successful investigations.

Can I complete the On Record challenge solo?

Absolutely! While it's easier with a team, the challenge is completely soloable. The high ghost activity actually makes solo play more manageable since evidence appears frequently.

What happens if I die during the challenge?

Death doesn't matter for completion credit! As long as you correctly identify the ghost before dying (or your team identifies it after you die), it counts toward your three required completions.

Do I need to get a perfect investigation for the reward?

No! The $5,000 reward only requires three successful ghost identifications. Perfect investigations give bonus money but aren't required for the main challenge reward.

Why can't I find the Sound Recorder in the truck?

The Sound Recorder is included in the On Record challenge loadout. Look for it on the equipment wall above the Incense. If it's genuinely missing, restart the contract as this would be a bug.

Can I use the Music Box multiple times?

Yes, but be careful! The Music Box has limited uses before it breaks and triggers a cursed hunt. Use it strategically for guaranteed ghost activity when you need specific media evidence.

What's the best ghost to hope for in this challenge?

High-activity ghosts like Oni, Mare, or Poltergeist make media collection easier. Shade can be frustrating due to low activity. The Mimic is actually great since it's active and gives orbs as bonus evidence.

Is the UV evidence really visible for 3 minutes?

Yes! This is a special rule for On Record. Fingerprints and footprints last much longer than normal, giving you plenty of time to photograph them. This makes UV evidence much more reliable.

Conclusion

The On Record challenge represents everything great about Phasmophobia's evolution. It's challenging enough to keep veterans engaged while remaining accessible for players still learning the ropes. By following this guide, you'll not only earn that sweet $5,000 reward but also master the new media collection system that's now core to every investigation.

Remember, you've got limited time to complete this challenge before it rotates out. Whether you're hunting solo or with a cross-platform squad, the key is understanding the new mechanics and playing strategically. The Music Box is your friend, media collection requires patience, and three completions are all you need.

Now grab that Sound Recorder, load into Bleasdale Farmhouse, and show those ghosts who's boss. After mastering On Record, you'll be ready for whatever challenges Phasmophobia throws at you next. Happy hunting, and may your media tab always be full of unique evidence!