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Open PowerShell or Command Prompt in your Playwright project and run npx --no-install playwright --version. A version number confirms that the project can access a locally installed Playwright CLI. If you only need to know whether the CLI is available through the current npm context, run npx playwright --version. These commands do not prove that Playwright’s Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit browser binaries are present; check those separately with npx playwright install --list.
Choose the right Windows check
Playwright has two separate installation layers:
- Node package and CLI: the Playwright dependency recorded in the project can be invoked by your package manager.
- Browser binaries: the actual Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit builds that Playwright launches.
A successful version command checks the first layer only. A browser-list command checks what browser installations Playwright knows about. Keeping these checks separate prevents a common diagnosis error: treating a printed Playwright version as proof that a test machine has a usable browser.
Check the Playwright CLI from PowerShell or Command Prompt
1. Open the project directory
Start PowerShell or Command Prompt and change to the repository that contains your Playwright project. For example:
cd C:pathtoyour-projectRun the command in the project directory rather than an unrelated folder. A local dependency is resolved from the current project’s package manifest and its installed dependency tree.
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2. Verify a local installation without downloading
npx --no-install playwright --versionThis is the strictest check for an existing local npm installation. The --no-install option tells npx not to resolve or fetch a package when it cannot find one locally.
A response such as 1.52.0 (the exact version depends on your project) means the Playwright CLI is available in that project context. If npm reports that it could not determine an executable or cannot find the package, Playwright is not available locally under the expected package setup.
3. Check CLI availability through the npm context
npx playwright --versionThis command can use the project’s local package and, depending on your npm and npx configuration, may resolve a package that is not already installed. Use it when your question is simply “Can this package-manager context run Playwright?” Use the --no-install form when you need a definitive local-dependency check.
Use Yarn or pnpm when the project does not use npm
The package manager should match the project’s lockfile and scripts. From the same project directory, use the documented command for that manager:
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Run these commands beside the project’s package.json and lockfile. Running from a parent directory can select a different dependency context, while running from a random directory can make a correctly installed project appear missing.
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Interpret the result correctly
A version number appears
The CLI is reachable in the current package-manager context. You can now invoke Playwright commands such as test runs or browser management from that project. The result does not establish that browser binaries are installed, that every browser required by your tests is present, or that a browser can launch successfully on this Windows machine.
“Command not found” or an executable error appears
Typical causes include being outside the project directory, not having installed dependencies, using the wrong package manager, or having a package manifest that does not include Playwright. Confirm your location, inspect the project’s package.json, and install the project dependencies with the project’s normal package-manager command before repeating the version check.
The command appears to fetch or resolve a package
That behavior is possible with npx playwright --version. Repeat the test with npx --no-install playwright --version to distinguish an existing local dependency from a package that npx is attempting to obtain.
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Check whether Playwright browser binaries are installed
After the CLI check, list the browser builds known to Playwright:
npx playwright install --listThe output identifies browser installations available to that Playwright setup. Compare the listed browsers with what your tests request. A project that uses Chromium does not become valid merely because Firefox is listed, and a version command alone cannot reveal this mismatch.
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Install all standard browsers
npx playwright installUse this when the project expects Playwright’s standard browser set and the required binaries are absent.
Install one browser only
npx playwright install chromiumReplace chromium with the browser your test suite requires. Installing only what the project uses reduces download size and avoids confusing an intentionally minimal setup with a broken one.
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Understand the Windows cache location
By default, Playwright stores browser binaries under %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright. You can override the browser path, so an absent folder at that exact location is not conclusive evidence that no browser is installed. Prefer npx playwright install --list, which asks the active Playwright installation what it knows about, rather than relying on a folder search.
A complete diagnostic sequence
- Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.
- Change to the repository that contains the Playwright package manifest.
- Run
npx --no-install playwright --version. - If the project uses Yarn or pnpm, use
yarn playwright --versionorpnpm exec playwright --versioninstead. - If the CLI is available, run
npx playwright install --list. - Install missing browsers with
npx playwright installor a specific command such asnpx playwright install chromium. - Run the project’s normal test command. A launch failure after a successful list check usually points to a browser, permissions, environment, or test-configuration issue rather than a missing npm package.
Troubleshoot common Windows failures
The strict check fails but the project contains Playwright
- Verify that the terminal is in the directory containing the intended
package.json. - Check whether the dependency is listed under the project’s dependencies or development dependencies.
- Use the same package manager that created the lockfile; do not substitute Yarn or pnpm commands in an npm-managed project without a reason.
- Install dependencies using the project’s documented workflow, then repeat the strict check.
The version works, but a test says a browser executable is missing
This is the package-versus-browser distinction. Run npx playwright install --list, then install the missing browser. If the project uses a custom browser path, verify that the environment running the test uses the same path rather than assuming the default Windows cache is active.
Installation works locally but fails in CI
CI has its own working directory, dependency installation, user profile, and browser cache. Add the version check and npx playwright install --list to the CI diagnostic output, then install the required browser in the CI job. A browser present in your local %USERPROFILE% cache is not automatically available to another Windows account or build agent.
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Windows or Node.js support is uncertain
The current official Playwright installation page lists Windows 11 or later, Windows Server 2019 or later, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) among supported environments. It lists Node.js 22.x, 24.x, or 26.x in its system requirements. These requirements can change, so consult the live official guide when diagnosing a newer environment or a legacy Windows installation.
You are starting a new project
For a new project, the installation guide documents scaffolding with npm init playwright@latest. Existing projects should normally use their recorded dependency versions instead of replacing them casually. The guide also documents a Playwright extension for Visual Studio Code; an extension can improve editor workflow, but it does not replace the command-line checks above.
Performance, reliability and repeatability
- Fastest package check:
npx --no-install playwright --versionavoids an unexpected package lookup. - Most useful browser check:
npx playwright install --listreports Playwright’s own browser knowledge instead of relying on Windows Explorer. - Repeatable automation: run checks from the same project directory and under the same Windows account that executes the tests.
- Minimal downloads: install only the browser engines required by the suite when disk space or setup time matters.
- Clear logs: record the Playwright version and browser-list output in troubleshooting logs so package and binary failures can be separated.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a Playwright version number prove that Chromium is installed?
No. It proves CLI access only. Use npx playwright install --list to inspect browser binaries.
Should I use npx playwright --version or the strict command?
Use npx --no-install playwright --version when you specifically need to verify an existing local package. Use the shorter command when general CLI availability is sufficient.
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This workflow is intended for a project-local installation. A global command can describe a different version from the one your tests use, so diagnose the project context first.
Why is the default browser-cache folder missing?
The browser path may have been overridden. The folder location is only the default; the Playwright browser list is the authoritative practical check for the active setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What command should I put in a Windows setup script?
Use npx --no-install playwright --version for a local-package check, followed by npx playwright install --list when the script must verify browser availability.
Do Yarn and pnpm need different checks?
Yes. Use yarn playwright --version for Yarn and pnpm exec playwright --version for pnpm so each command uses its project’s package-manager context.
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