Use Pyppeteer’s asynchronous API to launch Chromium, open a page, and save a screenshot. The example below captures the visible viewport as a PNG; set fullPage=True to capture the full scrollable page instead. One important caveat: the Pyppeteer project currently labels itself unmaintained, so consider Playwright Python for new automation projects.
Install Pyppeteer and prepare Chromium
Pyppeteer is an unofficial Python port of Puppeteer for headless Chrome and Chromium automation. The current project README requires Python 3.8 or later. Install it with pip:
python -m pip install pyppeteer
On first use, Pyppeteer downloads its bundled Chromium if it is not already available. The project README estimates that download at about 150 MB. To download it before running your script, use:
pyppeteer-install
Alternatively, configure Pyppeteer to use a suitable Chrome or Chromium binary. Its API documentation cautions that bundled Chromium is the best-supported option and compatibility with other Chrome versions is not guaranteed. See the Pyppeteer project README and API reference.
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Capture a website screenshot with Python
This example follows Pyppeteer’s documented asynchronous flow: launch the browser, create a page, navigate to a URL that includes its scheme, save the screenshot, then close the browser.
import asyncio
from pyppeteer import launch
async def main():
browser = await launch()
try:
page = await browser.newPage()
await page.goto("https://example.com")
await page.screenshot({"path": "screenshot.png"})
finally:
await browser.close()
asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(main())Save the code as screenshot.py, then run python screenshot.py. It writes screenshot.png in the current working directory. The try/finally ensures the browser is closed even if navigation or screenshot capture raises an error.
Choose what to capture and how to save it
Pyppeteer’s screenshot options let you choose the capture area, image format, and output form. The option names below use Pyppeteer’s API spelling.
| Need | Option or approach | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Visible browser viewport | Default | Captures the currently visible page area. |
| Entire scrollable page | fullPage=True |
Captures the full page rather than just the viewport. |
| A rectangular region | clip with x, y, width, and height |
Restricts the capture to the specified rectangle. |
| PNG output | type="png", or omit type |
PNG is the default format. |
| JPEG output | type="jpeg" and optionally quality |
Uses JPEG; the quality option applies to JPEG output. |
| Transparent background | omitBackground=True |
Omits the default white background so transparency can be preserved. |
| In-memory output | Omit path |
Returns screenshot data instead of writing directly to a file; the API also supports binary and base64 output. |
Full-page PNG
To capture the whole scrollable document, change the screenshot call to:
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await page.screenshot({"path": "full-page.png", "fullPage": True})
JPEG with quality control
For a JPEG file, set the type and a quality value from the API’s supported range:
await page.screenshot({"path": "page.jpg", "type": "jpeg", "quality": 80})
JPEG is lossy, while PNG is the default; choose based on whether a smaller lossy image or lossless output better suits your use.
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Clip a rectangle
Pass a clip rectangle when you only need a region. Coordinates and dimensions are in CSS pixels:
await page.screenshot({"path": "region.png", "clip": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 800, "height": 600}})
Capture with a transparent background
Use omitBackground when the page’s background should be transparent in the resulting image:
await page.screenshot({"path": "transparent.png", "omitBackground": True})
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These controls, including path, image type, clipping, and output formats, are documented in the Pyppeteer API reference.
Wait for the page state you actually need
page.goto() requires a complete URL, including a scheme such as https://. Its documented default navigation timeout is 30 seconds, and the default waitUntil condition is load. A page may still add content after that event—for example, a section rendered by client-side JavaScript—so wait for the relevant selector or condition before taking the screenshot rather than assuming a fixed delay works for every site.
For example, wait for an element that signals the content you need is present:
await page.goto("https://example.com")
await page.waitForSelector("main")
await page.screenshot({"path": "ready.png"})
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If a site loads slowly, configure navigation timeout options for goto according to the API reference. Increasing a timeout gives navigation longer to complete; it does not ensure that every later, dynamically loaded element is ready.
Troubleshoot common Pyppeteer screenshot problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Pyppeteer cannot find or launch Chromium | The bundled browser has not been downloaded, or a configured browser binary is unavailable. | Run pyppeteer-install, or check that the Chrome/Chromium binary path is valid. The project recommends its bundled Chromium for best compatibility. |
| Browser launch fails with a different Chrome version | The installed browser may not match the version Pyppeteer expects. | Try the bundled Chromium. The API reference does not guarantee compatibility with other Chrome versions. |
| Navigation fails or times out | The URL may be malformed, omit its scheme, or take longer than the default 30-second timeout. | Use a full URL such as https://example.com; adjust the documented navigation timeout if appropriate and verify the page is reachable from the machine running the script. |
| The screenshot misses content | The page may have fired its load event before the desired dynamic content appeared. |
Wait for the specific selector or condition that indicates the needed content is ready. Avoid relying on one fixed sleep for pages with different load behavior. |
| The output only shows the top of a long page | The default capture is the viewport, not the full scrollable page. | Set fullPage=True. |
| A region capture is empty or incorrectly framed | The clip rectangle’s coordinates or dimensions do not cover the intended region. | Check the x, y, width, and height values against the page’s CSS-pixel layout. |
Maintenance and alternative libraries
The Pyppeteer GitHub README currently labels the project unmaintained and recommends considering Playwright Python. That is relevant if you are starting a new automation project or need an actively documented path; it does not change the Pyppeteer steps above. Playwright’s official Python screenshot documentation covers ordinary screenshots, full-page captures, buffers, and element screenshots. Its API is not a drop-in replacement for Pyppeteer, so review its examples before switching.
Sources: Pyppeteer project README and Playwright Python screenshot documentation.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo takes a screenshot or PDF with one GET request, so you do not need to install or manage Chromium for this capture. Cookie banners are accepted and removed, along with known newsletter popups and chat widgets, before the shot; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides screenshot tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
Example using cURL (see the ScreenshotNeo documentation):
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