What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
To open the Playwright Inspector for an existing test, run npx playwright test --debug from your project directory. It launches a headed browser and the Inspector, where you can play, pause, step through test actions, review actionability logs, and refine locators. To focus on a particular test, add its file and optionally a line number before --debug.
Open the Inspector for an existing test
In a Playwright Test project, run this from the directory containing your Playwright configuration:
npx playwright test --debugThis opens a browser window and the Playwright Inspector. Debug mode runs browsers headed and sets the default timeout to zero, so a test will not fail merely because it exceeded the usual default timeout. That is useful while you inspect a test, but it also means a test can wait indefinitely; use the Inspector controls or stop the run when it is stuck. See Playwright’s running and debugging tests guide.
Focus on a file or line
Pass a test file before --debug to avoid starting with the whole test suite:
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
npx playwright test example.spec.ts --debugTo start at the test associated with a particular line, append a colon and line number to the file name:
npx playwright test example.spec.ts:10 --debugReplace the example path and line number with your own. The line-number form is useful when a file contains several tests and you already know which one to investigate.
Control execution in the Inspector
The Inspector toolbar lets you play, pause, and step through the test. As execution advances, the current test action is highlighted in the code, and the corresponding page elements are highlighted in the browser. Use these controls to narrow down the point where actual behavior diverges from what the test expects.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Play or resume: continue execution until the test finishes or reaches another pause.
- Pause: stop the running test so you can examine the current browser state.
- Step: advance through the test one action at a time and see which page interaction causes a wait or failure.
Pause at a specific point with page.pause()
If the behavior you need to inspect occurs well after setup, add a pause immediately before it rather than stepping through every preceding action:
await page.pause();For example:
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('checkout form', async ({ page }) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com/checkout');
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Continue' }).click();
await page.pause();
await page.getByLabel('Email').fill('dev@example.com');
});Run the test in debug mode. It executes to the pause call and opens the Inspector there; choose Resume to continue. This makes it easier to explore the page state or try a locator at that point in the flow. Remove the pause when finished so the test does not stop for interactive debugging on every run.
Diagnose a click or other action that is waiting
When a test pauses on an action such as a click, inspect the actionability log before changing the test. Playwright’s log can show whether the locator resolved and whether the element was visible, enabled, stable, or scrolled into view. An action can remain pending while Playwright waits for the required conditions.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Find the current action in the Inspector’s highlighted code.
- Review the log entries for the locator and the checks Playwright is performing.
- Use the browser highlight to confirm that the matched element is the control you intended.
- Fix the cause indicated by the log—such as targeting the wrong element or interacting before the page is ready—rather than adding an arbitrary delay.
The exact sequence of log entries depends on the action and page state. The useful distinction is whether the locator is finding the intended element and, if so, which actionability condition has not yet been met.
Pick and refine a locator live
To inspect a page element while paused, select Pick Locator in the Inspector and hover over the element in the browser. The Inspector displays a locator for the element under the pointer. Click the element to put that locator in the Inspector field, then edit it and check whether the intended element remains highlighted before copying it into your test.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Prefer locators that describe the control in terms a user or your test contract recognizes: a role and accessible name, meaningful text, or an explicit test ID. For example, a role-based locator such as page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Continue' }) is generally more informative than a selector tied to incidental markup. Playwright’s locator guidance explains the available approaches.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Treat a picked or generated locator as a draft, not proof that it expresses the right intent. Check that it identifies the intended control, and consider whether its meaning will survive a page redesign. Playwright resolves a locator against the current DOM when an action uses it, so it can locate an element again after a re-render instead of relying on a retained, potentially stale element reference.
Choose the right Playwright debugging workflow
| Workflow | Best fit | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector debug mode | Stepping through an existing test or understanding a waiting action | Run npx playwright test --debug, optionally narrowed to a file or line; inspect actions, logs, and locators. |
| Codegen | Starting a test from browser interactions | Run npx playwright codegen <url>, interact with the page, and use the generated code as a starting point. |
| UI Mode | A broader debugging experience with a locator picker and watch mode | Use the UI Mode workflow described in Playwright’s debugging documentation. |
| VS Code extension | Debugging from an IDE-integrated test workflow | Use the extension’s breakpoint and live-debugging workflow. |
These workflows overlap, but they solve different starting-point problems. Inspector debug mode is the direct route for stepping through a test that already exists; Codegen is oriented around recording interactions; UI Mode and the VS Code extension offer broader or IDE-integrated workflows. Playwright’s best practices cover the broader choice of debugging routes.
Record a new test with Codegen
To record browser interactions and generate test code, run:
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
npx playwright codegen https://example.comCodegen opens a browser and Inspector, records actions, and can generate assertions for visibility, text, or values. It prioritizes role, text, and test-ID locators, and attempts to make a locator unique when several elements match. Review the output for intent and maintainability instead of assuming a generated test is ready unchanged. The Codegen guide also describes using Pick Locator after recording and opening Codegen with a custom browser setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
- The Inspector does not open: Confirm that you are running a Playwright Test command from the project directory and that the test file or line you supplied is valid. Try the basic
npx playwright test --debugcommand to distinguish a focus-argument problem from a broader project or test-runner problem. - The test appears to hang: Debug mode’s default timeout is zero. Check whether the Inspector is paused, whether the test is waiting on an actionability condition, and whether an explicit
page.pause()was reached. Use the logs and controls to identify the wait rather than assuming the test has crashed. - A click stays pending: Read the actionability log to see whether the locator resolved and which condition—visibility, enabled state, stability, or scrolling into view—has not been satisfied. Check that the locator targets the intended element.
- Pick Locator gives an overly specific selector: Edit the locator in the Inspector and test the revised expression against the page highlight. Prefer a role/name, text, or test ID when it accurately captures the control’s purpose.
- The line-number command does not focus the intended test: Make sure the line number corresponds to the test declaration in the named file, and check the file path relative to the project where the command is run.
- A pause remains in automated runs: Remove
await page.pause()after debugging; it is an interactive stop, not a synchronization strategy for routine test execution.
Or skip the browser setup
Playwright Inspector is for debugging browser tests; it is not a screenshot service. If your separate task is to capture a website image without writing browser setup, ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request screenshot API:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. Cookie banners and consent overlays, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed. Its MCP server provides screenshot tools for AI agents, and the free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card required; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Sign up for the free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Inspector with a test that I did not write in Playwright Test?
The commands in this guide use the Playwright Test runner. For a custom browser setup, Playwright’s Codegen documentation describes launching a headed browser and calling page.pause() to open the Inspector.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Does Inspector debug mode change the normal test timeout?
Yes. Playwright documents a zero default timeout in debug mode; this is a debug configuration, not evidence that a test is healthy or making progress.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
