For ordinary Puppeteer automation, pass launch settings to puppeteer.launch(options); you generally do not need to construct a browser process yourself. The lower-level Process constructor accepts a LaunchOptions object, but its reference is not a complete browser-launch recipe. This guide explains the distinction, shows a runnable setup, and helps you choose the options that matter.
What the Puppeteer Process constructor does
The documented constructor signature is new Process(opts: LaunchOptions). It creates a Process instance that represents a browser process and exposes process-level lifecycle and logging operations, including close(), kill(), hasClosed(), waitForLineOutput(), and getRecentLogs(). See the Process constructor reference and Process class reference.
That low-level API is different from launching a browser for page automation. puppeteer.launch(options) is the public workflow: it starts or launches a browser and resolves to a Browser. Browser.process() later exposes the associated Node.js child process, or returns null when Puppeteer connected to an already-running browser. See PuppeteerNode.launch() and Browser.process().
Launch a browser with the public API
For a standard local setup, install puppeteer, then launch it, create a page, navigate, and close the browser when finished:
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npm i puppeteerconst puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: true,
timeout: 30_000,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();The sample uses the standard launch path and closes the browser even if navigation or page work throws an error. The current launch reference documents timeout as 30 seconds by default, so specifying it is optional here; use a different value only when your workload needs it. See the launch API and installation guide.
Choose between puppeteer and puppeteer-core
| Package | Browser installation | What to provide when launching | Best fit | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser and chrome-headless-shell during installation. |
Usually no browser path is needed for the bundled browser. | Local automation where you want Puppeteer to manage the browser download. | Puppeteer says its bundled Chrome for Testing version is guaranteed to work best with that Puppeteer version. |
puppeteer-core |
Does not download a browser. | When launching a managed browser, provide executablePath or a channel installed in a standard location. |
Connecting to a remote browser or managing browser installation yourself. | Compatibility with arbitrary custom executables is not guaranteed. |
These package behaviors and compatibility qualifications are described in Puppeteer’s installation guide and launch reference. If you set executablePath, the launch documentation recommends also setting browser so Puppeteer knows which browser type the executable represents.
Rank #2
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Set up and install the browser
- Check your runtime. The current Puppeteer system requirements list Node.js 22.12 or later, and TypeScript 5.0.1 or later if you use TypeScript. OS-specific browser requirements and archive utilities also apply; consult the system requirements for your target environment.
- Install the package. Run
npm i puppeteerfor the package-managed browser workflow. The installation guide also documents equivalent commands for Yarn, pnpm, and Bun. - Run a launch smoke test. Use the sample above to confirm that the browser starts, a page can be created, and cleanup completes.
- For a managed browser instead, install
puppeteer-core. SupplyexecutablePathor a standard-locationchannelin launch options when starting that browser. If connecting to a remote browser, use the documented connection workflow rather than expectingpuppeteer-coreto download one.
The installation guide says the browser cache defaults to $HOME/.cache/puppeteer beginning with Puppeteer 19.0.0. It gives approximate Chrome for Testing download sizes of 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows; those are documentation estimates, not fixed sizes for every release. See Puppeteer installation.
Pick only the LaunchOptions your environment needs
The current LaunchOptions reference (Puppeteer 25.12.0) defines an interface extending ConnectOptions. Select options by the decision they control rather than copying a large configuration into every script.
Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Browser binary and channel
browserselects browser type and defaults tochrome.channelselects a regular Chrome installation at a known system location.executablePathpoints to a specific executable instead of Puppeteer’s bundled browser. Custom executables can work, but Puppeteer does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary binaries.
Headless mode and display
headlessdefaults totrue, which uses new headless mode.- Set
headless: 'shell'to use the old headless shell. devtools: trueforcesheadless: false, so use it when you need the visible browser and DevTools.
Arguments and defaults
argsadds browser command-line arguments.ignoreDefaultArgsdisables or filters Puppeteer’s standard arguments. The documentation says to use it with care because removing defaults can change launch behavior unexpectedly.
Environment variables and user profile
envcontrols environment variables visible to the browser and defaults toprocess.env.userDataDirselects the browser user-data directory. Use separate directories when you need isolated profiles rather than having runs share profile state.
Startup diagnostics and timeout
dumpiopipes browser stdout and stderr to the Node.js process streams; it defaults tofalseand is useful when diagnosing startup failures.timeoutis the launch timeout in milliseconds and defaults to 30,000; set it to0to disable that timeout.waitForInitialPagedefaults totrue; change it only if your launch flow does not need Puppeteer to wait for the initial page.
Signals and transport
handleSIGHUP,handleSIGINT, andhandleSIGTERMdefault totrueand control whether Puppeteer handles those process signals for browser shutdown.signallets an abort signal close the browser.pipeuses stdio streams rather than WebSocket transport and is documented as Chrome-only.
Firefox preferences, extension settings, and protocol-connection settings are specialized options; use the launch reference when that specific case applies instead of adding them to a routine Chrome launch configuration.
Troubleshoot launch and setup failures
“Could not find Chrome (ver. …)”
A common cause is a package manager blocking dependency install scripts, which can prevent Puppeteer’s browser download. Run npx puppeteer browsers install manually, or configure the package manager to permit Puppeteer’s install script. If the project intentionally manages its own browser, use puppeteer-core and provide the browser location or channel for a launch. The official fix is in the installation guide.
Rank #4
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Launch fails with a custom executable
Confirm that the path exists and points to the intended browser binary. Set browser as well as executablePath, as recommended in the launch documentation. If the executable is not the bundled Chrome for Testing version, compatibility is not guaranteed.
Browser starts too slowly or appears stuck
Enable dumpio: true to see browser output, and check whether the launch timeout is appropriate for the machine and environment. Raising the timeout can accommodate slow startup; setting it to 0 disables the timeout, which also removes that safeguard.
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Browser remains open after the task
Ensure the application reaches await browser.close(), including error paths. Put page work in a try block and cleanup in finally, as in the example, so a failed navigation does not skip browser shutdown.
Or skip the browser setup
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Version notes
The constructor reference is displayed as Puppeteer 25.10.0, while the current launch-options, launch, installation, and system-requirements pages used here are 25.12.0; the Process class page reports 25.9.0. Check the API declarations for the Puppeteer version installed in your project before relying on a particular option or signature. The cited official pages were accessed on October 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Process constructor return a Browser?
No. It constructs a lower-level Process instance. The public launch method resolves to a Browser.
When should I use puppeteer-core?
Use it when connecting to a remote browser or managing browser installation yourself; it does not download Chrome.
Quick Recap
Can I disable Puppeteer’s launch timeout?
Yes. Set the LaunchOptions timeout value to 0.
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