For the standard local setup, install puppeteer and run await puppeteer.launch(). Puppeteer downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation and launches it in headless mode by default. If you use puppeteer-core or manage Chrome yourself, specify a browser executable or channel when launching.
Launch Chrome with the standard Puppeteer package
These examples use ES modules and a placeholder URL. The first launches Puppeteer’s bundled browser, opens a page, prints its title and closes the browser even if page work fails:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}In a project that does not use ES modules, use the CommonJS form instead:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();Install the package
In your project directory, install the end-user package:
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npm install puppeteerThe puppeteer package normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser. Starting with Puppeteer v21.6.0, its installation also includes a separate chrome-headless-shell binary for shell headless mode. Since Puppeteer v19, the documented default browser cache is $HOME/.cache/puppeteer. See the Puppeteer installation guide for installation behavior and configuration.
Check runtime requirements
The current system-requirements page for Puppeteer documentation version 25.12.0 lists Node.js 22.12 or later. It documents Chrome for Testing support on Windows x64; macOS x64 and arm64; and Debian/Ubuntu and openSUSE/Fedora Linux on x64 and arm64. These requirements and platform details can change; check the current system-requirements guide for your environment and its linked platform dependencies.
Choose the package and browser source
| Approach | What it does | What you must configure |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer with bundled browser |
Downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation; the simplest local setup. | Usually nothing beyond puppeteer.launch(). |
puppeteer with installed Chrome |
Launches a browser installed and managed separately. | Set a machine-specific executablePath or a supported channel. Compatibility with arbitrary Chrome versions is not guaranteed. |
puppeteer-core with local browser |
Provides the library without downloading Chrome; useful when you manage browser binaries. | Provide executablePath or channel to launch(). |
puppeteer-core with remote browser |
Connects to a browser already running elsewhere instead of starting a local Chrome process. | Use connect() with the remote browser connection details. |
The Puppeteer PuppeteerNode.launch() API documentation states that with puppeteer-core, options.executablePath or options.channel must be provided. Puppeteer says it works best with the browser build it downloads; a system-installed Chrome choice can introduce version compatibility risk. Check the supported-browser mapping for the version you have installed.
Select headless mode or visible Chrome
In the Puppeteer 25.12.0 launch-options documentation, headless: true is the default and selects the newer headless mode. The modes are distinct:
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Example of visible mode:
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({ headless: false });For more on behavioral differences, see the Puppeteer headless modes guide.
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Launch a separately installed Chrome
Set executablePath to the absolute path of the browser executable, or select an available Chrome release channel. The path below is illustrative only; locations vary by operating system and installation method.
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/absolute/path/to/chrome',
headless: true,
});Alternatively, where the channel is installed and available, use an option such as channel: 'chrome'. With puppeteer-core, install the core package and provide one of these browser selectors:
npm install puppeteer-coreimport puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/absolute/path/to/chrome',
});Do not copy the sample path blindly: use the path for the target machine. If you are not intentionally managing browser versions, the bundled browser from puppeteer is the more straightforward option.
Configure launch behavior
Puppeteer’s launch options include several controls beyond browser selection:
args: additional Chrome command-line arguments. Puppeteer cautions that filtering or removing its default arguments should be done carefully.env: environment variables for the launched browser process.timeout: launch timeout in milliseconds; documented default is 30,000 ms.dumpio: pipe browser process output to the Node.js process streams to help inspect startup output.userDataDir: choose a browser profile directory.devtools: open DevTools; setting it totrueforces headful mode.
Configuration can also be supplied through environment variables instead of hard-coding browser setup in the launch call. The configuration reference documents PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH for browser selection, PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD to skip the browser download, and PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR to change the browser cache location. See the Puppeteer configuration reference for their behavior.
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Troubleshoot launch failures
Chrome is missing after installation
If you see an error such as Could not find Chrome (ver. ...), check whether your package manager blocked dependency installation scripts. Install the browser explicitly after the package install:
npx puppeteer browsers installThen check that Puppeteer is looking in the same cache location where the browser was installed. The installation guide covers browser installation and cache configuration.
Linux reports missing shared libraries
Chrome may exist but fail to start because system libraries are absent. The Puppeteer troubleshooting guide suggests checking dependencies with:
ldd chrome | grep notUse the output to identify missing libraries and install the needed packages for your Linux distribution. The troubleshooting guide links platform dependency information.
Linux reports a sandbox error
Check host sandbox support and any relevant AppArmor restrictions before changing Chrome flags. Puppeteer strongly discourages --no-sandbox because Chrome’s sandbox protects the host from untrusted web content. Treat disabling it only as a risky workaround for content you absolutely trust, not as routine setup.
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Windows policy or permissions prevent launch
On Windows, review the Puppeteer troubleshooting guidance for extension policies that conflict with Puppeteer’s default flags and for permissions on downloaded browser files. Changing flags without understanding the policy conflict can introduce new launch or security problems.
Chrome launches but behavior or compatibility is wrong
Compare the installed Puppeteer version with its supported browser mapping. The current Chromium support page identifies Puppeteer v25.12.0 with Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57; this is a version-specific mapping, not a promise that every Chrome release works with every Puppeteer release. Use the bundled browser where possible, or consult the support table before pinning a separately managed version.
Launch times out or exits without useful output
The launch-options API documents a 30,000 ms default timeout. If startup is slow, first confirm the executable exists and its dependencies are present; then consider a larger timeout where slower startup is expected. Set dumpio: true to expose browser process output while diagnosing. Avoid masking a missing executable or library by only increasing the timeout.
Connect to a remote browser instead of launching locally
If maintaining local browser binaries and host dependencies is not a fit, Puppeteer can connect to an existing remote browser over WebSocket. Browserless documents this workflow with puppeteer.connect() and a browserWSEndpoint:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.connect({
browserWSEndpoint: 'wss://your-browser-websocket-endpoint',
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.disconnect();
}The endpoint shown is a placeholder, not a working service URL. When attaching to a remote browser, disconnect rather than closing the browser if it is shared or managed outside this script. Browserless documents its connection flow in its BaaS guide and describes cloud and self-hosted options on its platform page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puppeteer launch Chrome or Chromium?
The standard Puppeteer installation downloads Chrome for Testing. The browser mapping and supported versions are listed in Puppeteer’s Chromium support documentation.
Can I use Puppeteer with TypeScript?
Yes. Puppeteer is a JavaScript library with TypeScript declarations; the launch options and browser workflow shown here can be used from a TypeScript project.
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Puppeteer documents browser support beyond Chrome, including a version-specific Firefox mapping. Check the current supported-browser table and browser-specific guidance before choosing it.
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