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Use a scheduled CI workflow to launch a Playwright script: authenticate with a test account, confirm the protected page has loaded, save the screenshot, then upload it as an artifact or send it to storage you control. Keep the saved authentication state secret; it can grant access to the account.
Choose where the scheduled capture will run
A CI scheduler is a practical option for recurring, unattended captures. Playwright’s CI guide documents the general run sequence and a GitHub Actions workflow example: install project dependencies, install the browser binaries and operating-system dependencies, then run the capture script or test. See Playwright’s CI documentation.
Hosted CI is usually simpler to maintain than an always-on machine, while a self-hosted runner may make sense if you need control over the environment or already operate one. Compare maintenance, secret handling, scheduling and timezone behavior, run limits, and artifact access and retention. Schedule syntax, timezones, quotas, and retention depend on the provider; check its current documentation rather than assuming Playwright sets them.
Set up authentication safely
For an application with a stable test login, authenticate once and save Playwright’s browser storage state for the capture run. Playwright’s authentication guide describes setup projects and state reuse: Authentication in Playwright.
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- Use a dedicated read-only test account where possible. If runs can mutate shared server-side state or execute concurrently, use separate accounts per worker rather than sharing one account.
- Keep the state file in a git-ignored directory. It can contain cookies and headers that are enough to impersonate the account; never commit it or print it in logs.
- Store passwords, tokens, and any state needed by CI in the provider’s secret facility. Restrict job and artifact access, and plan to reauthenticate when the session expires.
When the application offers a supported authentication API, Playwright can make the request and save the resulting state instead of automating the login UI. Saved state can cover cookies, local storage, IndexedDB, and passkey-based authentication. Session storage is not persisted through the same API and requires a separate save-and-restore approach described in the authentication guide.
Build a scheduled capture script
Install Playwright in the project and install its browser binaries for the browser you use. The example below assumes a Node.js project, a supported test login page, and credentials injected as environment variables by your CI provider. Replace the URLs, selectors, and environment-variable names with your app’s actual values.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
const loginUrl = process.env.APP_LOGIN_URL;
const pageUrl = process.env.APP_PAGE_URL;
const username = process.env.APP_USERNAME;
const password = process.env.APP_PASSWORD;
if (!loginUrl || !pageUrl || !username || !password) {
throw new Error('Set APP_LOGIN_URL, APP_PAGE_URL, APP_USERNAME, and APP_PASSWORD');
}
const browser = await chromium.launch();
try {
const context = await browser.newContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto(loginUrl, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
await page.getByLabel('Email').fill(username);
await page.getByLabel('Password').fill(password);
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Sign in' }).click();
// Prefer an app-specific success signal over assuming the click logged in.
await page.waitForURL('**/dashboard');
await page.goto(pageUrl, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
await page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Account overview' }).waitFor();
await mkdir('artifacts', { recursive: true });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'artifacts/page.png' });
await context.storageState({ path: 'playwright/.auth/state.json' });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}The labels, button name, final URL pattern, and heading are examples, not universal selectors. Use signals that identify a successful session and the specific page state you intend to record. Playwright’s authentication example uses a final URL or authenticated UI state as confirmation rather than treating a click as proof that login succeeded.
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This script authenticates on every run, then saves storage state. If you prefer to reuse state, put the state file in a protected, git-ignored location and load it with browser.newContext({ storageState: 'playwright/.auth/state.json' }) on later runs. Do not rely on saved state indefinitely: expired sessions need a fresh login.
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Viewport or full-page image
page.screenshot({ path: 'artifacts/page.png' }) saves the current viewport. To capture the full scrollable page, use page.screenshot({ path: 'artifacts/page.png', fullPage: true }). Full-page images can be much taller and are not a single-viewport representation. The Page API also supports PNG, JPEG, and WebP output, masking, scale, and animation control; see the Page screenshot API.
Run as a script or a test
A standalone script is enough for one scheduled image. Use Playwright Test if you want its fixtures, setup projects, reports, retries, or screenshot assertions. Its toHaveScreenshot() assertion is for comparing against a baseline, which is a different goal from keeping a dated record of a page’s appearance. See Visual comparisons.
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- 【Wide Compatibility】Works with USB 2.0/3.0, no additional drivers required. Ready to use in approximately one minute or less on any compatible device. Compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 and higher / Windows 7, 10 & 11, Pro / Android 4.0 or higher / Linux 2.6.24 / Chrome OS 29.0.1547 / Ubuntu Version 10.04 or above. Not compatible with XBOX/PS4/PS5.
Schedule the job and retain the image
Configure your CI provider to run the script or test on its schedule. The Playwright CI guide shows a workflow pattern and artifact upload for test output; adapt the upload path to artifacts/. Verify the provider’s current schedule syntax, timezone interpretation, branch rules, and artifact controls. Those are provider-specific, not Playwright settings.
- Install project dependencies in the job.
- Install Playwright browser binaries and required operating-system dependencies.
- Provide the login secrets through the CI secret store.
- Run the capture command with a single worker for stability unless your environment justifies parallelism.
- Upload the screenshot directory as a CI artifact, or copy it to a controlled storage service if it must outlive the artifact retention window.
Playwright recommends one worker in CI when prioritizing stability and reproducibility. On a capable self-hosted system, parallel workers or sharding may suit larger workloads. Decide whether artifacts are for short-term inspection or durable records, then explicitly configure their retention and access controls with the provider.
Make repeat captures useful
- Choose viewport or full-page capture based on what the image is meant to show.
- Use an explicit image format and path. PNG is a broadly usable lossless choice; JPEG or WebP may suit different storage or delivery needs.
- Consider CSS-pixel scale for more consistent dimensions across high-density displays.
- Wait for an application-specific element or state, not just an arbitrary delay, when the page has meaningful readiness signals.
- Mask or disable dynamic content and animations when repeat captures need to be comparable.
- Keep scheduled observation artifacts distinct from visual-regression baselines; update a baseline only when the reference appearance is intentionally changing.
Common failures and fixes
The capture shows a login page
The login may have failed, the session may have expired, or the script may have navigated before authentication completed. Wait for a final URL or authenticated element, confirm that the session can access the target page, and refresh expired state. Do not treat a successful button click as proof of login.
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The script times out waiting for a selector
The selector may not match the current UI, the page may still be loading, or authentication may have redirected elsewhere. Confirm the actual page and accessible label or role, then wait for a stable app-specific readiness signal.
The job cannot find the browser
The CI job may have installed the Node package without installing its browser binaries or operating-system dependencies. Follow Playwright’s CI setup sequence for the installed version and selected browser.
The screenshot file is missing after the job
A CI workspace output is not necessarily permanent. Ensure the script creates the directory, upload that directory as an artifact, and check the provider’s artifact path and retention settings.
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Runs are inconsistent or interfere with each other
Animations, live data, or concurrent runs against a shared account can change the result. Disable or mask volatile visual elements, avoid unsafe shared-state mutations, and use separate accounts when concurrent workers need them.
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ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its API can return an image or PDF with one GET request; this example saves a WebP response. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for parameters and setup.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpFor a protected app, supply the authentication options supported by the API as documented, and do not put credentials in a public URL or logs. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are not billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
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Can Playwright reuse a login between scheduled runs?
Yes. Save and load browser storage state, but treat the file as a credential and refresh it when its session expires.
Should I use Playwright Test for a scheduled screenshot?
A standalone script suits a single capture; Playwright Test is useful when you also need test fixtures, setup projects, reports, retries, or screenshot comparisons.
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