The Tool Desk
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Identify which timeout occurred
Keep the complete exception and command output; the wording helps distinguish the failing layer. A message such as “Navigation timeout of 30000 ms exceeded” points to navigation or its readiness path, but does not by itself prove that Browsershot’s PHP process timeout expired. Browsershot exposes separate timeout() and protocolTimeout() settings, and Puppeteer also has a navigation-timeout API.
- Browsershot process timeout: limits how long its browser script is allowed to run.
- Navigation timeout: concerns loading or navigating to a page. Puppeteer’s
Page.goto()documents navigation behavior and its timeout options: Puppeteer Page.goto(). - Protocol timeout: applies to browser protocol operations; it is a distinct setting from the process timeout.
- Readiness wait: a selector, function, or network-idle condition can wait indefinitely in practice if the chosen condition does not occur before the applicable limit.
For navigation defaults, Puppeteer documents Page.setDefaultNavigationTimeout() at Puppeteer Page.setDefaultNavigationTimeout(). Do not assume that changing this setting adjusts Browsershot’s PHP-side process limit.
Check whether Chromium can reach the target URL
A URL opening in your desktop browser does not guarantee it is reachable from the Node.js/Chromium process that Browsershot launches. This is especially important for localhost: inside a container or remote server, it refers to that environment, not necessarily your workstation or the PHP host you had in mind.
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- Confirm the hostname resolves and the port is reachable from the machine or container running Chromium.
- Check redirects, authentication requirements, TLS certificates, and whether the page is actually being served in that runtime context.
- For a local development URL, verify which process handles the request and whether the screenshot job’s navigation or callback creates a second request to the same built-in PHP server.
Spatie’s GitHub discussion #516 reports a localhost-specific case with “Navigation timeout of 30000 ms exceeded.” The discussion suggests increasing PHP_CLI_SERVER_WORKERS so the PHP built-in server can handle more than one request. Treat that as a case-specific workaround: use it only if your deployment and request flow match the reported situation, not as a universal Browsershot fix.
Choose a readiness condition that can actually happen
Network-idle waits are not suitable for every site. Analytics, polling, streaming, and other persistent requests may prevent a page from becoming idle. Browsershot provides strict and non-strict network-idle behavior (networkidle0 and networkidle2), as well as waitForSelector() and waitForFunction(). The available options are defined in Browsershot’s source.
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If the page has a reliable rendered element or application state that signals completion, wait for that instead of requiring all network activity to stop. Use a fixed delay only when there is no dependable readiness signal; a delay can be either unnecessarily long or too short when page behavior varies.
Verify the installed runtime and compatible versions
Check the dependencies and executable paths in the environment where PHP runs the screenshot job—not just on a developer’s workstation. Confirm that Node.js, Puppeteer, and Chrome or Chromium are installed; verify custom binary or module paths and executable permissions.
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- Browsershot 5.0.0 requires Puppeteer 23.0 or higher.
- Browsershot 4.2.0 added protocol-timeout options.
These version details are from Spatie’s Browsershot changelog (2024). Check the version installed in your application before copying configuration from another release.
Adjust only the timeout that matches the failure
Browsershot’s timeout() method accepts seconds and converts the value to milliseconds for its browser script. protocolTimeout() is a separate option. The current main-branch source defines a 60-second default process timeout; defaults and APIs can change, so verify the installed release in Browsershot.php.
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Increase the relevant limit when the target is reachable, the dependencies are compatible, and the operation predictably needs more time. If navigation is blocked, the browser binary is absent, or a readiness condition cannot be satisfied, raising a timeout only delays the same failure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep Chrome’s CLI timeout separate
Chrome’s standalone headless command-line --timeout controls when the CLI captures content even if a page is still loading. It is not the same as Browsershot’s PHP API timeout. See Google’s Chrome Headless command-line reference before applying CLI guidance to a Browsershot call.
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Or skip the browser setup
Instead of maintaining a Node.js, Puppeteer, and Chromium capture runtime, you can use ScreenshotNeo, a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns an image or PDF. For a quick test, replace the example URL with your target:
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 documentation for request options. Cookie banners are accepted and removed before capture, along with supported newsletter popups and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing, with response headers indicating the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server lets AI agents use take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Browsershot navigation timeout always mean the PHP process timeout expired?
No. Navigation, Browsershot’s process, protocol operations, and readiness waits have distinct timeout behavior. Use the exception and the setting involved to identify the layer.
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Check whether Chromium can reach that hostname and port from the environment where it runs, and whether the PHP built-in server needs to handle simultaneous requests. The reported `PHP_CLI_SERVER_WORKERS` workaround applies only when the request flow matches that case.
Can Chrome’s `–timeout` option fix a Browsershot timeout?
Not necessarily. Chrome’s headless CLI flag governs standalone CLI capture timing; it is separate from Browsershot’s PHP API timeout.
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