Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTo run WebdriverIO end-to-end tests in multiple browsers, define a WebDriver capability for each browser you want to cover, then run the suite with the WDIO local runner. Start a project with npx wdio config, add the browser capabilities to wdio.conf.js, and run it with npx wdio run ./wdio.conf.js. This guide shows a small test, local and remote setup choices, parallelism controls, and common fixes.
1. Set up a WebdriverIO project
WebdriverIO’s setup wizard creates a runner configuration suited to your project. Install Node.js, open a terminal in your project directory, and run:
npx wdio configChoose the local runner for end-to-end browser workflows. The wizard asks about the test framework, test files, and other project options. The built-in framework integrations documented by WebdriverIO are Mocha, Jasmine, and Cucumber.js; install the corresponding adapter packages alongside WebdriverIO. See the framework documentation for the current package and setup details.
Run the configuration the wizard generated:
npx wdio run ./wdio.conf.jsTo run just one test file, the Getting Started guide documents the --spec option:
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npx wdio run ./wdio.conf.js --spec example.e2e.jsThese are the documented command forms; check the WebdriverIO documentation for the release you install if the CLI or generated configuration differs.
2. Configure browser capabilities
A capability describes the browser session WebdriverIO should request. Common standard fields include browserName, browser version, and platform. WebdriverIO validates user-defined capabilities against the WebDriver specification and can fail early when they do not conform. Browser-specific and hosted-provider options can extend the standard fields; keep those extensions specific to the driver or service you use. See Capabilities and Configuration.
For a local cross-browser suite, give the runner one capability entry per target browser. For example, the basic shape is:
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export const config = {
specs: ['./test/specs/**/*.js'],
framework: 'mocha',
capabilities: [
{ browserName: 'chrome' },
{ browserName: 'firefox' },
{ browserName: 'MicrosoftEdge' }
],
maxInstances: 3
};This illustrates the capability structure rather than a guarantee that every local installation uses those exact browser names or has matching drivers available. Confirm the names, versions, and driver setup for your WebdriverIO release and environment. The official capability documentation includes examples for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and cloud-vendor extensions; it is not a promise that every browser and option is available in every environment.
Headless and browser-specific settings
Headless configuration is browser-dependent. WebdriverIO’s capability guide provides examples for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge and notes Safari does not support headless mode in the described setup. Do not copy a headless flag from one browser into another capability without checking the browser-specific guidance. The Browser Runner has a separate CI behavior: it sets headless by default when its CI variable is 1 or true. That setting should not be mistaken for a universal local-runner default.
3. Write a small end-to-end test
Keep the first test focused on a visible user behavior and a stable test page. In a runner test, the active browser session is exposed through browser or driver, or can be imported from @wdio/globals depending on configuration. This example uses the runner’s global browser style consistently:
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describe('search page', () => {
it('shows results for a query', async () => {
await browser.url('https://example.com/search');
await $('[name="q"]').setValue('webdriverio');
await $('button[type="submit"]').click();
await expect($('[data-testid="search-results"]')).toBeDisplayed();
});
});Replace the URL and selectors with elements from your application or a test environment you control. Make assertions about outcomes that matter to users, and avoid relying on transient content or selectors that change frequently. The Browser Object documentation explains the session API and the distinction between runner usage and the standalone API, where remote returns a browser object.
4. Run the suite across browsers
With multiple capabilities configured, the local runner creates browser sessions for them and runs the test files in worker processes. For a local run, install and configure the relevant browsers and drivers. For hosted browsers or an in-house grid, point the WebDriver connection at the remote endpoint and use that service’s required capability extensions.
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Standard WebDriver fields and provider-specific options are different layers. A capability extension for one cloud service is not automatically valid for another; consult the selected provider’s current documentation for endpoint, authentication, browser, and platform requirements. WebdriverIO’s documentation recognizes cloud-vendor extensions and service configuration, but the exact setup varies by provider. See Organizing Test Suite.
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Control parallelism
Parallel execution can shorten feedback time, but it consumes browser and grid capacity. Set a global maxInstances limit and, when browser pools have different capacity, use per-capability instance limits. Begin with a limit your machine or grid can support, then adjust based on queueing, resource pressure, and the capacity actually available. Parallelism is a capacity setting, not an assurance that every environment can run all requested sessions simultaneously.
5. Choose the right runner for the test scope
The local runner is the usual choice for end-to-end flows: it starts the test framework in worker processes and creates sessions for configured capabilities. The browser runner serves a different job, executing tests in a real browser and is presented for browser-based unit and component tests. Its test code runs in the browser, with Vite used to load the test harness. It is not simply a switch that multiplies any existing end-to-end suite across arbitrary capabilities. Read the runner guide and component testing documentation before choosing it.
WebdriverIO’s overview distinguishes WebDriver Protocol, used for cross-browser automation, from Chrome DevTools Protocol, which is Chromium-based. If the goal is coverage across browser engines, use WebDriver capabilities and an execution setup that supports the browsers in scope; CDP alone does not provide that cross-browser coverage. See Why WebdriverIO?.
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6. Troubleshoot common setup problems
- The runner rejects a capability: Check spelling, standard WebDriver fields, and whether browser- or provider-specific options belong under the correct namespace. Consult the capabilities reference; the runner validates capabilities and can stop before test execution when they do not conform.
- A local browser session will not start: Verify that the requested browser is installed and that the local driver or browser automation setup supports the chosen browser and version. If the session is remote, check the endpoint and provider-required capabilities in that provider’s documentation.
- One browser works, another does not: Compare the browser names and browser-specific options, then verify that the selected local or remote environment offers the requested browser and platform. Do not assume a setting such as headless mode has identical support across browsers.
- Tests overwhelm a grid or hang while waiting for sessions: Reduce
maxInstancesor the per-capability limit to fit available capacity. Increase concurrency only when the browser pool can serve the added sessions. - A runner test cannot find
browserordriver: Check the project’s globals configuration and use the session style appropriate to that setup. Runner tests and standaloneremoteusage expose the browser object differently. - Component tests behave differently from end-to-end tests: Confirm that you selected the intended runner. The browser runner loads a test harness for browser-based unit or component testing; it is a distinct workflow from the local runner’s end-to-end sessions.
Or skip the browser setup
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cURL example, using the API shown in the ScreenshotNeo documentation:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpIt is not a replacement for WebdriverIO when you need to click through a workflow, assert application behavior, or test browser-specific interactions. ScreenshotNeo’s free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WebdriverIO support Mocha, Jasmine, and Cucumber.js?
Yes. The WDIO runner documents built-in integrations for those three frameworks; install the relevant adapter packages alongside WebdriverIO.
Does adding browser capabilities make a test a component test?
No. Capabilities specify session environments. Component testing uses a distinct browser-runner workflow.
Does WebdriverIO have one compatibility matrix for all Node.js and browsers?
The documentation cited here does not establish a single current Node.js, WebdriverIO, and browser compatibility matrix. Check the documentation for the specific release and environment you plan to use.
Quick Recap
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