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For most local Selenium tests, automatic WebDriver setup means installing Selenium 4.6 or later and creating a browser driver through your language binding’s normal API. Selenium Manager is bundled with Selenium and runs as a fallback when you have not supplied a driver yourself: it detects the browser, finds a compatible driver, downloads it if needed, and caches it locally. You do not need a separate driver-manager package or a manual driver-path setup for the basic case. Selenium Project: Selenium Manager

How Selenium Manager sets up a driver

Selenium Manager is the Selenium Project’s built-in driver manager. A Selenium language binding invokes it when a session needs a driver and no driver has already been provided. It checks the installed browser, resolves a compatible driver using browser-vendor metadata, downloads the driver when necessary, and stores assets in its local cache. The documented default cache directory is ~/.cache/selenium. Selenium Manager documentation

It is a fallback, not an override. If your application explicitly provides a driver or uses another supported driver-management arrangement, Selenium Manager does not replace that choice. Unable to Locate Driver Error

Set up a normal local browser session

Install or update the Selenium binding for your language, then use its standard browser-driver constructor. Do not add an old manual ChromeDriver download or PATH step to the default setup.

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Python

Install Selenium with python -m pip install -U selenium, then save and run this example:

from selenium import webdriver

# Selenium Manager resolves the driver if one was not explicitly supplied.
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
try:
    driver.get("https://example.com")
    print(driver.title)
finally:
    driver.quit()

Java

Use Selenium 4.6 or later in your project, then create the driver normally:

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        try {
            driver.get("https://example.com");
            System.out.println(driver.getTitle());
        } finally {
            driver.quit();
        }
    }
}

JavaScript

Install or update the Selenium JavaScript package in your project and use the normal builder API:

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const { Builder } = require('selenium-webdriver');

(async function () {
  const driver = await new Builder().forBrowser('chrome').build();
  try {
    await driver.get('https://example.com');
    console.log(await driver.getTitle());
  } finally {
    await driver.quit();
  }
})();

The first run may need network access so Selenium Manager can obtain metadata or a driver. Later runs can use cached assets. The exact binding installation method depends on your language and project’s package manager.

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Driver management is not the same as browser installation

Automatic driver resolution does not mean every browser is automatically installed. Selenium Manager’s browser-management support arrived separately: Chrome from Selenium 4.11.0, Firefox from 4.12.0, and Edge from 4.14.0. Windows Edge installation may require administrator permissions. Check the documentation for the behavior and options available in the Selenium version you use. Selenium Manager

In the common case, install the browser you intend to test and let Selenium Manager find its driver. Browser downloads are useful when you deliberately want Selenium Manager to manage the browser too, but should not be assumed to work in every managed environment.

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Configure Selenium Manager for your environment

You can pass settings as Selenium Manager command-line options, place them in se-config.toml, or set corresponding SE_ environment variables. When the same setting is given more than once, precedence is command line, configuration file, then environment. Configuration options

Need Setting or approach What to know
Use a proxy SE_PROXY or --proxy; browser options may also configure a proxy Ensure the environment can reach the browser-vendor metadata and download endpoints. Browser Options
Move the cache SE_CACHE_PATH or --cache-path Changes the directory used for cached assets, metadata, and configuration; the default is ~/.cache/selenium.
Run offline SE_OFFLINE=true Prevents network requests and downloads. Required browser and driver assets must already be available locally.
Pin browser or driver versions Use the documented browser-version or driver-version options, or their config/environment equivalents Pinning can improve reproducibility, but it is an intentional version-management choice rather than a requirement for every local session.
Use a package-managed browser on Linux Provide explicit browser or driver locations when required A distribution’s browser packaging may call for a particular driver arrangement; follow the Selenium and distribution guidance.
Use a custom Manager binary SE_MANAGER_PATH Available from Selenium 4.13.0 for cases where the default binary is incompatible with the system architecture.

Inspect what Manager is doing

For diagnosis, the official Selenium Manager command-line example is selenium-manager --browser chrome --debug. Debug output can show browser detection, version resolution, download activity, and the resulting paths. Application code should normally continue to use the binding API rather than invoking the command for each session. Selenium Manager documentation

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Metadata refresh and cache cleanup

The metadata time-to-live defaults to 3,600 seconds (one hour); it is configurable, and zero disables that TTL behavior. Selenium Manager also removes browser or driver version directories that have not been used for more than 30 days. A cache therefore reduces repeated downloads, but should not be treated as permanent storage for an asset your workflow cannot recreate. Selenium Manager documentation

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Use Selenium Grid

For Grid, follow the Grid setup rather than assuming a local test’s configuration applies. The Selenium Project’s getting-started instructions say to start the Grid with --selenium-manager true for Selenium Manager to configure drivers. Getting started with Selenium Grid

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Troubleshoot automatic driver setup

“Unable to locate driver” or driver resolution fails

  • Confirm that your Selenium binding is version 4.6 or later, since Selenium Manager is included from that release.
  • Check that the browser is installed and that the process running the test can detect it.
  • For a networked first run, verify access through your firewall or proxy to the vendor metadata and driver-download endpoints. Configure the proxy with Selenium browser options or Selenium Manager’s proxy setting as appropriate.
  • Check whether your code, system configuration, or another manager is explicitly supplying a driver path. Manager is a fallback and will not override a driver already provided.
  • On Linux package-managed browsers, check whether the package requires explicit browser or driver locations.
  • Run selenium-manager --browser chrome --debug to inspect resolution and cache paths.

The Selenium Project also maintains a page dedicated to the missing-driver error and installation guidance. Unable to Locate Driver Error

Offline run cannot retrieve a driver

With SE_OFFLINE=true, Manager does not make network requests or download assets. Provision the needed browser and driver into the configured cache or provide an appropriate local setup before running the job. An empty cache cannot satisfy a first-time automatic download in offline mode.

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Proxy or firewall blocks setup

Set the proxy in the relevant browser options or Manager configuration and confirm that policy permits access to the vendor’s metadata and download services. A proxy setting alone does not grant access if the destination is blocked. Browser Options

Session starts, but the test fails while controlling the page

Not every Selenium error is a driver-resolution problem. The Selenium troubleshooting guide identifies poor synchronization as the most common Selenium-related error. If the browser session starts successfully, inspect waits, page readiness, and element timing instead of repeatedly changing driver versions. Troubleshooting Assistance

Or skip the browser setup

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Selenium Manager replace Selenium WebDriver?

No. It handles browser-driver discovery and setup; your Selenium binding still provides the WebDriver API used to control the browser.

Can I use it with Firefox or Edge instead of Chrome?

Yes. Selenium Manager supports driver management for browsers used by Selenium bindings; browser download management has separate version milestones and environment requirements.

Where does Selenium Manager store its files?

By default, its cache is under ~/.cache/selenium; you can change the location with its cache-path setting.

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