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Use Puppeteer’s puppeteer.launch() to start Chrome, create a browser context and page, then navigate and interact with the page. For the least compatibility uncertainty, install puppeteer and use its bundled Chrome for Testing. Choose puppeteer-core when you want to provide and maintain the browser yourself; it requires an explicit browser executable or channel when launching.
Install Puppeteer and launch Chrome
The standard workflow is to launch a browser, open a page, perform actions, and close the browser when finished. The puppeteer package downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing by default. Install it in a Node.js project:
npm install puppeteerSave this as example.js and run it with node example.js:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.setViewport({ width: 1280, height: 800 });
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log('Page title:', await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();launch() resolves to a Browser. browser.newPage() creates a page in the default browser context. goto() navigates to the target, and close() shuts down the browser process. The official Getting started guide demonstrates the same launch-and-control pattern, including viewport changes and page interaction.
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Choose between puppeteer and puppeteer-core
| Package | Browser setup | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Downloads Chrome for Testing by default and is the convenient starting point. | Local development and deployments where you want Puppeteer to provide its compatible browser. |
puppeteer-core |
Does not download or select a browser. Set executablePath or channel when launching. |
Environments where you manage the browser installation or connect to an existing browser. |
Puppeteer’s documentation says it works best with its bundled Chrome for Testing and does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary browser versions. If you choose Google Chrome rather than Chrome for Testing, the launch reference suggests Chrome Canary or the Dev Channel. See the official launch reference before relying on a particular browser build.
Install the core package with npm install puppeteer-core. For example, provide an explicit executable path appropriate to your machine:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer-core');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome',
headless: true,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();Replace /path/to/chrome with the actual browser executable for your operating system and installation. Because a custom executable is a compatibility choice, test it against the Puppeteer version you deploy.
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Configure launch options
puppeteer.launch(options) accepts settings for browser selection, process arguments, environment, profile storage, and startup behavior. In the current v25.12.0 reference, headless defaults to true, timeout to 30,000 milliseconds, and browser to Chrome. These defaults and option details can change; check the LaunchOptions reference for the version installed in your project.
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|---|---|---|
browser |
Selects the browser type. | Defaults to Chrome in the cited v25.12.0 reference. |
channel |
Selects a system Chrome installation at a known channel/location. | Use when you intentionally want an installed Chrome channel rather than Puppeteer’s bundled browser. |
executablePath |
Selects a specific browser executable. | Useful with puppeteer-core; compatibility with arbitrary versions is not guaranteed. |
headless |
Controls headless mode. | Defaults to true in the cited v25.12.0 reference. |
args |
Passes command-line arguments to the browser. | Only add flags you understand; browser flags can affect behavior and security. |
env |
Sets the environment used for the browser process. | Useful when the browser needs specific process environment values. |
userDataDir |
Sets the browser profile directory. | Consider profile persistence and isolation when reusing a directory. |
timeout |
Sets the launch timeout in milliseconds. | Defaults to 30,000 milliseconds in the cited v25.12.0 reference. |
waitForInitialPage |
Controls waiting for the initial page during startup. | Consult the versioned API reference for behavior before changing it. |
Example with a longer startup timeout and an explicit headless setting:
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: true,
timeout: 60000,
});Work with browser contexts and pages
A browser can contain multiple pages. A BrowserContext represents an individual user context, isolating storage such as cookies and localStorage. A newly launched browser has a default context; Chrome’s non-default contexts are incognito. Closing a non-default context closes the pages it owns, while the default context cannot be closed. The BrowserContext API documents its lifecycle.
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const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const context = await browser.createBrowserContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
// Closing this context also closes its pages.
await context.close();
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Use separate contexts when automated sessions need separate cookies or local storage while sharing a browser process. Use separate browser processes when your application needs process-level separation or independent browser lifecycles. A Page is Puppeteer’s main surface for tab navigation and interaction, and also supports screenshots and PDFs. See the Page API and the getting-started guide for supported actions and interaction patterns.
Capture screenshots and PDFs
Puppeteer pages can produce screenshots and PDFs. The screenshot guide covers full-page captures and screenshots of individual elements. PDF generation uses print CSS by default; if you need screen styling, set screen media before calling page.pdf().
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await page.screenshot({ path: 'page.png', fullPage: true });
await page.emulateMediaType('screen');
await page.pdf({ path: 'page.pdf', printBackground: true });Use Puppeteer when you need browser automation or want to control the page and capture it as part of a script. If the only goal is a screenshot or PDF and you do not want to manage a browser process, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API with a one-request capture workflow.
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Connect to an existing or remote browser
Use puppeteer.connect() when a browser is already running and you have its WebSocket endpoint. This separates browser-process management from page control. The Puppeteer browser-side guide demonstrates connecting by WebSocket endpoint, querying pages, and disconnecting. Browser-side Puppeteer can control a remote browser but cannot launch or download one, because those actions rely on Node.js APIs.
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer-core');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.connect({
browserWSEndpoint: process.env.BROWSER_WS_ENDPOINT,
});
try {
const pages = await browser.pages();
const page = pages[0] || await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
// Disconnect from the remote browser; do not close its process.
browser.disconnect();
}
})();Set BROWSER_WS_ENDPOINT to the WebSocket endpoint supplied by the browser process or service. Use browser.disconnect() to end Puppeteer’s connection without closing the remote browser. The browser-side Puppeteer guide also describes page management, script evaluation, cookies, PDF and screenshot capture, and network monitoring or interception.
Or skip the browser setup
For a direct screenshot request, use ScreenshotNeo’s API instead of provisioning and controlling a Chrome process. Create an API key, then run this cURL request (replace the target URL as needed). See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options.
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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Troubleshoot common Puppeteer problems
- Launch fails because no browser is found: If using
puppeteer-core, setexecutablePathorchannel. If you intended Puppeteer to provide Chrome for Testing, install the fullpuppeteerpackage and ensure its browser download completed. - The selected Chrome version behaves unexpectedly: Puppeteer does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary browser versions. Prefer the bundled Chrome for Testing, or verify the installed version against the current compatibility guidance before using a system browser.
- Startup times out: The documented launch timeout default is 30,000 milliseconds for v25.12.0. Check whether the browser executable starts in that environment, then increase
timeoutonly if startup legitimately needs longer. - Pages share cookies or local storage: They may be in the same browser context. Create separate non-default contexts for isolated sessions and close each context when its pages are no longer needed.
- A remote session closes when your script finishes: Use
browser.disconnect()for a remote connection rather thanbrowser.close(), which closes the browser. - PDF styling differs from the visible page: PDFs use print CSS by default. Call
page.emulateMediaType('screen')beforepage.pdf()if screen media styling is required.
Version and deployment considerations
The official API pages cited here showed Puppeteer v25.12.0. Launch options, defaults, browser compatibility, and Chrome channels can change. Before deploying, check the live documentation corresponding to the version in your lockfile, and test with the same browser package or executable used in production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Puppeteer launch Google Chrome?
Yes. You can select an installed Chrome channel or executable, but Puppeteer documents its bundled Chrome for Testing as the best-supported choice and does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary Chrome versions.
Can Puppeteer run in a browser without Node.js?
Browser-side Puppeteer can connect to and control a remote browser, but cannot launch or download Chrome because those operations depend on Node.js APIs.
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