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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIn Puppeteer, a page downloading a file and Puppeteer downloading a browser executable are two different tasks. For page downloads, configure the browser’s download policy and destination path; for the browser itself, choose between Puppeteer’s bundled installation and an externally managed executable. The examples below follow the Puppeteer 25.12.0 documentation; check the API reference for the version installed in your project.
Choose which kind of download you need
- A page-triggered download: Your script opens a website and causes that page to download a file. Set the browser download behavior and destination.
- A Puppeteer browser executable: Puppeteer needs a Chrome binary to launch. The
puppeteerpackage normally installs one;puppeteer-coreexpects you to provide or connect to a browser.
These workflows have different settings. Installing Chrome does not set the destination for files downloaded by a page, and setting a page’s download path does not install Chrome.
Set a destination for files downloaded by a page
Puppeteer’s DownloadBehavior API reference defines a policy and a download path. The path is required when the policy is allow or allowAndName. With allowAndName, Chrome uses download GUIDs as filenames rather than the names suggested by the page.
For Puppeteer 25.12.0, a download behavior can be set through the browser’s CDP session. This example permits downloads into a directory you create before running the script:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
const downloadPath = '/tmp/puppeteer-downloads';
await mkdir(downloadPath, { recursive: true });
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
const session = await page.createCDPSession();
await session.send('Browser.setDownloadBehavior', {
behavior: 'allow',
downloadPath,
});
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
// Trigger the site's download action here.
// The file is written into downloadPath.
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Replace the example URL and add the site-specific action that starts the download, such as clicking a download link. The API contract establishes the policy and path requirements; it does not define a universal Puppeteer-level method for waiting for, identifying, or renaming every downloaded file. If your application needs to verify completion or map a file to a particular click, use a strategy appropriate to the page and filesystem, and test it with the installed Puppeteer and browser versions.
Choosing the download policy
allowpermits downloads and requiresdownloadPath.allowAndNamepermits downloads, requiresdownloadPath, and stores files under download GUID names.denydenies download requests.
Do not assume an unspecified policy is equivalent to allowing downloads. Set the policy explicitly when the workflow depends on a download.
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Install the browser Puppeteer will launch
Installing puppeteer downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser and chrome-headless-shell by default. Since Puppeteer 19.0.0, the default browser cache location is $HOME/.cache/puppeteer. The installation guide documents configuration and environment variables for changing browser-management behavior: Puppeteer installation guide.
npm install puppeteerUse this option when you want Puppeteer’s installation flow to manage the browser. puppeteer-core does not download Chrome and is intended for remote or externally managed browsers; install it when your environment supplies the browser separately.
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npm install puppeteer-core| Choice | Browser setup | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Installs a compatible Chrome for Testing browser and chrome-headless-shell by default. | Convenient managed setup; configure its cache or installation behavior using the installation guide. |
puppeteer-core |
Does not download Chrome. | Use when connecting to a remote browser or managing the executable yourself. |
When installation scripts are blocked
Some package-manager or deployment environments block install scripts, which can prevent the browser download. The installation guide includes instructions for manually installing browsers in that situation. Follow the guide for the specific package and environment rather than assuming that installing the npm package also installed a usable executable.
Launch an externally managed Chrome
If Chrome is installed elsewhere, supply its path with executablePath, or use an appropriate installed-browser channel. Puppeteer recommends setting browser when using a custom executable path. For example:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
browser: 'chrome',
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome',
headless: true,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Change /path/to/chrome to the actual executable path on the machine running the script. Only Puppeteer’s bundled browser is guaranteed to work; an arbitrary system Chrome version may be incompatible. The supported launch options and caveat are documented in the LaunchOptions API reference.
Pin browser builds and verify downloaded archives
For controlled installations, @puppeteer/browsers provides install options for the browser, build ID, platform, and cache directory. Pinning a build ID makes the requested browser build explicit. You can also supply an expected SHA-256 archive hash: installation fails if the downloaded archive does not match. If you omit the hash, installation proceeds without integrity verification.
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The InstallOptions API reference documents these options. Custom browser providers are not officially supported; if you use one, compatibility, testing, and maintenance are your responsibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Select the headless browser mode deliberately
Puppeteer documents headless: true as the current headless mode and headless: 'shell' as the chrome-headless-shell mode. The shell does not completely match regular Chrome and may suit performance-sensitive work that does not require the complete feature set. Validate your workflow in the mode you plan to run; do not assume the two modes behave identically. See the headless modes guide.
Troubleshoot common setup failures
A download is not saved where expected
- Confirm that the browser download behavior is set to
alloworallowAndName. - For either allow policy, check that
downloadPathis supplied and that the process can write to that directory. - Make sure your script actually triggers the page’s download action. The behavior setting does not initiate a download by itself.
- If you chose
allowAndName, expect GUID-based filenames rather than the page’s suggested names.
Puppeteer cannot find a browser
- If you installed
puppeteer-core, provide an executable path or connect to the externally managed or remote browser; that package does not download Chrome. - If you installed
puppeteerbut installation scripts were blocked, use the manual browser installation steps in the installation guide. - Check the configured browser cache location if it differs from the default
$HOME/.cache/puppeteer.
A custom Chrome fails to launch or behaves differently
Check that executablePath points to the intended binary and that the chosen browser build is compatible with your Puppeteer version. Puppeteer guarantees compatibility only with its bundled browser. Also verify whether the script uses regular headless Chrome or chrome-headless-shell; their behavior is not identical.
A pinned browser installation fails hash verification
If you set expectedHash, confirm that the SHA-256 value corresponds to the archive being installed. A mismatch deliberately fails installation. If no expected hash is provided, the installation does not perform that integrity verification.
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