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If PHP Browsershot reports that Chrome cannot be found, first determine whether Puppeteer never installed a browser, the PHP-launched process cannot see its browser path or cache, or Chrome is present but fails during startup. Those are different problems and need different fixes. For Browsershot v4, Spatie documents Node.js 22.0 or later and Puppeteer 23.0 or later; verify your installed major version before applying those requirements to another release. Spatie’s v4 requirements
Identify which stage is failing
Browsershot delegates browser work to Node.js and Puppeteer. Diagnose these as separate stages: PHP must be able to invoke Node and npm; Puppeteer must discover a Chrome executable; and Chrome must be able to launch in the actual runtime environment. A missing-browser message points toward installation, cache, or path discovery. An `ENOENT` spawn error often means a configured executable path does not exist. A “No usable sandbox!” message or missing-library error generally means Chrome was found but could not start.
- Save the complete error and identify the failing command or subprocess.
- Record the installed Browsershot, Node.js, and Puppeteer versions. For v4, use the documented Node.js 22.0+ and Puppeteer 23.0+ requirements; do not assume they apply to a different Browsershot major version. Spatie v4 requirements
- Run checks in the same container, under the same service account and environment that runs the PHP application. An interactive shell may have a different PATH, HOME directory, and Puppeteer cache.
Choose how Chrome is managed
| Approach | When it fits | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Let Puppeteer install Chrome for Testing | The project uses the `puppeteer` package and installation scripts can download its browser. | Install scripts ran, deployment retained or populated the browser cache, and the runtime user can read and execute the downloaded browser. Puppeteer installation |
| Install Chrome or Chromium separately and configure its path | The host or container manages browser packages, or the project uses `puppeteer-core`. | The executable exists at the configured path in the runtime, is executable, and is compatible with the Puppeteer version; required libraries are installed. Spatie requirements and Puppeteer installation |
Puppeteer normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation. Package managers or deployment settings may block post-install scripts, so installing the npm package alone does not prove that Chrome was downloaded. Puppeteer documents this manual installation command:
npx puppeteer browsers install
Run it in the project/runtime environment that will execute Browsershot, and make sure that environment can retain or access the resulting browser cache. The `puppeteer-core` package does not download Chrome; supply a separately managed browser. Puppeteer installation guide
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Configure an explicit executable path when needed
If Chrome or Chromium is installed outside Puppeteer’s managed cache, confirm its exact path from inside the PHP runtime environment. Then tell Browsershot to use that executable:
$shot = \Spatie\Browsershot\Browsershot::url('https://example.com')
->setChromePath('/path/to/chrome');
$shot->save('/path/to/screenshot.png');
Replace the example URL and paths with real values. Do not copy a laptop path or a path from another container layer unless it exists and is executable where PHP runs. Spatie documents `setChromePath` for specifying the browser executable. Spatie v4 requirements
Rank #2
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Check Node.js and npm discovery separately
If PHP cannot find Node.js or npm, configuring Chrome will not fix the earlier process-launch failure. Browsershot provides `setNodeBinary`, `setNpmBinary`, and `setIncludePath` for environments where the PHP-launched command needs explicit binary paths or an adjusted include path. Use the paths available to the PHP service account, not just the results of `which node` in your own shell. Spatie v4 requirements
When Chrome exists but will not launch on Linux
Find missing shared libraries
A browser executable can exist and still fail at startup when the host lacks required shared libraries. Inspect the Chrome binary’s dependencies:
ldd /path/to/chrome | grep not
Install the missing packages using the package names for your Linux distribution and release. Spatie’s Forge example lists dependencies for Ubuntu 24.04 and notes that Ubuntu 22.04 uses `libasound2` instead of `libasound2t64`; those names are not universal instructions for other distributions. Spatie v4 requirements
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Address sandbox errors without treating them as missing Chrome
For “No usable sandbox!”, investigate the host’s sandbox configuration. Puppeteer explains that Chrome’s sandbox helps protect the host from untrusted web content and says: “Running without a sandbox is strongly discouraged. Consider configuring a sandbox instead.” Disabling the sandbox with `–no-sandbox` weakens that protection; consider it only when the captured content is trusted and the security trade-off is acceptable. Puppeteer also documents AppArmor and user-namespace restrictions that can affect Chrome for Testing on Ubuntu 23.10 and later. Puppeteer troubleshooting
Fix differences between terminal and web-server runs
If screenshots work in a terminal but fail through PHP-FPM, Apache, a queue worker, or a containerized application, compare the two execution contexts rather than reinstalling Chrome at random. Check:
- The effective user and group, and whether that account can execute the browser.
- The Node.js and npm paths visible to the service.
- The HOME directory and Puppeteer cache location used during installation versus runtime.
- Whether the deployed container or release contains the browser download and required libraries.
- Environment variables and filesystem permissions that differ between the interactive shell and service.
A Spatie community discussion describes one CLI-versus-web-server case, but it is an individual report, not a universal diagnosis. Use it as a reminder to inspect the runtime context, not as proof that a particular environment-variable change will fix every installation. Spatie discussion #681
Rank #4
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Remote Chrome is an architectural choice, not the first repair
Browsershot documents connecting to a remote Chrome instance. That can make sense when your deployment intentionally runs a browser service separately, but it is not the first fix for a local “Chrome not found” error. First establish whether the local browser was installed, can be discovered, and can launch under the PHP runtime. Spatie v4 requirements
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Troubleshooting checklist
| Symptom | Likely area | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| “Could not find Chrome” or “Could not find expected browser” | Browser download, cache visibility, or executable discovery | Check whether Puppeteer’s install scripts ran; install the browser with `npx puppeteer browsers install` if appropriate, or configure the managed browser path. |
| `ENOENT` when spawning a configured executable | Invalid or inaccessible path | Verify the exact binary path from the PHP runtime and correct the configured Node, npm, or Chrome path. |
| “No usable sandbox!” | Chrome startup security configuration | Configure a supported sandbox for the host; treat `–no-sandbox` as a security-reducing exception, not a general fix. |
| Missing-library output from `ldd` | Linux runtime dependencies | Install the distribution-appropriate libraries and retest in the deployment environment. |
| Works in a shell but not in PHP | Different user, PATH, HOME/cache, permissions, or container contents | Compare the PHP service’s identity and environment with the shell, then make the browser and cache accessible there. |
| Using `puppeteer-core` without an installed browser | No automatic browser download | Install/manage Chrome or Chromium separately and set its executable path. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing Puppeteer install Chrome too?
Usually Puppeteer downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation, but blocked install scripts can prevent the download. `puppeteer-core` does not download a browser.
Can I use Chromium instead of Chrome?
Yes, when it is installed and usable in the runtime environment; configure its actual executable path with Browsershot’s `setChromePath`.
Should I always add `–no-sandbox` to make screenshots work?
No. Puppeteer strongly discourages running without a sandbox; investigate the host’s sandbox configuration first.
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