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Use cypress run in your CI job. Cypress launches the selected browser headlessly by default, so no visible desktop is required. A dependable pipeline installs Cypress and the browser, starts the application, waits for a real readiness check, then runs the tests. Keep a headed command for diagnosing differences.
How do I run Cypress headlessly in CI?
Install Cypress as a development dependency with your project’s existing package manager, install or select a browser available on the runner, and invoke the CLI:
npm install --save-dev cypress
npx cypress runcypress run executes specs to completion in headless mode. cypress open is the interactive, headed interface. To see a CLI run while retaining the same command flow, add --headed:
npx cypress run --browser chrome --headed --no-exitReplace chrome with an installed supported browser, such as Firefox. Cypress documents Chrome-family browsers and Firefox; WebKit support is experimental. Check the current browser-launching reference before standardizing a browser in a long-lived pipeline.
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The CI sequence that avoids race conditions
A headless test is only as reliable as the environment around it. The tested site must be running and accepting requests before Cypress starts.
- Install dependencies. Run your normal lockfile-based install and install Cypress in the project.
- Provide a browser. Use a runner image with Chrome, Chrome for Testing, Firefox, or another supported browser. A Cypress Docker image can supply Linux prerequisites and browsers.
- Start the application. Launch the local server or target a deployed preview.
- Wait for readiness. Poll the URL or health endpoint with a readiness tool instead of using an arbitrary sleep.
- Run Cypress. Set the base URL and execute
cypress run. - Upload artifacts. Preserve failure screenshots, and enable video only when its diagnostic value justifies storage and encoding time.
Starting a server in the background and immediately running Cypress (for example, npm start && npx cypress run) can create a race: the process may exist while the HTTP server is still compiling. Cypress’s CI guidance recommends a readiness-checking tool; the official GitHub Action exposes start and wait-on options.
Example GitHub Actions job
name: e2e
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
cypress:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: 20
cache: npm
- run: npm ci
- name: Run Cypress
uses: cypress-io/github-action@v6
with:
start: npm run dev -- --host 0.0.0.0
wait-on: http://127.0.0.1:3000
browser: chrome
command: npx cypress runAdjust the start command, port, Node version, and action version to your repository. If the job tests a preview or staging deployment, set CYPRESS_BASE_URL in the job environment instead of starting a local server:
env:
CYPRESS_BASE_URL: https://preview.example.testBrowser selection and reproducibility
Browser choice affects rendering, APIs, timing, and the confidence your suite provides. Chrome for Testing is a useful default when available because its versioned binaries do not silently auto-update, improving repeatability. That is a reproducibility recommendation, not a reason to ignore browsers your users depend on.
| Policy | When it fits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| One primary browser | Fast feedback for every commit | Less coverage of browser-specific defects |
| Primary plus critical paths on secondary browsers | Most teams balancing risk and CI time | More setup and runtime |
| Full suite on every supported browser | High-risk, browser-sensitive products | Highest infrastructure and artifact cost |
Choose a policy based on user traffic and product risk. The runner must actually contain the requested browser; a command such as --browser firefox cannot download a missing binary by itself.
Headless display versus application viewport
Two dimensions are easy to confuse:
- Browser display defaults: Cypress documents 1280×720 screen size and device pixel ratio 1 for headless browser launches.
- Application viewport:
viewportWidthandviewportHeightcontrol the page’s emulated content area.
They are independent. A test can use a 1280×720 browser display while the application viewport is configured to 1000×800. If screenshot or video framing must match a target, configure the browser display in before:browser:launch and set the application viewport separately.
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// cypress.config.js
const { defineConfig } = require('cypress')
module.exports = defineConfig({
viewportWidth: 1280,
viewportHeight: 800,
e2e: {
setupNodeEvents(on, config) {
on('before:browser:launch', (browser, launchOptions) => {
if (browser.family === 'chromium' && browser.isHeadless) {
launchOptions.args.push('--window-size=1440,900')
}
return launchOptions
})
}
}
})Use the browser family and headless flags supplied by Cypress rather than assuming every runner uses the same executable name. Keep display settings in version control so local and CI artifacts are comparable.
Screenshots, videos, and retained artifacts
During cypress run, Cypress automatically captures a screenshot when a test fails unless you disable that behavior. Screenshots and videos are written to their configured folders. Cypress clears those folders before a run by default, so upload artifacts after the command or change the folder strategy if earlier runs must be retained.
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// cypress.config.js
const { defineConfig } = require('cypress')
module.exports = defineConfig({
video: true,
videoCompression: 32,
screenshotsFolder: 'cypress/screenshots',
videosFolder: 'cypress/videos'
})Video recording and compression consume CPU, time, and storage. Enable them for CI branches where replay is valuable, or conditionally for retries and failures, rather than treating recording as free. Upload only the folders your CI system needs.
Diagnosing headed/headless differences
A passing headed run and a failing headless run (or the reverse) is a signal to compare environments, not proof of one specific bug. Reproduce the exact browser and spec visibly:
npx cypress run --browser chrome --spec "cypress/e2e/cart.cy.js" --headed --no-exit- Run the same spec headlessly and headed with the same browser family and configuration.
- Compare failure screenshots and, when enabled, video.
- Check browser versions, viewport settings, device pixel ratio, environment variables, network access, and available CPU or memory.
- Look for timing assumptions, animations, lazy content, and selectors that depend on an element being visible at a particular moment.
- Use Cypress Test Replay when available to inspect the recorded DOM, network requests, console logs, JavaScript errors, and rendering.
These checks can expose timing, rendering, browser-version, or runner-environment differences. They are diagnostic possibilities, not guaranteed causes. Fix the underlying synchronization or environment mismatch instead of adding a larger unconditional delay.
Common CI failures and fixes
“Cypress cannot find the browser”
Cause: The runner image does not contain the browser named by --browser. Fix: Install that browser, select one already present, or use a Cypress image that includes the required Linux libraries and browser.
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Connection refused or blank page at startup
Cause: Cypress started before the application was ready, or the server bound to a different host or port. Fix: Verify the URL from inside the runner, bind the server to an accessible interface, and use a polling readiness check.
Tests pass locally but time out in CI
Cause: Slower CPU, cold builds, missing environment variables, blocked services, or resource contention. Fix: Log the resolved base URL and browser version, wait on the actual dependency, and investigate service reachability before increasing timeouts.
Artifacts are missing after a failed job
Cause: The CI workflow did not upload files after a non-zero Cypress exit, or a later step cleared the artifact folder. Fix: Configure artifact upload with an “always” condition and upload the configured screenshots and videos directories.
Headless screenshots look cropped or differently scaled
Cause: Browser display dimensions and application viewport dimensions were configured independently. Fix: Set both explicitly and account for device pixel ratio when comparing images.
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Cause: Encoding and file transfer add work. Fix: Record only selected jobs or specs, tune compression, and retain screenshots for routine failures.
Performance, reliability, and cost decisions
There is no universal “headless is X percent faster” figure here: runtime depends on the browser, application, server, test count, video workload, and runner resources. Optimize the system you actually operate.
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- Reduce avoidable waiting: wait for network or application state rather than fixed sleeps.
- Control parallelism: split specs only when the runner and backend can handle concurrent browsers.
- Pin versions: lock Node, Cypress, and browser images to make failures reproducible.
- Separate feedback tiers: run smoke tests on every change and broader cross-browser coverage on protected branches or scheduled jobs.
- Budget artifacts: screenshots are automatic on failure; videos require explicit storage and encoding capacity.
Containerized headless execution on Linux can work without an extra display server when prerequisites are present. Interactive cypress open in a container does require a graphical display. Memory and CPU needs vary with browser, application, server, and video recording.
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FAQ
Can I run Cypress headlessly against a deployed site?
Yes. Set CYPRESS_BASE_URL to the preview or staging URL and omit the local server step. Ensure the runner can resolve and reach that deployment.
Does headless mode mean the page has no viewport?
No. Headless describes the absence of a visible desktop window. Cypress still launches a browser with display defaults, while viewportWidth and viewportHeight define the application’s content area.
Should every CI run record video?
No. Videos are disabled by default and add encoding and storage work. Enable them where replay materially improves diagnosis, while relying on automatic failure screenshots for routine evidence.
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Is WebKit suitable as the only Cypress browser?
WebKit support is experimental. Use supported Chrome-family or Firefox coverage for your primary policy, and add experimental browsers only when their risk and maintenance cost are acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run Cypress headlessly against a deployed site?
Yes. Set CYPRESS_BASE_URL to the preview or staging URL and ensure the CI runner can reach it.
Does headless mode mean the page has no viewport?
No. Headless removes the visible window; Cypress still has browser display defaults and a separately configurable application viewport.
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Should every CI run record video?
No. Video is opt-in and adds encoding and storage work; failure screenshots are captured automatically during cypress run.
Is WebKit suitable as the only Cypress browser?
WebKit support is experimental. Use supported Chrome-family or Firefox coverage as your primary policy unless your project accepts that risk.
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