The Tool Desk
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Playwright’s official installation guidance is documented at playwright.dev/docs/intro; browser-management details are at playwright.dev/docs/browsers.
1. Check the Playwright package and CLI
In Terminal, change into the repository whose dependencies you want to verify:
cd /path/to/your/project
npx playwright --versionFor example, a successful command may print a version such as 1.x.x. The exact number depends on the version declared or resolved by that project. Running the command from the project directory matters because npx resolves the local dependency when one is available, rather than answering for an unrelated folder.
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What a successful result proves
- The Playwright CLI is available through the current project’s package-resolution context.
- Terminal can execute the resolved Playwright package.
- You have a concrete version to compare with your project’s lockfile or team requirements.
What it does not prove
This command does not verify that Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit browser binaries are present. Playwright packages and browser binaries are managed separately, and each Playwright version can require matching browser binaries.
Yarn and pnpm equivalents
If the project uses another package manager, use the command documented by Playwright:
yarn playwright --version
pnpm exec playwright --versionUse the command that matches the package manager represented by the project’s lockfile. A project using pnpm-lock.yaml, for example, should normally be checked with pnpm so that its dependency graph is the one being tested.
2. Check whether Playwright browsers are installed
Run this from the same project directory:
npx playwright install --listThe command lists browser installations known to Playwright. The output is the authoritative next check when the CLI version works but a test fails because a browser executable cannot be found.
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Install missing browser binaries
If the list is empty or does not include the browser your tests need, install the required browsers:
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npx playwright installYou can then run npx playwright install --list again to confirm what is available. Browser installation can be performed independently of installing the npm package; updating one does not automatically make every previously downloaded browser compatible with a new Playwright version.
Why package and browser checks are separate
| Question | Command | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| Can this project resolve Playwright? | npx playwright --version |
A version is printed when the CLI is available in the project context. |
| Which Playwright browsers are installed? | npx playwright install --list |
Playwright reports the browser binaries it can find. |
| Are files present in the default macOS cache? | ls ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright |
A filesystem view of the default cache; absence is not conclusive if a path override is configured. |
3. Inspect the macOS browser cache (a secondary diagnostic)
Playwright documents ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright as the default browser-cache location on macOS. You can inspect it with:
ls -la ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwrightSeeing versioned browser directories supports the conclusion that browser files exist in the default location. However, do not treat a missing directory as proof that browsers are absent. The PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH environment variable can redirect the cache elsewhere.
Check for a configured override
printf '%sn' "$PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH"If this prints a path, inspect that location instead. If it prints an empty line, Playwright normally uses its documented default cache path. A project, shell profile, CI script, or launch configuration may set the variable only in a particular environment, so check from the same Terminal session that runs your tests.
4. A reliable verification workflow
- Open the intended project. In Finder, Terminal, or your editor, identify the repository that contains the tests.
- Enter its directory. Run
cdto the folder containingpackage.json. - Confirm the package manager. Look for
package-lock.json,yarn.lock, orpnpm-lock.yaml, then use the corresponding version command. - Check the CLI. Run
npx playwright --version(or the Yarn/pnpm equivalent). - Check browsers. Run
npx playwright install --list. - Install what is missing. Run
npx playwright install, or install only the browser set required by your project according to your team’s documented setup. - Run a representative test. A version and browser listing show installation state; an actual test also reveals permission, display, proxy, or application-loading problems.
5. If the version command fails
“command not found” or an unresolved package
First, verify the directory and inspect package.json. Playwright’s documented setup command for a new or existing npm project is:
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npm init playwright@latestThat setup path creates or updates the project according to the prompts. For an existing project, use the package manager and dependency instructions already adopted by that project rather than adding a second package-manager workflow.
The command works in one folder but not another
This usually means the projects have different dependencies. Run the command in the repository that owns the tests, compare each project’s package.json and lockfile, and avoid relying on a globally installed copy when reproducibility matters.
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Check which dependency is declared and whether the lockfile is current. A monorepo can contain several package manifests; run the command from the package that actually owns the Playwright tests.
6. If browsers are missing or tests cannot launch
The browser list is empty
Run npx playwright install, then repeat npx playwright install --list. If installation fails, read the terminal error for network, permissions, proxy, or disk-space details and correct that underlying condition before retrying.
The list shows browsers, but a test reports a missing executable
Confirm that the test and the installation command use the same project, user account, environment variables, and Playwright version. A configured PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH can make one shell see a different cache from another. Re-run both commands in the failing environment.
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- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
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Playwright was upgraded
Because browser binaries are tied to Playwright versions, install browsers again after a package upgrade and verify the resulting list. Keeping the package, lockfile, and browser installation step together in your setup documentation reduces version drift.
macOS permissions or security prompts appear
Follow the macOS prompt and the project’s security policy, then retry from the same user account. Do not infer browser availability solely from a cache directory listing; the executable must also be launchable by the process running your tests.
7. macOS and Node.js requirements
The Playwright installation page accessed on September 29, 2026 lists macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and Node.js 22.x, 24.x, or 26.x as supported system requirements. These requirements can change, so verify the current installation page when setting up a new machine or diagnosing compatibility.
Check your local Node.js version with:
node --versionIf your Mac or Node.js release is outside the currently documented support range, resolve that compatibility issue before interpreting Playwright installation errors. A successful package-resolution command alone does not make an unsupported runtime a supported configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Useful command-line references
Playwright’s command-line documentation at playwright.dev/docs/test-cli covers CLI usage and options. Its library guidance at playwright.dev/docs/next/library explains package installation and the separate browser-installation step.
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Or skip the browser setup
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cURL:
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import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing the Playwright npm package automatically install browsers?
No. The package and browser binaries are separate; use npx playwright install --list to inspect binaries and npx playwright install to install them.
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Can I check Playwright without opening a code editor?
Yes. Terminal is sufficient: run the version and browser-list commands from the project directory that contains the relevant dependency.
Why is the default cache folder missing on my Mac?
The cache may have been redirected with PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH, or browsers may not yet be installed. Check the variable and rely on Playwright’s listing command.
The Bottom Line
Use npx playwright --version to verify the project CLI, then npx playwright install --list to verify browser binaries. Treat the macOS cache path as supporting evidence only, because configuration can move it.
Quick Recap
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