To check whether Puppeteer can download a browser, confirm that its install script was allowed to run, check that browser downloads are not disabled, and inspect the configured cache directory. If the browser is missing, run npx puppeteer browsers install. Then test a launch separately: a browser file on disk does not prove it can start in your environment.
Check which Puppeteer package you installed
The standard puppeteer package normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation. The puppeteer-core package does not download Chrome; it is intended for workflows where you manage the browser separately or connect to a remote browser. See the official installation guide.
If you installed puppeteer-core, an empty Puppeteer browser cache may be expected. Install and configure a browser yourself, or use the remote-browser setup appropriate to your application.
Check whether installation scripts and downloads were allowed
Puppeteer’s browser download normally happens during package installation. Some package managers or project settings block dependency install scripts; when that happens, the automatic download is skipped. Also check whether Puppeteer’s download configuration disables it.
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- Check your package manager’s install output and settings for blocked or ignored dependency scripts.
- Inspect the environment for
PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD. - Check Puppeteer configuration for
skipDownloadand browser-specific skip settings. Environment-variable overrides are documented in the configuration guide.
If an install script was blocked, allow the script according to your package manager’s security policy and reinstall the package, or use the documented manual installation command below.
Look in Puppeteer’s effective browser cache
Since Puppeteer v19.0.0, the default browser cache directory is ~/.cache/puppeteer. The path can be changed with PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR or the cacheDirectory configuration option. Check the effective path rather than assuming the default: installation and runtime need to use the same cache location. See the configuration guide.
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The official installation documentation for Puppeteer 25.12.0, accessed October 3, 2026, gives approximate Chrome for Testing downloads of 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows. These are rough expectations, not a pass/fail test; browser versions and packaging can change. The same guide notes that Puppeteer also downloads a chrome-headless-shell binary starting with v21.6.0. See the installation guide.
Install the browser manually if it is missing
From your project directory, run the documented Puppeteer command:
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npx puppeteer browsers installAfter it finishes, check the effective cache path again. If you are using a custom cache directory, ensure the environment or configuration that runs this command matches the one used by your application.
Test that Puppeteer can launch the browser
Finding browser files only confirms that something was downloaded. A separate launch test checks whether Puppeteer can start a browser in the current environment. For the standard package, a minimal Node.js check is:
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const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
console.log(await browser.version());
await browser.close();
})().catch((error) => {
console.error(error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});Run it in the same environment and with the same configuration as the application you are troubleshooting. If you manage a separate browser executable, Puppeteer supports the executablePath launch option, but its compatibility guarantee applies to Puppeteer’s bundled browser, not arbitrary executables. See the LaunchOptions API reference.
Troubleshoot common missing-browser errors
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
Could not find Chrome (ver. ...) |
The compatible browser was not downloaded, or Puppeteer cannot find it in the effective cache. | Check whether the install script ran, confirm downloads are not skipped, verify the cache path, and run npx puppeteer browsers install. |
Could not find expected browser locally |
The expected browser is absent from the location Puppeteer checks. | Check the package choice and cache configuration, then install the browser with the documented CLI command. |
| Browser files are present, but launch fails | A download is not proof of a successful launch; the executable or environment may not be usable. | Test launching independently in the runtime environment. If using a separately managed executable, check its path and compatibility; Puppeteer guarantees compatibility with its bundled browser. |
No browser appears after installing puppeteer-core |
This package does not download Chrome by design. | Provide a separately managed browser or configure a remote-browser workflow. |
These checks cover the documented installation and configuration causes. They do not establish whether a particular machine has network access, adequate permissions, an intact archive, or the dependencies needed to launch; those require checking the specific environment.
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Or skip the browser setup
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