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If wkhtmltopdf creates a PDF without your local styles or images, fix the file-access policy first, then verify URL paths and operating-system permissions. Start with an absolute project path and the least access needed:
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access --allow /absolute/path/to/project input.html output.pdfUse the directory that contains the HTML file and its required CSS, images, fonts, and imported assets. If that command still produces an unstyled PDF, the remaining cause is usually an invalid file:/// URL, a nested CSS reference outside the allowed directory, a JavaScript timing issue, or AppArmor, SELinux, container, or ACL restrictions.
What the local-file flags actually do
wkhtmltopdf applies a local-file security policy before loading linked resources. The --disable-local-file-access setting prevents a local file from reading other local files unless an exception is granted. --enable-local-file-access permits those reads, while --allow <path> grants access to a specific directory.
For a trusted, self-contained project, the broad switch is convenient. For a converter that may process untrusted or user-supplied HTML, prefer a narrow --allow directory and operating-system sandboxing. The wkhtmltopdf downloads page identifies 0.12.6 as the current stable series, released June 11, 2020. It also warns not to use wkhtmltopdf with unsanitized untrusted HTML or JavaScript because that can lead to complete server takeover.
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Broad access versus least privilege
| Approach | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Enable local access | --enable-local-file-access |
A trusted build directory where all local assets should resolve. |
| Allow one directory | --allow /srv/report-assets |
Production jobs or mixed-content hosts where the converter should read only approved assets. |
| Disable local access | --disable-local-file-access |
Untrusted input, combined with controlled remote resources and OS-level restrictions. |
Use paths that Qt/WebKit can resolve
Prefer document-relative URLs
Keep the HTML and assets in a predictable tree and reference them relative to the document:
report/
input.html
css/site.css
images/logo.png
fonts/Inter-Regular.woff2<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/site.css">
<img src="images/logo.png" alt="Company logo">Run wkhtmltopdf with the HTML file’s path and allow the project directory:
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access
--allow /home/me/report
/home/me/report/input.html /home/me/report/output.pdfRelative URLs are resolved from the HTML document’s location, not necessarily from the shell’s current directory. This distinction matters when an application generates HTML in a temporary directory or invokes the converter from a worker process.
Use correctly formed file URLs when absolute paths are necessary
An absolute local URL must use the file:/// scheme. Escape spaces and other special characters according to URL rules. Do not put a bare Windows drive-letter path such as C:reportslogo.png in an HTML src attribute; WebKit may interpret it incorrectly.
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<img src="file:///C:/reports/images/logo.png" alt="Logo">On Unix-like systems, an absolute URL looks like file:///var/lib/reports/images/logo.png. Even with a valid URL, the directory still has to be covered by --allow or local access must be enabled.
Run a minimal fixture before changing your application
- Record the build. Run
wkhtmltopdf --versionand save the exact output. Distribution packages and patched builds can differ in behavior. - Create a fixture beside the assets. Put one stylesheet and one known-good image in a small directory:
mkdir -p /tmp/wk-test/css /tmp/wk-test/images
printf 'body { color: #c00; font-size: 24px; }' > /tmp/wk-test/css/site.css
# Copy a real PNG or JPEG to /tmp/wk-test/images/test.png<!doctype html>
<html><head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/site.css">
</head><body>
<h1>CSS fixture</h1>
<img src="images/test.png" alt="Test image">
</body></html>- Convert it with an absolute allow path.
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access
--allow /tmp/wk-test
/tmp/wk-test/input.html /tmp/wk-test/result.pdf- Interpret the result. If the fixture works, repair the application’s generated URLs, working directory, or container mount. If it fails, inspect permissions and host security controls before debugging application HTML.
Check nested CSS, fonts, and image references
A stylesheet can load while its own resources fail. Every URL inside CSS is resolved relative to that stylesheet’s location, then checked against the local-file policy.
/* /project/css/site.css */
@import "print.css";
.hero { background-image: url("../images/hero.jpg"); }
@font-face {
font-family: ReportSans;
src: url("../fonts/report-sans.woff2");
}- Allow the common parent directory of the CSS, imported stylesheets, images, and fonts.
- Check capitalization: Linux filesystems are case-sensitive.
- Confirm every referenced file exists inside the runtime environment, not only on the host that generated the HTML.
- Replace broken relative bases in generated HTML with paths relative to the actual saved HTML file.
Make sure images are enabled and failures are visible
wkhtmltopdf exposes --images and --no-images. Keep images enabled unless you intentionally want a text-only PDF. During diagnosis, make missing media fail loudly instead of silently producing a partial document:
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access
--allow /absolute/path/to/project
--images
--load-media-error-handling abort
--log-level info
input.html output.pdfThe corresponding library settings are commonly named web.loadImages and load.loadErrorHandling. If your wrapper exposes those settings, verify that it has not disabled image loading or changed media-error handling.
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Handle JavaScript-generated styles and images
Static HTML does not need a render delay, but pages that create a stylesheet, image element, canvas, or data after startup do. Leave JavaScript enabled, then choose a deterministic readiness signal.
Measured delay
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access
--allow /absolute/path/to/project
--javascript-delay 1000
input.html output.pdfIncrease the delay only enough for your local generation step. A long arbitrary delay slows every job and still fails when the page’s work time varies.
Window-status trigger
Set a status value after all assets and styles are inserted:
<script>
// Build the page, append images, then signal readiness.
window.status = 'wk-ready';
</script>wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access
--allow /absolute/path/to/project
--window-status wk-ready
input.html output.pdfA status trigger is preferable when you control the page because it waits for a known condition rather than guessing a number of milliseconds.
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Check operating-system and container permissions
The wkhtmltopdf flag cannot override a host policy. The converter process must be able to traverse every parent directory and read every file.
Unix permissions and ACLs
- Check execute permission on each parent directory and read permission on CSS, image, font, and HTML files.
- Run the command as the same service account used by the application.
- Inspect ACLs if ordinary mode bits look correct.
AppArmor and SELinux
AppArmor profiles can deny file reads even when --enable-local-file-access is present. Grant only approved working paths in the profile and review denial logs. SELinux policies can produce the same symptom; check the audit log and apply a policy appropriate to your deployment rather than disabling enforcement.
Containers and sandboxes
A host path must be mounted into the container at the path used in the HTML and command. A file that exists on the host but not in the container is simply missing to wkhtmltopdf. Verify the mount, the in-container absolute path, and the UID running the converter. Keep the allowed directory as narrow as practical.
Common symptoms and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| All CSS and images are missing | Local access is disabled or no directory is allowed. | Add --enable-local-file-access or a precise --allow path. |
| CSS loads but background images or fonts do not | Nested url(...) paths are outside the allowed tree or relative to the wrong directory. |
Correct the URLs and allow the stylesheet’s asset parent directory. |
| Only Windows paths fail | A bare drive-letter string is not a valid resource URL. | Use document-relative paths or escaped file:///C:/... URLs. |
| Images work in a browser but not in the PDF | Images are disabled, the process cannot read the files, or the page is captured before JavaScript inserts them. | Use --images, check permissions, and add --window-status or a measured delay. |
| The command reports a blocked-access warning | The requested file is outside the local policy or an OS policy denied it. | Use the smallest correct --allow directory, then inspect AppArmor, SELinux, mounts, and ACLs. |
| The PDF is blank or incomplete | HTML loading failed, JavaScript is still running, or a required media resource failed. | Use --load-media-error-handling abort, increase logging, and test a minimal fixture. |
Security, reliability, and operational guidance
- Do not trust the flag as a sandbox. Local-file access controls are one layer. Sanitize untrusted HTML and JavaScript, isolate conversion workers, and use AppArmor, SELinux, a container, or another OS control as a backstop.
- Pin and record the binary. Include the exact
--versionoutput in bug reports and deployment records. The stable 0.12.6 series dates from June 11, 2020, so verify compatibility when selecting a package. - Make inputs reproducible. Save generated HTML and assets together, use deterministic relative URLs, and ensure the same directory is available in every worker or container.
- Fail early in CI. Convert a fixture with
--load-media-error-handling abortand inspect the output so a missing logo or stylesheet does not silently reach production. - Report useful bugs. Include the version, command, operating system, a self-contained HTML/CSS/JavaScript case, and the asset tree. That lets maintainers reproduce path and timing failures.
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For the complete parameter list and options, see the ScreenshotNeo documentation. A direct call looks like this:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does wkhtmltopdf 0.12.6 automatically allow local CSS and images?
No. The local-file policy still applies. Enable access or add an appropriate --allow directory, and verify host permissions.
Should I always use –enable-local-file-access instead of –allow?
No. Use --allow for the smallest directory that contains the intended assets, especially when processing generated or untrusted content.
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URLs inside CSS are resolved separately. Check each nested url(...), its relative base, and whether its directory is permitted and readable.
What information should accompany a wkhtmltopdf bug report?
Provide the exact version, command, operating system, a self-contained HTML/CSS/JavaScript example, and the complete asset tree.
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