Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor a standard Node.js project, install puppeteer: it downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser for you. If your package manager blocks install scripts, install the browser separately with Puppeteer’s browser command. Choose puppeteer-core only when you will supply or connect to a browser yourself.
Choose the right Puppeteer package
| Package | What it does | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Downloads Puppeteer and its compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation. | You want the usual local setup with Puppeteer managing the browser. |
puppeteer-core |
Installs the Puppeteer library without downloading a browser. | You already manage a browser installation or will connect to a remote browser. You must provide the browser executable path or a supported channel. |
Puppeteer documents its bundled browser as the compatibility-guaranteed option. If you use a separately managed Chrome, verify the browser and Puppeteer versions in your target environment. See the Puppeteer installation guide and launch options reference.
Check requirements before installing
The Puppeteer documentation page for version 25.12.0 lists Node.js 22.12 or later as a runtime requirement. TypeScript users need TypeScript 5.0.1 or later; the documentation specifies an ES2022-or-later target when type-checking node_modules. These requirements can change, so check the current system requirements for the release you install.
- Chrome for Testing support is listed for Windows x64, macOS x64 and arm64, Debian/Ubuntu Linux x64 and arm64, and openSUSE/Fedora Linux x64 and arm64.
- On Windows, Chrome archive extraction requires
tar.exeor PowerShell. On macOS and Linux, it usesunzip, unless optionalyauzlis installed. - The Puppeteer installation documentation gives approximate browser download sizes of 170 MB for macOS, 282 MB for Linux, and 280 MB for Windows. Allow for the download and cache in your build environment.
Install Puppeteer and its managed Chrome
- Open a terminal in your existing project directory. Use the package manager the project already uses.
- Install the full package with one command:
npm i puppeteer # or yarn add puppeteer # or pnpm add puppeteer # or bun add puppeteer - Wait for installation to finish. By default, Puppeteer downloads Chrome for Testing. Since Puppeteer v21.6.0, it also downloads a
chrome-headless-shellbinary. The default browser cache is$HOME/.cache/puppeteer; this global cache behavior is documented since v19.0.0. - Create a small script such as
example.jsand run it with Node to verify that Puppeteer can launch its browser:const puppeteer = require('puppeteer'); (async () => { const browser = await puppeteer.launch(); try { const page = await browser.newPage(); await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' }); console.log(await page.title()); } finally { await browser.close(); } })();Run
node example.js. A successful run prints the page title and exits after closing Chrome.
The normal puppeteer setup does not require you to install Google Chrome separately. For installation details and configuration, see Puppeteer’s official installation guide.
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Install Chrome separately when package scripts are blocked
Some package manager settings block dependency installation scripts. The JavaScript package can then install even though the browser download did not, often producing a Could not find Chrome (ver. ...) error at launch.
- From the project directory, run the browser installer using the tool that matches your package manager:
npx puppeteer browsers install # or yarn dlx puppeteer browsers install # or pnpm dlx puppeteer browsers install # or bun x puppeteer browsers install - Rerun your Node script. If your organization intentionally blocks install scripts, keep the separate browser-install step in your development or deployment process.
- Alternatively, allow Puppeteer’s install script in your package manager’s project settings, then reinstall the dependency.
The browser CLI and its available options are documented in the @puppeteer/browsers reference.
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Use a browser you manage yourself
Install puppeteer-core when your application already has a managed Chrome installation or connects to a remote browser. It intentionally does not download Chrome, so the browser provisioning and compatibility checks are your responsibility.
npm i puppeteer-coreFor a local browser at a known path, pass executablePath when launching. Replace the sample path with the real executable location for your system:
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const puppeteer = require('puppeteer-core');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/Chrome',
headless: true
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();If Chrome is installed in a standard location, you can use an appropriate channel instead of an explicit path. Puppeteer launch defaults to Chrome and headless mode. headless: true selects the new headless mode; headless: 'shell' selects the separate old headless shell. See the LaunchOptions reference for current options.
Configure browser downloads and cache
Puppeteer accepts configuration through supported configuration files and environment variables; where both apply, environment values take precedence. Configuration files and environment variables are ignored by puppeteer-core. The configuration guide recommends using a configuration file and documents the default cache location as ~/.cache/puppeteer.
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If you change browser download settings or the cache location, rerun the browser install command so the new settings take effect. This matters in CI and containers: a browser downloaded into one environment’s cache may not exist after moving the application or build artifact to a fresh environment. Check the Puppeteer configuration guide for the configuration behavior documented there.
Troubleshoot common installation and launch errors
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Could not find Chrome (ver. ...) |
The package manager may have blocked Puppeteer’s install script, or the browser cache is unavailable in this environment. | Run npx puppeteer browsers install (or the matching Yarn, pnpm, or Bun command). If the app moved to a fresh environment, install Chrome there or configure a persistent cache and rerun installation. |
Chrome is present, but launch fails with puppeteer-core |
puppeteer-core does not download a browser; the executable path or channel may be missing or incorrect. |
Set executablePath to the actual Chrome executable, or select a channel for a standard installation. Verify the chosen browser version against the Puppeteer release. |
| Chrome will not start on Debian or Ubuntu because system libraries are missing | The Linux environment lacks required Chrome dependencies. | For Chrome on Debian or Ubuntu, the browser documentation provides npx puppeteer browsers install chrome --install-deps. It attempts to install system packages and requires root privileges; it is not a universal Linux command. |
| Browser archive extraction fails | The required archive extraction utility may be missing. | On Windows, ensure tar.exe or PowerShell is available. On macOS or Linux, ensure unzip is available, unless using optional yauzl. |
| The browser runs locally but disappears in deployment | The browser cache was not included or recreated in the deployment environment. | Install the browser in the target environment, or configure a cache location that is available there. Rerun the browser installer after changing download configuration. |
Check version compatibility when pinning Chrome
The supported-browser page maps Puppeteer 25.12.0 to Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57. This mapping is version-sensitive, not a promise that every Puppeteer release uses that Chrome build. Puppeteer’s page also says its managed browser became Chrome for Testing starting with Puppeteer v20.0.0. When pinning versions or using system Chrome, check the supported browser documentation for the installed release.
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Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to capture a webpage rather than automate a full browser session, ScreenshotNeo can return a screenshot or PDF from one GET request, without installing Puppeteer or Chrome. Its screenshot API also removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers report the page verdict and billing status.
For example, this cURL call saves a WebP screenshot of Stripe. Replace the URL with the page you need and use your API key:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for available formats and options. ScreenshotNeo also offers an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents and MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install Google Chrome separately to use Puppeteer?
No. Installing puppeteer normally downloads its compatible Chrome for Testing browser. A separate browser is needed only if you choose puppeteer-core or otherwise manage Chrome yourself.
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Yes. puppeteer-core is intended for setups with a remote or independently managed browser; configure the connection or browser selection for that setup.
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