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Set Playwright’s launch option to the browser binary you want to run: executablePath in JavaScript or TypeScript, and executable_path in Python. For Playwright Test, put the same option inside use.launchOptions. A relative path is resolved from the process’s current working directory. Use a custom executable only when you need a particular installed browser; Playwright is designed and version-tested around its bundled browsers.
Set the path in JavaScript or TypeScript
Pass executablePath to the browser type’s launch() method. The option accepts a path to an executable that Playwright should launch instead of its bundled browser.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch({
executablePath: '/opt/google/chrome/chrome',
headless: true
});
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
await browser.close();Use the equivalent option with firefox.launch() or webkit.launch() when the file is a Firefox or WebKit executable:
import { firefox, webkit } from 'playwright';
const firefoxBrowser = await firefox.launch({
executablePath: '/custom/firefox/firefox'
});
await firefoxBrowser.close();
const webkitBrowser = await webkit.launch({
executablePath: '/custom/webkit/MiniBrowser'
});
await webkitBrowser.close();Use an absolute path when possible
An absolute path avoids surprises when a service, test runner, or CI job starts in a different directory. If you intentionally use a relative path, Playwright resolves it against the current working directory of the Node.js process, not against the directory containing your source file.
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import path from 'node:path';
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browserPath = path.resolve('browsers', 'chromium', 'chrome');
const browser = await chromium.launch({ executablePath: browserPath });
// ...
await browser.close();On Windows, either use a correctly escaped string or a path helper:
import path from 'node:path';
const browserPath = path.join('C:', 'Program Files', 'Google', 'Chrome', 'Application', 'chrome.exe');A path helper is preferable to manually mixing slash styles. The file must be executable by the account running Playwright.
TypeScript launch helper
import path from 'node:path';
import { chromium, type Browser } from 'playwright';
export async function startBrowser(): Promise<Browser> {
const executablePath = path.resolve(process.env.BROWSER_BIN ?? '/usr/bin/chromium');
return chromium.launch({ executablePath });
}Keep the environment variable optional if local developers should use a known default. In deployment, set it to an absolute path that exists in that image or host.
Set the path in Python
Python uses the snake-case spelling executable_path. The option is available in both the synchronous and asynchronous APIs.
Synchronous API
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch(
executable_path="/opt/google/chrome/chrome",
headless=True,
)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://example.com")
print(page.title())
browser.close()Asynchronous API
import asyncio
from playwright.async_api import async_playwright
async def main():
async with async_playwright() as p:
browser = await p.chromium.launch(
executable_path="/opt/google/chrome/chrome",
headless=True,
)
page = await browser.new_page()
await page.goto("https://example.com")
print(await page.title())
await browser.close()
asyncio.run(main())Resolve a relative path explicitly
Python’s pathlib makes the base directory obvious:
from pathlib import Path
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
browser_file = (Path.cwd() / "browsers" / "chrome").resolve()
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch(executable_path=str(browser_file))
browser.close()Converting the Path object to a string keeps the launch call clear and works consistently across supported Python versions.
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Configure Playwright Test
Playwright Test does not require a separate browser-launch wrapper. Put launch options under use.launchOptions in playwright.config.ts:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
launchOptions: {
executablePath: '/opt/google/chrome/chrome',
},
},
});The nested object accepts the launch options supported by browserType.launch(). You can scope the setting to a project when only one browser configuration needs the custom binary:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
projects: [
{
name: 'system-chrome',
use: {
browserName: 'chromium',
launchOptions: {
executablePath: process.env.BROWSER_BIN,
},
},
},
{
name: 'bundled-firefox',
use: { browserName: 'firefox' },
},
],
});Do not set an empty or undefined path accidentally. If the environment variable is absent, omit launchOptions.executablePath and let Playwright use its managed browser instead.
Choose the right setting
Three settings are often confused. They solve different problems:
| Requirement | Setting | What it changes | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch a specific installed browser file | executablePath (JavaScript/TypeScript) or executable_path (Python) |
Selects the executable for this launch | Arbitrary browser builds may not match your Playwright version |
| Store Playwright-managed browser downloads elsewhere | PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH |
Controls where Playwright installs and finds its managed binaries | It does not select an arbitrary Chrome or Edge executable |
| Use a supported branded distribution | channel, such as chrome, chrome-beta, or msedge |
Requests a named Chrome or Edge channel | Compatibility still depends on the browser and Playwright versions |
Bundled browser versus custom executable
The bundled Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit build is the reproducible default: Playwright releases are matched to specific browser binaries. A custom path is appropriate when a product requirement, enterprise image, or browser policy requires an installed build. The official API guidance warns to use executablePath with extreme caution because Playwright does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary browser versions.
When a channel is better than a path
If the requirement is simply “run Chrome” or “run Edge” and the distribution is one of Playwright’s documented channels, try channel before hard-coding a machine-specific path:
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import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch({ channel: 'chrome' });
// or: { channel: 'msedge' }
await browser.close();A channel expresses intent and is easier to share across machines than a path such as /home/runner/.cache/.... Use executablePath when you must identify a particular file.
Install and locate Playwright-managed browsers correctly
If your goal is to change where Playwright downloads its own browsers, do not point executablePath at a cache directory. Set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH for both installation and execution, then install the binaries required by the Playwright version in use:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright installSetting PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 opts into a hermetic install in Playwright’s local browser directory. This setting does not relocate a separately installed Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
In CI, configure the variable in the same job environment that runs the tests. Installing into one account’s home directory and executing as another account is a common cause of “browser not found” failures.
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- Confirm the exact file. Check the path inside the machine, container, or runner where Playwright executes. A path valid on your laptop may not exist in CI.
- Check permissions. The process user needs permission to read and execute the file and traverse every parent directory.
- Check the browser family. Pass a Chromium executable to
chromium, a Firefox executable tofirefox, and a WebKit executable towebkit. - Resolve relative paths deliberately. Print
process.cwd()in Node.js orPath.cwd()in Python when diagnosing a path that works locally but fails in a runner. - Verify version alignment. Install the Playwright package and browser build intended for the same project revision. A system browser that updates independently can break a previously working setup.
Troubleshoot launch failures
“Executable doesn’t exist” or a similar missing-file error
The string is wrong, the file is absent in the runtime environment, or a relative path is being resolved from an unexpected directory. Log the resolved value, switch to an absolute path, and verify the file from the same user and container that runs the test.
Permission denied
The executable bit or directory permissions prevent the Playwright process from starting the browser. Correct ownership and execute permissions, or install the browser in a directory readable by the service account. Do not fix this by running the entire test suite as an unrelated privileged user.
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The browser starts and immediately exits
Version incompatibility is a likely cause when a custom Chromium, Chrome, Firefox, or WebKit build is used. First reproduce with Playwright’s bundled browser. If the bundled build works, either use it, select a supported channel, or install a browser revision compatible with the project’s Playwright version.
Works locally, fails in CI or Docker
Compare the working directory, operating-system image, browser path, user account, and installed system dependencies. Ensure the custom executable is copied into the image and that the launch command does not rely on a developer-only path. For managed browsers, set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH consistently during installation and test execution.
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Enable Playwright’s browser debug logging:
DEBUG=pw:browser npx playwright testOn Windows PowerShell, set the variable for the command with the shell’s environment syntax:
$env:DEBUG = 'pw:browser'
npx playwright testThe logs help distinguish a bad path from a process crash, missing dependency, or incompatible executable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Operational considerations
Reproducibility
Pin the Playwright package and avoid silently changing the system browser underneath a test suite. If a custom binary is mandatory, provision it as part of the image or build and record its version alongside the test dependencies.
Security
Treat the executable path as deployment configuration, not untrusted page input. Do not construct it directly from user-controlled strings. Keep browser binaries updated through the normal security process while checking compatibility after upgrades.
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Performance
The path option itself does not make a browser faster; it only chooses which executable starts. Startup time and stability depend on the selected build, the machine, and whether the browser is already installed and cached. Measure those factors in the environment that matters rather than assuming a system browser is quicker.
Or skip the browser setup
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cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython
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
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
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Executable-path checklist
- Use
executablePathin JavaScript or TypeScript andexecutable_pathin Python. - Put the option under
use.launchOptionsin Playwright Test. - Prefer an absolute path and verify it in the actual runtime environment.
- Use
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATHfor managed-browser storage, not arbitrary executable selection. - Try a documented
channelwhen you need Chrome or Edge without a machine-specific path. - Use the bundled browser unless a specific installed build is required, and enable
DEBUG=pw:browserwhen a launch fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does executablePath download a browser for me?
No. It only tells Playwright which existing executable to launch. Install that browser separately, or use Playwright’s browser installation commands and PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH for managed binaries.
Should the path point to ChromeDriver or another WebDriver binary?
No. The option expects the browser executable itself, such as Chrome, Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit—not a driver process.
Why can the same path work in a terminal but fail in a test runner?
Relative paths use the launching process’s current working directory, and runners often start from a different directory or user account. Resolve and log an absolute path in the runner’s environment.
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