The correct Playwright setting depends on what creates the image. For a one-off browser screenshot, set path in page.screenshot(). For Playwright Test artifacts, set the top-level outputDir. For a file owned by one test, use testInfo.outputPath(). Visual-regression baselines use snapshotPathTemplate or expect.toHaveScreenshot.pathTemplate, not outputDir.
Choose the setting that matches your screenshot
Playwright has several screenshot-producing interfaces, and each has its own destination rule. Mixing them is the usual reason an image appears in an unexpected folder.
| What produces the file? | Set this | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Direct browser API | page.screenshot({ path }) |
The exact file path for that call |
| Playwright Test artifacts | outputDir |
Per-run and failure artifacts, including configured automatic screenshots |
| One file created by a test | testInfo.outputPath() |
A path inside that test’s isolated output directory |
| Visual comparison baseline | snapshotPathTemplate or expect.toHaveScreenshot.pathTemplate |
Stable snapshot files used by screenshot assertions |
| Failure-capture policy | use.screenshot |
Whether Test captures screenshots, not where they are stored |
Save a direct page.screenshot() file
Pass the destination as the path option. Relative paths are resolved from the Node process’s current filesystem context, normally the directory from which your test command is run. The parent directory must already exist, or you must create it first.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await mkdir('screenshots', { recursive: true });
await page.screenshot({
path: 'screenshots/home.png',
fullPage: true,
});
await browser.close();You can use an absolute path when a process-wide working directory is not reliable, such as a CI job. Prefer path.join() rather than hard-coding separators if your code runs on multiple operating systems.
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import path from 'node:path';
const file = path.join(process.cwd(), 'artifacts', 'home.webp');
await mkdir(path.dirname(file), { recursive: true });
await page.screenshot({ path: file, type: 'webp', quality: 85 });The extension should agree with the requested image type. Playwright supports PNG, JPEG and WebP output; JPEG does not support transparency, and WebP quality is relevant when you choose lossy output. The path option determines this individual file only; it does not change Playwright Test’s artifact directory or visual-baseline directory.
Set the Playwright Test artifact folder with outputDir
When you run Playwright Test, the default artifact directory is test-results under the package directory. Set outputDir in playwright.config.ts to move it.
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
testDir: './tests',
outputDir: './artifacts',
use: {
screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
},
});With this configuration, traces, videos and screenshots produced as Test artifacts are written below ./artifacts. Playwright Test cleans the output directory at the start of a run. Do not place source-controlled files or permanent baselines there. Each test receives a unique subdirectory, which prevents parallel workers from overwriting one another.
Automatic screenshot capture
The use.screenshot option controls capture policy:
'off'disables automatic screenshots.'on'captures screenshots for every test.'only-on-failure'captures them when a test fails.
This policy and the folder are separate decisions. Change use.screenshot when you need different capture frequency; change outputDir when you need a different artifact root.
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If your test explicitly calls page.screenshot(), derive its filename from testInfo.outputPath(). Playwright creates a path inside that test’s output directory and keeps parallel tests isolated.
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import { test } from '@playwright/test';
test('home page screenshot', async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com');
const screenshotPath = testInfo.outputPath('screenshots', 'home.png');
await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath, fullPage: true });
});The returned path is governed by the configured outputDir. Its segments must remain inside testInfo.outputDir; attempts to escape that directory (for example with a parent traversal) cause an error. This makes outputPath() safer than constructing a shared filename such as artifacts/home.png when workers run concurrently.
When to use a stable filename instead
Use a deliberately stable path only when another system expects one fixed location and you control concurrency. Otherwise, two projects or retries can overwrite the same file. For reports and debugging, outputPath() is the safer default.
Put visual-regression snapshots in a dedicated folder
expect(page).toHaveScreenshot() compares the current render with a baseline. Those baselines are not ordinary Test artifacts, so changing outputDir does not relocate them. Configure a snapshot template.
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
testDir: './tests',
expect: {
toHaveScreenshot: {
pathTemplate:
'{testDir}/__screenshots__/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext}',
},
},
});A relative template resolves from the configuration directory. Documented tokens include {testDir}, {snapshotDir}, {testFileDir}, {testFilePath}, {testFileName}, {testFileBaseName}, {projectName}, {testName}, {arg}, {ext} and {platform}. Use tokens that distinguish test files, projects and platforms when the same test runs in multiple environments.
You can also set the global snapshotPathTemplate where supported by your installed Playwright release, or set an assertion-specific expect.toHaveScreenshot.pathTemplate. Some documentation pages describe newer configuration; check the version installed in your project before adopting a token or option.
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Keep artifacts and baselines separate
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
outputDir: './artifacts',
expect: {
toHaveScreenshot: {
pathTemplate: './visual-baselines/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext}',
},
},
});Here, temporary run output is cleaned under artifacts, while visual baselines live under visual-baselines and can be reviewed or committed independently.
Save a named diagnostic image and an assertion baseline
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('dashboard', async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com/dashboard');
await page.screenshot({
path: testInfo.outputPath('diagnostics', 'dashboard.png'),
fullPage: true,
});
await expect(page).toHaveScreenshot('dashboard.png');
});The explicit diagnostic image follows the test output folder; the assertion image follows the snapshot template. They are intentionally different files.
CLI and MCP commands are separate interfaces
Playwright’s CLI screenshot command has its own filename behavior and supports a custom filename. Its documented default is a generated timestamp filename in its output directory. Playwright MCP resolves relative filenames against the workspace root and has its own output-directory default. Neither behavior changes the JavaScript API’s path, Playwright Test’s outputDir, or visual snapshot templates. If a CLI or MCP capture is misplaced, read that interface’s command options rather than changing your Test configuration.
Troubleshoot an unexpected screenshot location
The folder is empty or the command fails
- Parent directory missing: create it with
mkdir(..., { recursive: true })before callingpage.screenshot(). - Wrong working directory: log
process.cwd()and use an absolute path or a path based on a known project directory. - Permissions: choose a writable directory in the CI container and verify the job user can create files there.
outputDir did not move my baseline
That is expected. Baselines from toHaveScreenshot() use snapshot templates. Configure snapshotPathTemplate or expect.toHaveScreenshot.pathTemplate instead.
Parallel tests overwrite a file
Replace a shared literal path with testInfo.outputPath(), or include project, test and worker information in your naming scheme. Keep every generated path inside the test output directory.
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The directory is wiped between runs
outputDir is cleaned at the start of a Playwright Test run. Store durable reports or approved visual baselines elsewhere, and copy artifacts out before a cleanup step if your CI pipeline needs them after the job.
The image is not the page you expected
This is a capture-timing issue, not a folder issue. Wait for the relevant locator, network state or application state before calling the screenshot API. For a full-page image, use fullPage: true; for one element, call the locator’s screenshot method and still pass its own path.
Performance, reliability and naming guidance
- Use per-test output paths for parallel safety; avoid one global filename.
- Use PNG for pixel-accurate comparisons and transparency; use JPEG or WebP when smaller files matter more than lossless pixels.
- Keep temporary artifacts outside version control and commit only intentional visual baselines.
- Include the browser project or platform in snapshot templates when rendering differs across browsers or operating systems.
- Do not confuse a successful file write with a valid page state. Wait for the UI state you intend to document before capture.
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open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
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FAQ
Does outputDir change where page.screenshot() writes?
No. An explicit page.screenshot() call writes exactly to its path; outputDir is a Playwright Test artifact setting.
Can I use an absolute screenshot path?
Yes. Absolute paths are useful when the process working directory varies, provided the directory is writable.
Should visual baselines be stored in test-results?
Usually no. Keep baselines in a deliberate snapshot directory so Test cleanup cannot remove them accidentally.
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Why does a retry create another folder?
Playwright Test isolates test attempts and workers to prevent artifact collisions. Use the report’s generated paths or testInfo.outputPath() rather than assuming one fixed filename.
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