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Log in with Playwright, wait until the site shows a verified signed-in state, navigate to the protected page, then call Page.ScreenshotAsync. To avoid repeating the login flow on later runs, save the browser context’s storage state after login and restore it in a new context. Treat that saved file like a credential.

Capture a page after logging in

Install the Playwright .NET package and its browser as described in the Playwright .NET getting started guide. The example below shows the capture sequence; replace the login steps with the target site’s actual locators, credentials, and success condition.

using Microsoft.Playwright;

using var playwright = await Playwright.CreateAsync();
await using var browser = await playwright.Chromium.LaunchAsync();
await using var context = await browser.NewContextAsync();
var page = await context.NewPageAsync();

await page.GotoAsync("https://example.com/login");
// Replace with the site's login flow, for example:
// await page.GetByLabel("Email").FillAsync(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("SITE_EMAIL"));
// await page.GetByLabel("Password").FillAsync(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("SITE_PASSWORD"));
// await page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Sign in" }).ClickAsync();
// Wait for a known signed-in URL or visible account element.

await page.GotoAsync("https://example.com/account/report");
await page.ScreenshotAsync(new() { Path = "authenticated.png" });

ScreenshotAsync saves the screenshot to the supplied path; by default, it captures the visible viewport. Check the .NET Page screenshot API for available options and the getting started guide for the basic launch-and-capture pattern. The sample URLs and commented login selectors are illustrative, not a tested login for a real site.

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Wait for authentication and page readiness

A successful navigation does not necessarily mean authentication succeeded: a site may redirect to a login page, require a second step, or render the protected content after its initial document loads. Wait for an observable condition that proves the account is signed in, such as a known final URL or a stable account-specific element. Then navigate to the target and, if its content loads asynchronously, wait for a page-specific readiness condition before capturing.

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Use the same kind of check before saving reusable state. Playwright’s authentication guide demonstrates waiting for a final URL or signed-in UI before persisting the context.

Reuse authentication across runs

When the site’s authentication is represented in supported browser storage, save the context state after verifying login. A later run can load that file into a fresh context:

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var authFile = "playwright/.auth/user.json";

// In the login run, after confirming the signed-in state:
await context.StorageStateAsync(new() { Path = authFile });

// In a later run, after launching browser:
await using var restoredContext = await browser.NewContextAsync(
    new() { StorageStatePath = authFile });
var restoredPage = await restoredContext.NewPageAsync();
await restoredPage.GotoAsync("https://example.com/account/report");
await restoredPage.ScreenshotAsync(new() { Path = "authenticated.png" });

Create the playwright/.auth directory before writing the file if it does not exist. The path is relative to the process’s working directory. If the application stores authentication tokens in IndexedDB, Playwright .NET’s StorageStateAsync supports an IndexedDB option starting in v1.51; save with new() { Path = authFile, IndexedDB = true }. State storage does not automatically cover every authentication mechanism: the general guide treats session storage as a special case that requires manual persistence and restoration.

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Choose the approach that fits

Approach Useful when Trade-off
Log in during each run You need a fresh session or the login process itself is under test. Requires handling the site’s login flow on every run.
Save and restore context state You want to avoid repeating login for later runs. Sessions can expire, and the state file is sensitive. Coverage depends on where the site stores authentication.

Choose screenshot size and output

The default screenshot is the visible viewport. Set FullPage = true to capture the full scrollable page:

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await page.ScreenshotAsync(new()
{
    Path = "authenticated-full.png",
    FullPage = true
});

The screenshot API also documents options for a clip region, output type and quality, scale, and animation behavior. Select the output and dimensions that suit the consuming workflow; for example, full-page output is useful for a report that extends below the fold, while a viewport capture mirrors what is currently visible.

Protect saved browser state

A reusable state file may contain sensitive cookies and headers that could be used to impersonate an account. Playwright advises keeping authentication files out of source control. Add the auth directory to .gitignore, restrict access to the file, and remove or refresh it when the session expires. Avoid placing real credentials directly in source code; use your environment’s secret-management approach.

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Troubleshoot common failures

  • The screenshot shows the login page: The login may have failed, redirected, or not completed before navigation. Wait for the expected signed-in URL or account element and verify it before opening the protected page.
  • The restored context is unauthenticated: The state may have expired, been saved before login completed, or omit the storage mechanism used by the site. Repeat login and save only after confirming success; enable IndexedDB persistence if the application uses it, or handle session storage separately.
  • The target page is incomplete: Navigation can finish before client-rendered or lazy content is ready. Wait for a stable, page-specific element before capturing; use FullPage = true only when the full scrollable document is required.
  • Saving state or the screenshot fails: Confirm the destination directory exists and the process can write to it. Relative paths are resolved from the process working directory.
  • Parallel runs interfere with one another: If tests change shared server-side account state, use distinct accounts for parallel workers; a shared authenticated account is appropriate only when the runs do not conflict.
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Or skip the browser setup

For a URL-based capture, ScreenshotNeo provides a screenshot API and MCP server. A single GET request returns an image or PDF; this cURL example saves a WebP screenshot:

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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com/account/report -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API details. ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie/consent banners and removes supported consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are not billed, and responses indicate the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides screenshot tools for AI agents, and the free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.

Sign up free for ScreenshotNeo: 1,000 screenshots a month, no card required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Playwright .NET capture the whole page by default?

No. The default is the visible viewport; set FullPage = true for the full scrollable page.

Which Playwright .NET version added IndexedDB storage-state support?

The release notes identify the IndexedDB option as added in v1.51.

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