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In Puppeteer v25.12.0, set headless: 'shell' to launch the separate chrome-headless-shell binary. By contrast, headless: true launches Chrome’s newer headless mode. The Shell can be more performant for automation that does not need the complete Chrome feature set, but it may behave differently from full Chrome. Choose it only after checking that it supports the browser behavior your task needs.
What the Headless Shell setting controls
Puppeteer has two distinct headless implementations. The string value 'shell' selects the separate Headless Shell binary, while the boolean value true selects Chrome’s newer headless mode. Headless Shell is the mode formerly known as old headless; it is not simply a flag that makes the regular Chrome binary headless.
Puppeteer describes Headless Shell as currently more performant for automation that does not require the full Chrome feature set. This is a qualitative description, not a published benchmark or guarantee for every workload. Test the pages and browser features your automation actually uses before switching.
Install-time settings versus launch options
There are two settings layers to keep separate: configuration for acquiring the Shell binary, and options passed when starting a browser process.
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Install-time Chrome Headless Shell settings
The "chrome-headless-shell" configuration section controls where Puppeteer downloads the binary, whether it downloads it, and which version it obtains. These settings do not choose the browser mode for a particular launch.
| Setting | What it does | Environment override |
|---|---|---|
downloadBaseUrl |
Sets the URL prefix for browser downloads. Include a protocol, and do not end the value with a trailing slash. | PUPPETEER_CHROME_HEADLESS_SHELL_DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL |
skipDownload |
Prevents Puppeteer from downloading Headless Shell during installation. | PUPPETEER_CHROME_HEADLESS_SHELL_SKIP_DOWNLOAD or PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROME_HEADLESS_SHELL_DOWNLOAD |
version |
Selects a Shell version. By default, Puppeteer uses the version pinned for that Puppeteer release. | PUPPETEER_CHROME_HEADLESS_SHELL_VERSION |
The exact configuration shape and supported fields are documented in the ChromeHeadlessShellSettings interface and the configuration guide.
Runtime launch options
Pass launch options to puppeteer.launch(). The main switch is headless: 'shell'. Other relevant options include:
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argsadds browser command-line arguments, such as--enable-gpuwhen GPU acceleration is needed and supported by the environment.executablePathspecifies an explicit browser executable.channelselects an installed Chrome release channel.ignoreDefaultArgsremoves Puppeteer’s default arguments entirely or filters selected defaults. Use it cautiously because removing defaults can change how the browser starts.
Puppeteer guarantees compatibility with its bundled browser, not every externally managed executable. See the LaunchOptions interface before changing launch defaults or selecting a different binary.
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With the puppeteer package installed and its browser download available, this minimal Node.js example launches Shell, opens a page, and closes the browser cleanly:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: 'shell',
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();To add a browser argument, pass it in args. The example below enables GPU acceleration; use this only if GPU acceleration is wanted and available in your runtime.
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const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: 'shell',
args: ['--enable-gpu'],
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();Puppeteer’s launch method accepts the runtime options described above; consult the PuppeteerNode.launch() reference for the version installed in your project.
Choose between new headless and Shell
| Choice | What launches | When it may fit | Trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|---|
headless: true |
Chrome’s newer headless mode | When you want the newer headless implementation and its behavior. | Check that it works with your exact automation workload. |
headless: 'shell' |
The separate chrome-headless-shell binary |
When the task does not need the complete Chrome feature set and Shell’s behavior is compatible. | Shell may differ from full Chrome; validate required features. GPU acceleration requires --enable-gpu. |
There is no general performance percentage in Puppeteer’s guidance. A useful decision is to run representative pages in the mode you intend to deploy and compare correctness and runtime under the same conditions. If your automation relies on Chrome features that Shell does not reproduce, use the newer headless mode or another supported setup.
Check installation and browser-version compatibility
Puppeteer’s installation guide says the puppeteer package downloads Chrome for Testing and a chrome-headless-shell binary. If a package manager blocks install scripts, the browser download may not happen. The puppeteer-core package does not download a browser; when using it, provide a browser through an explicit executable path or a supported channel.
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For Puppeteer v25.12.0, the supported-browser mapping lists Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57. That is a mapping for that release, not a permanent version requirement. Check the mapping for the Puppeteer version actually installed. The supported browsers page also explains the project’s compatibility expectations: Supported browsers.
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GPU acceleration
Puppeteer’s troubleshooting guidance says Headless Shell requires --enable-gpu to enable GPU acceleration in headless mode. Add it through args only when your task needs GPU acceleration and the host supports it. A flag cannot make unavailable hardware or drivers work.
Keep the Chrome sandbox enabled
On Linux, do not add --no-sandbox as a routine convenience or speed setting. Puppeteer describes Chrome’s sandbox as protection for the host from untrusted web content and strongly discourages running without it. Configure a usable sandbox when possible. The documented workaround without the sandbox is limited to cases where the opened content is absolutely trusted. See Puppeteer troubleshooting.
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Screen configuration in headless mode
For headless display layouts, Puppeteer documents the --screen-info switch and runtime screen methods including Browser.addScreen, Browser.removeScreen, and Browser.screens. The --screen-info switch is available only in headless mode; headful Chrome uses physical platform screens. See Screen configuration.
Troubleshooting common Shell setup problems
- Shell fails to launch because the executable is missing: Check whether the install script ran and whether
skipDownloador its environment overrides disabled the download. Withpuppeteer-core, supply an installed browser usingexecutablePathorchannel. - The browser download fails in a managed package environment: Some package managers block installation scripts. Allow the required install step or manage the browser yourself and configure its executable. Use the documented download-base setting if your environment requires a different download prefix.
- A custom browser or channel behaves unexpectedly: Puppeteer guarantees compatibility with its bundled browser, so check the supported-browser mapping and prefer the browser paired with your installed Puppeteer version.
- GPU acceleration is not active: For Headless Shell, add
--enable-gputoargs, then verify that the runtime has usable GPU support. - Linux launch fails when sandboxing is enabled: Do not immediately disable the sandbox for arbitrary content. Investigate the host’s sandbox configuration and configure it to work. Only consider the documented no-sandbox workaround for absolutely trusted pages.
- Automation output differs from regular Chrome: Shell is a distinct implementation. Test the required browser behavior in
headless: trueor a supported full Chrome setup if Shell does not provide what the workflow needs.
Or skip the browser setup
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Quick Recap
Further reading
- Puppeteer Headless mode
- ChromeHeadlessShellSettings interface
- Puppeteer configuration guide
- Puppeteer installation guide
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