The Tool Desk
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Choose the right Puppeteer configuration layer
| Layer | Use it for | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration file | Persistent project settings, especially browser choice, downloads, and cache locations. | Puppeteer searches up the file tree for recognized configuration files. Supported environment variables override corresponding file settings. |
| Environment variables | Deployment-specific overrides, such as a different executable or cache directory. | Only variables supported by your installed release apply. Verify names and behavior in its versioned reference. |
puppeteer.launch() |
Options for one browser process: executable, channel, headless mode, arguments, timeout, and user-data directory. | These are runtime choices, not installation settings. |
For example, the configuration interface documents variables including PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH, PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD, PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR, PUPPETEER_TMP_DIR, and PUPPETEER_BROWSER. Check the configuration reference for your installed version rather than assuming every option exists in every release: Puppeteer configuration reference.
The current documentation identified for this guide is Puppeteer 25.12.0. Its separate configuration guide is for the next documentation, so confirm version-specific options against the documentation for your installed release.
Install Puppeteer and its browser
The puppeteer package downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing build by default; current releases also download chrome-headless-shell. By default, downloaded browsers are cached under ~/.cache/puppeteer. Installation and browser-download settings belong in the configuration layer, not in launch().
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Use the package’s browser-install command if your package manager blocked install scripts and skipped the download:
npx puppeteer browsers installAlternatively, configure the package manager to allow Puppeteer’s install script, then reinstall as appropriate for your project. A missing download can cause launch errors such as “Could not find Chrome (ver. …).” See the official installation guide for package-manager guidance.
Set persistent project options
Create a configuration file using a filename and format recognized by your installed Puppeteer release, then put persistent installation or shared settings there. Puppeteer searches upward through the directory tree for recognized files. Because the exact interface can change, use the versioned configuration reference to confirm the supported filename, syntax, and available fields before copying an example from another release.
For a setting supported both in the file and as an environment variable, the environment value takes precedence. If you change a setting that affects which browser is downloaded or where it is stored, rerun the browser installation command so the on-disk browser state matches the configuration.
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puppeteer-core is an important exception: it ignores Puppeteer configuration files and these Puppeteer environment-variable settings. Supply browser details explicitly when launching it.
Configure one browser process with launch options
Use launch() for runtime behavior. The 25.12.0 API includes browser selection, channel, executablePath, args, headless, timeout, userDataDir, process-signal handling, and I/O controls. See the launch method reference for the complete option list and types.
A minimal launch using the browser installed by puppeteer looks like this:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}headlessdefaults to headless mode.trueselects new headless;'shell'selects the old headless shell.- Use
executablePathorchannelwhen deliberately selecting a browser installed or managed elsewhere. Forpuppeteer-core, one of these is required. - Set
argsonly when necessary. Replacing or changing default browser arguments can affect behavior and should be done deliberately. - Use
timeoutanduserDataDirto control the relevant process behavior; consult the versioned API for defaults and exact accepted values.
Choose between the bundled browser and a managed browser
| Approach | What to configure | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
Bundled browser with puppeteer |
Install the package and let it download its compatible Chrome for Testing build. | This is the path with the strongest compatibility assurance. Puppeteer says it works best with its downloaded Chrome for Testing version. |
Browser managed elsewhere with puppeteer-core |
Install and maintain the browser separately; provide executablePath or channel at launch. |
You own browser availability and version compatibility. Puppeteer does not guarantee that another Chrome version will work. |
Use puppeteer-core when your application or environment is responsible for supplying the browser. If you do, treat browser upgrades as a compatibility change and validate them in the actual deployment environment. See the installation guide and launch API.
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Make deployment match the target environment
A successful local launch does not prove that Chrome can start in a container or production host. The current system requirements documentation lists Node.js 22.12 or later and describes supported Chrome for Testing operating systems and architectures. Check your deployment image against the system requirements, including the linked Linux package requirements.
- Confirm the deployed Node.js version, operating system, and CPU architecture.
- Confirm the browser binary was installed in the deployment and that its configured path exists.
- Check required Linux system packages against the target image, not just your development machine.
- Review the target environment’s sandbox policy and permissions before changing Chrome arguments.
Chrome’s sandbox is an important security boundary. Puppeteer’s troubleshooting guide calls --no-sandbox a strongly discouraged workaround and recommends configuring a sandbox. Do not add it as a routine fix; treat any exception as an environment-specific security decision. See Puppeteer troubleshooting.
Troubleshoot common configuration failures
“Could not find Chrome” after installation
Likely cause: an install script was blocked, browser downloading was skipped, or Puppeteer is looking in a different cache location than the one used during installation.
Fix: run npx puppeteer browsers install, or allow the Puppeteer install script. Check PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD, PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR, and any corresponding project configuration, then ensure the installation and runtime use the intended cache.
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Chrome exists locally but not in production
Likely cause: the deployment image has a different architecture, operating system, cache path, or install-script policy.
Fix: install the browser in the target image or provide the managed browser’s actual executablePath/channel. Check the system requirements and Linux packages for that image.
Chrome exits at launch in Linux or Docker
Likely cause: missing system libraries or a mismatch between the browser and its runtime environment.
Fix: use Puppeteer’s troubleshooting guidance to identify missing dependencies and compare the deployment with the official system requirements. Avoid treating --no-sandbox as a default remedy.
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Sandbox error
Likely cause: the host or container does not permit the sandbox configuration Chrome expects.
Fix: configure an appropriate sandbox for the environment and review permissions. Only consider disabling it after an explicit security review of the deployment.
A config change has no effect
Likely cause: an environment variable overrides the file value, the file is not in a recognized location or format, or the project uses puppeteer-core.
Fix: check the versioned configuration reference, inspect deployment environment variables, and remember that puppeteer-core does not read Puppeteer config files or Puppeteer environment-variable settings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does puppeteer-core download Chrome?
No. It does not download a browser; provide a browser path or channel when launching.
What does Puppeteer’s headless option mean?
In the documented API, true selects new headless and 'shell' selects the old headless shell.
Quick Recap
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