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Puppeteer’s installed-browser metadata is an inventory of browser builds in a specified Puppeteer cache—not a scan of every browser on your computer. Use getInstalledBrowsers({cacheDir}) from @puppeteer/browsers to retrieve records, or run npx @puppeteer/browsers list to list cached browsers from a terminal.
What is Puppeteer installed browser metadata?
In @puppeteer/browsers, installed-browser metadata describes browser builds managed in a browser cache. The API reference for Puppeteer documentation version 25.12.0 says getInstalledBrowsers() returns metadata about browsers installed in the cache directory. It returns a promise that resolves to an array of InstalledBrowser records.
This scope matters: the API inventories the cache directory you specify. It does not discover every browser installation on the host, such as a separate Chrome installation found through the system.
What information does an InstalledBrowser record contain?
The documented record has five properties. The identity fields tell you which browser build the record describes; the two paths serve different purposes.
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| Property | Meaning |
|---|---|
browser |
Browser identity. |
buildId |
Identifier for the browser build. Puppeteer’s installation documentation describes build IDs as uniquely identifying binaries and uses them for caching. |
platform |
Platform associated with the installed build. |
path |
Root of the installation folder. It is not necessarily the executable file itself. |
executablePath |
Location of the executable binary. |
The InstalledBrowser constructor is internal. Obtain records through package APIs rather than creating instances yourself. See the official InstalledBrowser API reference.
How do I list browsers installed by Puppeteer?
Use the command line
Run the documented list command from a shell:
npx @puppeteer/browsers list
It lists installed browsers managed by the package. If a browser you expect is missing, first check which cache directory your installation uses.
Use the programmatic API
In JavaScript, call getInstalledBrowsers and provide the cache root to inspect. This example uses the API’s explicit cache-directory option:
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import {getInstalledBrowsers} from '@puppeteer/browsers';
const browsers = await getInstalledBrowsers({cacheDir: '/path/to/puppeteer-cache'});
for (const browser of browsers) {
console.log({
browser: browser.browser,
buildId: browser.buildId,
platform: browser.platform,
installRoot: browser.path,
executablePath: browser.executablePath,
});
}Replace /path/to/puppeteer-cache with the actual cache root. The API names and behavior are versioned; these references were reviewed against the official Puppeteer documentation version 25.12.0 on October 3, 2026. Check the documentation for the package version installed in your project.
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Which cache directory should I inspect?
The cache path used for enumeration must match the location where Puppeteer-managed browsers were installed. Puppeteer’s configuration interface documents cacheDirectory with a default of path.join(os.homedir(), '.cache', 'puppeteer'). The PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR environment variable can override that configuration. The lower-level @puppeteer/browsers inventory API takes its own cacheDir option, so pass the effective cache root rather than assuming the default.
For installation, the documented options include the browser, buildId, cacheDir, and platform. A different build ID or cache directory can therefore mean a different cached installation. Consult the official configuration interface, GetInstalledBrowsersOptions, and InstallOptions references for the relevant version.
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Does finding metadata mean Puppeteer can launch that browser?
No. Inventory and launch selection are separate mechanisms. A record confirms that the cache inventory API found a managed build in the cache; it does not by itself establish that the build is compatible with your Puppeteer setup.
launch({channel})selects a regular Chrome installation from known system locations.launch({executablePath})uses the binary path you supply.
Puppeteer documents that it only guarantees compatibility with its bundled browser. Treat a cached record, a system-channel installation, and a user-specified executable as distinct cases. See the official LaunchOptions documentation.
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The list is empty, but a browser seems to be installed
The browser may be outside the cache directory being enumerated, or the configured cache root may differ from the one you passed as cacheDir. Check cacheDirectory and PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR, then enumerate the matching root.
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The installation path does not point to a binary
path is the installation-folder root, not a synonym for the executable path. Use the record’s executablePath when you need the binary, or use computeExecutablePath() to locate the executable as the API reference advises.
A listed browser fails to launch
Being present in the cache is not a compatibility guarantee. Check that your launch configuration selects the intended browser and binary, and remember Puppeteer’s documented guarantee applies to its bundled browser.
The example’s API or command differs in your project
Puppeteer API documentation is versioned. The references cited here identify documentation version 25.12.0; confirm the installed package version and use the matching official docs before adapting code.
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Official Puppeteer references
- @puppeteer/browsers
- getInstalledBrowsers()
- InstalledBrowser
- GetInstalledBrowsersOptions
- Configuration interface
- LaunchOptions
- InstallOptions
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