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Use page.keyboard.press(key, options) for a named key or special key, page.keyboard.type(text, options) to enter a string, and down() followed by up() when a key must stay held across actions. Their options and event timing differ: in particular, press() delays between keydown and keyup, while type() delays between characters.

Choose the keyboard method for the interaction

What you need Method Behavior
Enter ordinary text page.keyboard.type(text, options) Generates keyboard events for each character; an optional delay applies between key presses.
Press a named or special key page.keyboard.press(key, options) A shortcut for pressing the key down and releasing it.
Keep a key or modifier held across actions page.keyboard.down(key), then page.keyboard.up(key) Leaves the key active until you release it.
Send character input without keydown or keyup page.keyboard.sendCharacter(char) Emits keypress and input events only; it is not equivalent to press().

Puppeteer’s Keyboard is a virtual keyboard. The methods dispatch browser keyboard events; they do not mean that a physical keyboard is being operated.

Press a named key with press()

Call press() with a key name such as ArrowLeft, ArrowDown, or Control. It performs the down-and-up sequence for you, so it is suited to a discrete key press rather than a key that must remain held.

await page.keyboard.type('Hello');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
await page.keyboard.press('Backspace');

The first line enters ordinary text. The second moves the caret left; the third deletes the character immediately before it. For the complete accepted key-name list, consult the KeyInput type documentation for the Puppeteer version installed in your project rather than assuming this short set of examples is exhaustive.

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press() options

  • text: when specified, generates an input event with the given text.
  • delay: milliseconds to wait between keydown and keyup. It defaults to 0.
  • commands: command names for keyboard shortcut commands documented by Chromium.
await page.keyboard.press('Enter', {delay: 100});

Here, the delay is between the keydown and keyup events for Enter. It is not a delay between characters.

Type strings with type()

Use type(text, options) for a string. Puppeteer generates the keyboard event sequence for each character. The optional delay is the time between key presses and defaults to 0.

await page.keyboard.type('World', {delay: 100});

This is distinct from press()’s delay: type() spaces character presses, while press() waits between one key’s down and up events.

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Held modifiers do not transform typed text

Holding Shift does not make type() capitalize a lowercase string. If the interaction depends on a modifier changing a key press, use down() and then press the relevant named key instead.

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Hold and release keys with down() and up()

down(key) starts a held key; up(key) releases it. This is useful for modifier combinations or interactions that span more than one key press. For example, holding Shift while moving the caret with ArrowLeft selects text:

await page.keyboard.down('Shift');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
await page.keyboard.up('Shift');
await page.keyboard.press('Backspace');

Modifier state remains active for subsequent key presses until released. Repeating down() for a key that is already held sets the repeat flag. Make sure every intentional hold is eventually paired with up(), or later input may continue to behave as though the modifier is active.

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When to use sendCharacter()

sendCharacter(char) emits keypress and input events without a keydown or keyup pair. Use it only when that event pattern is what the page interaction requires; it is not a substitute for press() when the page expects keydown or keyup events.

Options and version compatibility

Puppeteer’s API pages surfaced different version labels for related keyboard entries: the Keyboard class page showed 25.3.0, press() 25.10.0, type() 25.9.0, and down() 25.11.0; the broader API reference showed 25.12.0. These labels are not a synchronized release snapshot. Check the API documentation for the version in your project before relying on newer options, especially commands.

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Limitations and troubleshooting

Text has the wrong capitalization

type() does not apply a held Shift modifier to transform the supplied string. Pass the capitalization you need as text, or use explicit key presses if the page must receive modifier-key events.

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A modifier seems stuck

A key held with down() remains active until up() releases it. Ensure the interaction releases the modifier before sending unrelated keys.

A shortcut does not work on macOS

Puppeteer’s Keyboard class documentation warns that macOS shortcuts such as Command+A for Select All do not work through this API. The available evidence does not establish a general workaround or the current status of the referenced issue, so do not assume the same limitation applies to all platforms or that a particular workaround is supported.

A delay does not behave as expected

Check which method you called. For type(), delay is between character key presses; for press(), it is between keydown and keyup for that key. Both default to zero when no delay is supplied.

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Or skip the browser setup

ScreenshotNeo is a screenshot API, not a replacement for Puppeteer keyboard automation. If the outcome you need is a screenshot or PDF rather than simulated key input, one GET request can capture a page. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.

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

ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server gives AI agents tools for screenshots, page information, and PDF capture. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does keyboard.press() type a whole string?

No. Use keyboard.type(text) for string entry; press() is for a key press.

Can I use keyboard.down() without keyboard.up()?

A key started with down() remains held until it is released with up().

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