Puppeteer 25.12.0 launches Chrome in headless mode by default. Set headless to false for a visible browser, or to 'shell' for the older headless shell. For browser selection, use Puppeteer’s bundled browser unless you have a reason to choose a Chrome channel or custom executable path; compatibility is only guaranteed with the bundled browser. This guide’s names and defaults reflect the official Puppeteer API reference for version 25.12.0, displayed on October 3, 2026.
Launch a browser with explicit settings
In Puppeteer 25.12.0, puppeteer.launch() accepts a LaunchOptions object. This example keeps the bundled browser and default arguments, uses headless mode, and sets a startup timeout:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: true,
timeout: 30_000,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();For an ES module, import Puppeteer with import puppeteer from 'puppeteer'; and keep the same launch call. The browser object should be closed when your work is complete; the try/finally pattern ensures cleanup if navigation or page work fails.
Choose the right headless mode
| Setting | Behavior | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
headless: true |
Uses the new headless mode; this is the default. | Use for ordinary automated runs that do not need a visible browser window. |
headless: 'shell' |
Uses the older headless shell. | Use when a workflow specifically requires the old headless mode. |
headless: false |
Runs a visible, headed browser. | Use when you need to watch or debug browser interactions. |
devtools: true forces headless: false. If a browser unexpectedly opens a window, check whether DevTools is enabled in the launch options.
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Select a browser binary
Use Puppeteer’s bundled browser by default
The bundled browser is the safest compatibility choice: Puppeteer documents that it guarantees compatibility only with the browser it bundles. If you do not need a particular installed Chrome version or separate binary, omit browser, channel, and executablePath.
Use an installed Chrome channel
When using Chrome, channel selects a regular Chrome installation from a known system location. Use a channel when you deliberately want an installed Chrome build rather than the bundled browser. Channel names and availability depend on the host installation; do not assume a channel is installed in every environment.
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Use a custom executable path
executablePath points Puppeteer at a browser binary you choose. Puppeteer recommends also setting browser when specifying a custom executable path, and warns that other browser binaries are not covered by the bundled-browser compatibility guarantee.
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
browser: 'chrome',
executablePath: '/absolute/path/to/chrome',
headless: true,
});Replace the example path with the actual binary path on the target machine. A path that exists on a developer workstation may not exist inside a container or deployment host.
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Using puppeteer-core
With puppeteer-core, supply either executablePath or channel; it does not select a bundled browser for you. The chosen browser must be available in the runtime environment.
Arguments and Puppeteer defaults
Use args to add browser command-line arguments. Puppeteer also supports ignoreDefaultArgs, which can be set to true to remove all of Puppeteer’s default arguments, or to an array of argument names to filter specific defaults. The documentation cautions that the defaults are usually wanted, so filter only when a concrete browser behavior requires it.
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const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
args: ['--start-maximized'],
ignoreDefaultArgs: ['--mute-audio'],
});This example adds an argument and filters only --mute-audio. Avoid setting ignoreDefaultArgs: true as a routine customization: removing all defaults can change how Puppeteer configures the browser. For the complete argument list, consult Puppeteer’s defaultArgs() API reference.
Startup, process, profile, and environment settings
| Option | Default or effect | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
timeout |
30,000 ms; 0 disables the startup timeout. |
Raise it for a slow startup environment, or use zero only when you intentionally want no startup timeout. |
dumpio |
Forwards browser stdout and stderr to the Node.js process. | Enable when browser-process output will help diagnose startup or runtime problems. |
signal |
Closes the browser when the supplied abort signal is aborted. | Connect browser lifetime to cancellation in a larger task. |
handleSIGHUP, handleSIGINT, handleSIGTERM |
Each defaults to true. |
Control whether Puppeteer responds to the corresponding process signal by closing the browser. |
userDataDir |
Sets the browser user-data directory. | Use a deliberate profile directory when browser profile state needs to persist or be isolated. |
env |
Controls environment variables visible to the browser; defaults to the current process environment. | Pass a specific browser environment when the inherited process environment is not appropriate. |
Use a distinct user-data directory for independent browser runs rather than having concurrent processes share a profile. The API reference defines the option but does not prescribe a profile-sharing strategy.
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Understand inherited viewport settings
LaunchOptions extends ConnectOptions, so launch also inherits connection-level settings. In particular, defaultViewport defaults to 800 by 600 pixels; set it to null to disable Puppeteer’s default viewport. It is a page/browser connection default, not a browser command-line switch.
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
defaultViewport: { width: 1365, height: 768 },
});Configuration and environment overrides
Puppeteer configuration can set defaultBrowser and executablePath. The environment variables PUPPETEER_BROWSER and PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH override those corresponding configuration values. The configured executable path is auto-computed by default.
If Puppeteer launches a different browser than expected, inspect both the project’s Puppeteer configuration and the process environment. An environment variable can take precedence over the matching configuration setting, so changing only the config file may not change the effective choice.
Common launch problems and fixes
- The browser does not start from a custom path: confirm the path points to an executable browser binary on the machine running Node.js. Check for a different path in
PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATHor Puppeteer configuration, and specifybrowseralongside a custom path. puppeteer-corecannot find a browser: provideexecutablePathorchannel, and ensure that browser is installed and reachable in the runtime environment.- The browser opens visibly despite requesting headless mode: check for
devtools: true, which forcesheadless: false. - Startup times out: the launch timeout defaults to 30,000 ms. Check whether the selected browser exists and can start, then adjust
timeoutfor the environment if slow startup is expected. Setting it to0disables the startup timeout rather than fixing a failed launch. - Changing
argscauses unexpected behavior: keep Puppeteer’s defaults and remove only a specific default argument when needed. Restoring the default argument behavior is a useful first diagnostic step. - The selected browser or executable seems ignored: check
PUPPETEER_BROWSER,PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH, and the Puppeteer configuration because environment variables override matching configuration values. - Browser output is missing from logs: set
dumpio: trueto forward browser stdout and stderr to the Node process.
Or skip the browser setup
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Official Puppeteer references
- LaunchOptions interface, Puppeteer 25.12.0.
- PuppeteerNode.launch() method, Puppeteer 25.12.0.
- Configuration interface, Puppeteer 25.12.0.
- ConnectOptions interface, Puppeteer 25.12.0.
- PuppeteerNode.defaultArgs() method, Puppeteer 25.12.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does setting a custom executable path guarantee compatibility with Puppeteer?
No. Puppeteer guarantees compatibility only with its bundled browser.
Quick Recap
Which headless option uses the old headless implementation?
Set headless: 'shell'.
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