Use Puppeteer’s channel option when you want it to find a regular Chrome installation in a recognized system location. Use executablePath when you need to launch a specific browser executable at a known path. For the most predictable compatibility, keep Puppeteer’s default Chrome for Testing browser: Puppeteer documents that its compatibility guarantee applies to the bundled browser, not arbitrary host-installed versions.
Choose between channel, executablePath, and bundled Chrome
| Choice | How Puppeteer selects the browser | Compatibility | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundled Chrome for Testing | Puppeteer downloads it by default during installation. | The documented, guaranteed baseline. | Automation where predictable Puppeteer compatibility matters most. |
channel |
Finds regular Chrome at a known system location for the selected release channel. | Not covered by the bundled-browser guarantee. | You intentionally need host-installed Chrome and its location is recognized. |
executablePath |
Launches the executable at the path you specify. | Use at your own risk; compatibility with arbitrary versions is not guaranteed. | A custom installation path or managed browser deployment. |
These options are for Chrome/Chromium system-browser use; Puppeteer’s documented system-browser support does not make channel a general browser-discovery mechanism for Firefox or any arbitrary browser. Paths, package names, and available Chrome versions depend on the operating system and deployment. See the LaunchOptions reference and Browsers API.
Launch an installed Chrome with Puppeteer
Use a recognized Chrome release channel
With the puppeteer package, set the channel you want Puppeteer to locate. Pick a channel supported by your Puppeteer version and installed in the runtime environment. This example uses stable Chrome:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
channel: 'chrome',
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Use a specific executable path
Set executablePath when the browser is installed somewhere Puppeteer should not be expected to discover. Replace the illustrative path with the actual executable path inside the machine, container, or account that runs your Node process. The browser property identifies the browser type; it does not make a nonexistent path valid.
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
browser: 'chrome',
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome',
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Use puppeteer-core
puppeteer-core does not download Chrome. Supply either a recognized channel or an explicit executablePath at launch, and manage installation of that browser yourself.
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome',
});The path is illustrative, not a verified location for any particular platform. For channel and path behavior, consult the launch reference and PuppeteerNode API.
Why the bundled browser is the compatibility baseline
The regular puppeteer installation downloads Chrome for Testing, the browser version Puppeteer is designed to work with. The official launch reference warns: “Puppeteer is only guaranteed to work with the bundled browser, so use this setting at your own risk.” The PuppeteerNode API likewise says Puppeteer works best with the Chrome for Testing version downloaded by default and offers no guarantee for any other version.
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A system Chrome can be useful when the host browser is a deployment requirement, but it adds a version-compatibility variable. A Chrome update may change behavior relative to the version your Puppeteer package expects. Test representative automation in the same environment where it will run instead of assuming any installed Chrome version is interchangeable.
Configure installation separately from launch
Browser installation and browser selection at runtime are related but distinct. Puppeteer’s configuration can set an executable path or default browser and can skip downloads; environment variables can override configuration values. If the launch behavior differs between a developer machine and a deployed service, inspect the environment of the actual Node process.
PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATHsets the executable path.PUPPETEER_BROWSERsets the default browser.PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOADand browser-specific skip-download variables affect browser downloads.PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIRchanges the cache location; the documented default is~/.cache/puppeteer.
See the Configuration interface for the configuration keys and environment overrides. Check that any configured file exists and is executable for the same user and inside the same container or host environment as the application.
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Check version and platform requirements
The official documentation surfaced for this guide identifies Puppeteer version 25.12.0. Its system requirements page specifies Node 22.12 or later and lists Chrome for Testing support on Windows x64; macOS x64 and arm64; Debian/Ubuntu Linux x64 and arm64; and openSUSE/Fedora Linux x64 and arm64. These are requirements for the documented version, not timeless guarantees for every Puppeteer release or host-installed browser. Check the documentation for your installed version at Puppeteer system requirements.
The installation guide gives approximate Chrome for Testing download sizes of 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows. These are approximate download sizes, not guaranteed installed disk usage. See the installation guide.
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- Check your installed Puppeteer version. Read the documentation corresponding to that version because launch options, supported versions, and platform requirements can change.
- Decide whether you need system Chrome. Prefer the Puppeteer-managed Chrome for Testing browser when a predictable compatibility baseline is more important than using the host browser.
- Choose the selection method. Use
channelfor a recognized Chrome release channel at a known system location; useexecutablePathwhen you have a specific executable path. - For
puppeteer-core, provide a browser choice. ConfigurechannelorexecutablePath, since the package does not download Chrome for you. - Inspect runtime overrides and permissions. Check environment variables, the process user, and whether the selected browser is present and executable in that runtime environment.
- Test real automation in the target environment. Launch the browser and exercise representative pages and interactions before relying on the setup in production.
Troubleshoot common launch problems
“Could not find Chrome” or a missing executable
With puppeteer-core, a browser must be installed and selected explicitly. With puppeteer, verify whether the browser download ran and whether the configured cache directory is available to the runtime user. Package managers may block install scripts, which can leave the bundled browser missing. Follow the official installation guide to run Puppeteer’s browser-install command manually or configure the package manager to allow the install script.
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The wrong browser launches
Check whether PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH, PUPPETEER_BROWSER, or another configuration setting is changing the intended selection. For a custom browser location, use an explicit executablePath; for a recognized system Chrome channel, use channel. Verify the selected file in the same runtime where Puppeteer launches.
The executable exists but launch fails
Confirm that the file is executable by the process user and that the runtime can access the browser’s required system libraries and resources. Check that the selected browser is Chrome/Chromium and that its version works with your installed Puppeteer version. The bundled browser remains the supported baseline when compatibility is uncertain.
The browser works locally but not in a container or server
Local installation does not guarantee that the browser is available in the deployment image or to its runtime account. Install or provide the browser in the deployed environment, set its path or channel there, and run a launch test after deployment. Also confirm Node and operating-system support for the Puppeteer version in use.
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Browser installation consumes unexpected space
Puppeteer’s browser cache defaults to ~/.cache/puppeteer, unless PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR changes it. Account for browser downloads separately from your application files. The documented approximate download sizes are not a promise about final disk consumption.
Or skip the browser setup
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