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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Use Selenium WebDriver’s save_screenshot() method after the page reaches the state you want to preserve:
from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get("https://example.com")
ok = driver.save_screenshot("screenshot.png")
print(ok) # True when the PNG was written
driver.quit()The method captures the current browser window as a PNG and returns True when Selenium writes the file. A return value of False indicates an operating-system file-write error. The filename should end in .png; using an explicit, writable path avoids most surprises.
Minimal Selenium screenshot script
Install Selenium with pip install selenium, then run this complete example. Recent Selenium versions can manage a compatible browser driver automatically in common setups; otherwise install and configure the driver required by your browser.
from pathlib import Path
from selenium import webdriver
output = Path("artifacts")
output.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
# options.add_argument("--headless=new") # Uncomment for a headless run.
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
try:
driver.get("https://example.com")
ok = driver.save_screenshot(str(output / "homepage.png"))
if not ok:
raise OSError("Selenium could not write the screenshot")
print("Saved", output / "homepage.png")
finally:
driver.quit()save_screenshot(filename) is documented as saving the current window to a PNG file. Selenium’s Python implementation writes PNG bytes to the supplied path and returns False if an OSError occurs. Use a full path when a test runner, service, or container may have a different working directory. (See the Selenium Python WebDriver API documentation.)
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Save the current window to a file
Check the Boolean result
The return value is part of the API, not merely a convenience. Treat False as a failed artifact and report it in your test or job rather than silently continuing.
ok = driver.save_screenshot("/absolute/path/screenshot.png")
if not ok:
print("Screenshot file was not written")Use the alternate method name
get_screenshot_as_file() performs the same file-saving operation in the current Python implementation:
ok = driver.get_screenshot_as_file("artifacts/homepage.png")Create the destination directory first and ensure the process has write permission. Selenium opens the path in binary write mode; a missing directory, read-only mount, invalid path, or other OSError produces a failed write.
Choose a deterministic filename
For parallel tests, include the test name or a timestamp so workers do not overwrite one another:
from datetime import datetime, timezone
stamp = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ")
path = f"artifacts/login-{stamp}.png"
assert driver.save_screenshot(path)Capture PNG bytes instead of writing immediately
Call get_screenshot_as_png() when another library, object store, or test-reporting system should receive the image directly.
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png_bytes = driver.get_screenshot_as_png()
with open("artifacts/in-memory.png", "wb") as image_file:
image_file.write(png_bytes)This method returns binary PNG data. Because you control the write operation, handle its exceptions and storage policy yourself.
Embed a screenshot as Base64
get_screenshot_as_base64() returns a Base64 string suitable for HTML or text transport:
base64_image = driver.get_screenshot_as_base64()
html = f'
'
with open("report.html", "w", encoding="utf-8") as report:
report.write(html)Base64 is convenient for self-contained reports, but it increases the textual payload compared with keeping the PNG as a binary file. Use bytes or a file when your reporting system accepts binary attachments.
Capture one element rather than the whole window
Locate the component and call its screenshot() method:
element = driver.find_element("css selector", "#checkout")
element.screenshot("artifacts/checkout.png")This is useful for a card, form, chart, or assertion target. The element must exist in the DOM when you locate it. If it is rendered asynchronously, wait for an appropriate condition before taking the shot.
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from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
element = WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(
EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "#checkout"))
)
element.screenshot("artifacts/checkout.png")Wait for the state you actually want
Selenium captures immediately; it does not infer that a page’s images, animations, consent dialog, or application data are ready. Add an explicit wait for a meaningful condition instead of relying only on a fixed sleep.
Wait for a visible element
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
wait = WebDriverWait(driver, 20)
wait.until(EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "main")))
driver.save_screenshot("artifacts/ready.png")Wait for a document-ready state
WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(
lambda d: d.execute_script("return document.readyState") == "complete"
)
driver.save_screenshot("artifacts/document-ready.png")document.readyState does not guarantee that client-side requests, lazy images, fonts, or animations have finished. For those, wait for the application-specific selector or condition. If a screenshot must show a stable animation frame, disable animations with a test stylesheet or wait for the animation’s completed state.
Full-page screenshots and portability
The ordinary window methods capture the current browser window, not necessarily the entire document. Full-document capture is driver-specific. Firefox’s API documents get_full_page_screenshot_as_file():
driver.get_full_page_screenshot_as_file("artifacts/firefox-full-page.png")Do not present that call as a universal WebDriver feature. If your test suite must run across Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, verify each driver’s supported full-page capability or use a separate capture service. Window size, device pixel ratio, fixed headers, sticky elements, lazy loading, and very tall pages can all affect the result.
Useful browser setup controls
Headless execution
Headless mode is useful in CI or containers. The screenshot API is the same; only browser startup changes:
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument("--headless=new")
options.add_argument("--window-size=1440,1200")
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)Set the window size explicitly when visual comparisons depend on responsive breakpoints. A headless default viewport can differ from a developer workstation.
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Set a viewport before navigation
driver.set_window_size(1440, 900)
driver.get("https://example.com")Changing the size can trigger responsive layout changes, so set it before the page reaches the state you intend to capture.
Hide an obstructing element for a test-only capture
driver.execute_script("""
const banner = document.querySelector('.cookie-banner');
if (banner) banner.remove();
""")
driver.save_screenshot("artifacts/content.png")Only alter the page when that is part of your test’s purpose. Removing a banner may make a visual test unlike what a real visitor sees.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failures and fixes
File returns False or is missing
- Confirm the parent directory exists; create it with
Path(...).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True). - Use a writable absolute path and check disk space and container volume permissions.
- Keep the
.pngextension and inspect the Boolean result.
FileNotFoundError for the destination
Selenium does not create parent directories. Create them before calling the method and avoid assuming the process’s current directory.
SessionNotCreatedException
The browser and driver may be incompatible, the browser may be unavailable in the runtime, or startup flags may be invalid. Install a supported browser, allow Selenium’s driver management to resolve it, or configure the matching driver explicitly. In containers, verify required shared-memory and sandbox settings for that image.
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Wait for a visible, application-specific element, then capture. Check that navigation did not end on an error page, that the element is not covered by a modal, and that a headless viewport is large enough for the expected layout.
Element screenshot raises a lookup error
Use the correct locator and wait for presence or visibility. An element inside an iframe requires switching into that frame first; an element in a shadow root requires the component’s shadow-DOM access pattern.
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Full-page output is truncated or inconsistent
Use the driver-specific API documented for your browser, test with the exact driver version used in CI, and account for lazy-loaded content and sticky positioning. The basic current-window method is not a substitute for a full-document implementation.
Choosing the Selenium output method
| Method | Scope | Output | Failure signal |
|---|---|---|---|
save_screenshot() |
Current window | PNG file | Boolean; False on file I/O error |
get_screenshot_as_file() |
Current window | PNG file | Boolean; same Python implementation |
get_screenshot_as_png() |
Current window | PNG bytes | Handle errors when storing or processing bytes |
get_screenshot_as_base64() |
Current window | Base64 text | Handle transport or embedding errors |
element.screenshot() |
One element | PNG file | Element lookup, visibility, and file errors |
get_full_page_screenshot_as_file() |
Full document where supported | PNG file | Driver-specific behavior |
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r.raise_for_status()
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Selenium save screenshots as JPEG or WebP?
The Python WebDriver screenshot methods documented here produce PNG output. Convert the resulting bytes with an image-processing library if another format is required.
Can I call save_screenshot before get()?
You can call it after a driver session starts, but it will capture the browser’s current state. Navigate first when the target is a web page.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Is a screenshot proof that every network request finished?
No. Selenium captures the rendered state at the instant of the call. Wait for the application condition that matters to your test.
Which method should a test-report plugin use?
Use PNG bytes when the plugin accepts binary attachments; use Base64 when it specifically expects text or an HTML data URL.
Quick Recap
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