BrowserStack Local is BrowserStack’s secure tunnel for testing websites and apps that are not publicly reachable. Run a Local agent on a machine that can access your localhost, staging site, or internal network; BrowserStack’s remote browsers and devices can then reach the target through that connection.
What BrowserStack Local does
BrowserStack calls the feature Local Testing in its documentation. It bridges a private environment and BrowserStack’s cloud testing sessions, so you can use remote browsers and devices to test an application without making that application publicly accessible. It is relevant to manual Live and App Live sessions, automated workflows, and supported low-code testing integrations. BrowserStack’s Local Testing overview describes the supported use cases and products.
Typical targets include a local development server, a staging site, an internal application, or a website reachable only through a company proxy, firewall, or VPN. The tunnel solves reachability; it does not replace the test runner, browser configuration, or application server.
How the tunnel works
You start the Local agent on a machine that can reach the target application. The agent authenticates with BrowserStack and establishes an encrypted outbound connection to a BrowserStack repeater. A remote browser sends requests through that repeater and the tunnel; the Local agent forwards them to destinations it can access.
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BrowserStack describes this design as using Secure WebSockets and says the repeater cannot initiate a connection to the Local agent. It also says only servers allowed for the connection are reachable. These are BrowserStack’s descriptions of its architecture, not an independent security audit. See its architecture guide.
The distinction between the browsing session and the tunnel matters operationally: BrowserStack says a Local connection can remain active for another test session after an individual remote session ends. Disconnect the Local agent when you are done. BrowserStack’s documentation describes deletion of information associated with the repeater session after disconnect and cleanup of remote session data; consult the architecture guide for its account of that lifecycle.
Choose the setup route for your workflow
| Workflow | Typical setup route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Live or App Live testing on Windows or macOS | BrowserStack’s desktop app is identified in its setup FAQ as the easier route. | Confirm the current app instructions for your product and device workflow. |
| Automate or App Automate | Use the command-line binary or the selected test integration’s Local configuration. | Follow the runner-specific guide; avoid putting the access key in source control or exposed logs. |
| Live or App Live on Linux | The support FAQ recommends the command-line binary. | Check OS-specific setup steps and network access. |
| Automated test frameworks | Some integrations can start or configure Local as part of test execution. | Use the guide for the exact framework and parallel-build arrangement. |
These routes are documented in BrowserStack’s Local Testing setup FAQ, Live setup guide, and framework guides such as its Cypress Local Testing guide. Exact steps and entitlements can differ by product, account, operating system, and integration, so use the guide matching your test environment.
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Start Local from the command line
For a manual binary-based setup, download the binary using BrowserStack’s current instructions, then run it with your access key:
./BrowserStackLocal --key YOUR_ACCESS_KEY- Obtain the Local binary using the instructions for your operating system and BrowserStack product.
- Run the command on a machine that can resolve and reach the application host.
- Keep the Local process running while BrowserStack sessions need access to that environment.
- Start the Live session or automated test configured to use Local, and navigate to the local or private host.
- When testing is finished, stop or disconnect the Local binary rather than assuming the tunnel ended with the browser session.
For automated execution, follow the integration guide instead of assuming this bare command is sufficient. Integrations may require a Local identifier, framework capabilities, or configuration for parallel builds. BrowserStack’s Cypress guide is one example of runner-specific setup.
Network and routing requirements
BrowserStack’s network guide lists outbound HTTP(S) to local.browserstack.com on ports 80 and 443, and a WebSocket Secure (WSS) connection to a repeater on port 443. The tunnel is initiated outward from the machine running Local, so the design does not require exposing the internal application server as a public web server.
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For networks using a proxy or traffic inspection, BrowserStack says the proxy must support WebSockets and the HTTP CONNECT method for TLS. Its architecture documentation describes a legacy SSL-encrypted fallback when WebSockets are blocked, but says it is much slower. Have the network team verify the current requirements in the network and architecture guide before changing firewall or proxy rules.
Local only forwards to servers allowed for the connection and reachable from the machine running the agent. A site that works in a developer’s browser may still fail if the Local host has different DNS, proxy, VPN, or firewall access.
When Local is unnecessary—and when routing options help
If a site is publicly hosted and BrowserStack’s remote browser can already reach it directly, the Local tunnel may not be needed. An exception is a hostname that resolves differently inside your organization than it does from the public internet. BrowserStack documents a force-local option for routing all requests through the Local connection in applicable integrations; consult the relevant integration documentation before enabling it.
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For parallel automated runs, check whether each build needs a distinct Local identifier so its browser sessions connect to the intended tunnel. The exact configuration is integration-specific; avoid copying a setting from another runner without checking its current guide. BrowserStack’s overview and Cypress instructions provide product and framework context.
iOS Live and localhost naming
BrowserStack’s Live setup guide notes a particular iOS case: localhost may need to be replaced with http://bs-local.com. If that substitution does not work automatically, use bs-local.com with the same port and make sure the local server serves that host. This is a documented Live/device caveat, not a universal rule for every iOS or automated workflow; verify behavior for the exact BrowserStack product and device setup you use. See the Live setup guide.
Troubleshoot common connection failures
- The remote browser cannot open the local URL: confirm the server is running and reachable from the machine running Local, then check the host name and port. A hostname available only inside another VPN or on another machine may not resolve from the Local host.
- The Local process cannot connect: ask the network team to verify outbound access to the documented BrowserStack endpoints and ports, plus WebSocket support. If a proxy is involved, check support for WebSockets and TLS
CONNECT. - It works without a proxy but fails on a corporate network: investigate proxy authentication, TLS inspection, or blocked WebSockets against BrowserStack’s current network requirements. The documented legacy fallback is described as much slower, so restoring the required WebSocket path is preferable where policy permits.
- A site works by IP but not by hostname: check DNS resolution and virtual-host handling from the Local machine. If the organization’s hostname resolves differently, determine whether the integration’s documented
force-localrouting behavior is appropriate. - One test session works but later sessions fail: check whether the Local process disconnected or whether the next run expects a different Local identifier. A browser session ending does not necessarily end the tunnel, and an identifier mismatch can route sessions incorrectly.
- iOS Live does not resolve
localhost: follow the documentedbs-local.comworkaround and ensure the local server accepts that host and port. - The setup guide’s steps do not match your screen: confirm you are using instructions for Live versus Automate, the relevant operating system, and the current integration. BrowserStack maintains separate setup paths for these workflows.
Performance, session lifecycle, and practical limits
Requests travel from the remote BrowserStack browser through BrowserStack’s repeater and the Local agent to the target environment, so this route depends on the network path between those components and the local server. BrowserStack specifically warns that its legacy fallback for blocked WebSockets is much slower; do not assume a performance figure or compare it quantitatively without measurements for your own network and application.
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Keep the Local agent alive for the duration of tests that rely on it, and disconnect it when no longer needed. For long-running or parallel tests, validate the tunnel and routing configuration as part of the test setup, rather than treating a successful one-off Live session as proof that all CI workers will use the same route.
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For example, this cURL request captures a publicly reachable page as WebP:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for options and API-key setup. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 shots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
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These tools solve different problems. BrowserStack Local connects remote browsers and devices to a private site for interactive or automated testing. ScreenshotNeo captures a page and can return an image or PDF; it is not a substitute for testing a private environment in a remote browser. For a public page where a capture is sufficient, ScreenshotNeo is the alternative to try first: it removes supported consent banners and overlays before capture, bills only clean shots, and offers the API and MCP tools described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BrowserStack Local make my localhost website public?
No. The Local agent connects outward to BrowserStack, allowing remote sessions to reach the target through the tunnel rather than requiring the application to be exposed as a public site.
Can I keep the Local tunnel open between browser sessions?
BrowserStack says the Local connection can remain active after a remote browsing session ends. Disconnect the Local agent when testing is complete.
Does ScreenshotNeo test localhost through BrowserStack?
No. ScreenshotNeo is a screenshot API and MCP server; BrowserStack Local provides a tunnel for remote browser and device testing of private targets.
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