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To open a visible Chromium window maximized in Playwright Test, run headed and pass Chromium’s --start-maximized launch argument. To make the webpage itself larger or deterministic, set Playwright’s viewport instead. These controls are related, but they are not the same:
- Operating-system window:
headless: falseplusargs: ['--start-maximized']. - Page viewport:
viewport: { width, height },viewport: null, orpage.setViewportSize().
Use a maximized Chromium window in Playwright Test
Playwright Test is headless by default, so a maximized window is visible only when you enable headed mode. Put the launch argument in your configuration:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
headless: false,
viewport: null,
launchOptions: {
args: ['--start-maximized'],
},
},
});The --start-maximized switch is a Chromium launch argument. viewport: null is included because a fixed Playwright viewport can otherwise remain 1280×720 even when the outer window fills the display. With a null viewport, the page dimensions follow the host window.
For a one-off headed run, use:
npx playwright test --headedThis makes the browser visible, but it does not add the maximize argument by itself. Keep launchOptions.args in the project configuration when you want the window to start maximized.
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What this configuration does not guarantee
It requests a maximized Chromium window; it is not a cross-browser Playwright API. Playwright warns that custom browser arguments are used at your own risk because some can break Playwright functionality. Keep the argument limited to the Chromium project that needs it and verify behavior after Playwright upgrades.
Choose the setting that matches your actual goal
| Goal | Setting | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| See a browser while a test runs | headless: false or npx playwright test --headed |
A visible window; its size is not specified. |
| Ask Chromium to fill the screen | launchOptions: { args: ['--start-maximized'] } |
A browser-specific launch request; it does not define page dimensions. |
| Make layout tests repeatable | viewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080 } |
Stable emulated dimensions, independent of the monitor or desktop. |
| Let the page follow the host window | viewport: null |
Dimensions depend on the host window and are non-deterministic. |
Playwright’s documented default context viewport is 1280×720. Maximizing the operating-system window does not automatically change a fixed emulated viewport, which is why visual debugging and responsive-layout tests often need different configurations.
Use a fixed viewport when test reliability matters
For assertions, screenshots, and CI, explicit dimensions are usually safer than whatever display happens to run the test. Configure a project with a known size:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
viewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080 },
},
});This makes breakpoints, wrapping, and screenshot output repeatable. It does not maximize a desktop window and does not promise that a physical monitor has those dimensions. Use it when the page area, rather than a visible browser, is the thing you need to control.
Switch between debugging and CI projects
A useful arrangement is a deterministic default project and a headed Chromium project for manual investigation:
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import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
projects: [
{
name: 'ci-chromium',
use: {
...devices['Desktop Chrome'],
viewport: { width: 1280, height: 720 },
},
},
{
name: 'headed-maximized',
use: {
...devices['Desktop Chrome'],
headless: false,
viewport: null,
launchOptions: {
args: ['--start-maximized'],
},
},
},
],
});Run the manual project with npx playwright test --project=headed-maximized. Keep CI on the fixed-size project so a developer’s monitor, window manager, or remote desktop cannot change the result.
Resize a page in the Playwright library
If you are using Playwright without the test runner, pass launch arguments to Chromium and choose the context viewport explicitly:
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch({
headless: false,
args: ['--start-maximized'],
});
const context = await browser.newContext({ viewport: null });
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.waitForTimeout(3000);
await browser.close();This code asks Chromium to start maximized and lets the page use the host-window dimensions. If you prefer deterministic behavior, replace null with an object such as { width: 1440, height: 900 }.
Change the viewport for one page
page.setViewportSize() changes the page viewport and resets the page’s screen size as well. Set it before navigation when the site may react to a resize during startup:
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1366, height: 768 });
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.evaluate(() => ({
width: window.innerWidth,
height: window.innerHeight,
})));
await browser.close();This is the documented way to resize the web page. It is not a documented API for maximizing the operating-system window.
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Understand headed, headless, window, and viewport behavior
Headed mode
Headed mode creates a visible browser that you can watch and interact with. It is useful for diagnosing pop-ups, responsive breakpoints, permissions, and navigation timing. It does not select a window size by itself.
Headless mode
Headless runs without a desktop window, so there is nothing for an operating system to maximize. Set a viewport when you need a particular page size in headless tests.
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--start-maximized is interpreted by Chromium at launch. Desktop policies, remote sessions, Linux window managers, and container environments can still affect the resulting outer window.
Viewport emulation
The viewport controls the CSS layout area exposed to the page. A fixed viewport is reproducible; viewport: null follows the host window but makes dimensions dependent on where the test runs.
Browser coverage and project configuration
Do not copy the Chromium switch into Firefox or WebKit projects and assume equivalent behavior. The documented launch-argument example is for Chromium, and custom arguments are not a portable Playwright contract. For cross-browser tests, use explicit viewport dimensions and treat visible-window maximization as a Chromium-only debugging convenience unless you have separately verified another browser’s launch options.
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If a configuration has multiple projects, scope the argument:
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export default defineConfig({
projects: [
{
name: 'chromium-headed',
testMatch: /.*.spec.ts/,
use: {
browserName: 'chromium',
headless: false,
viewport: null,
launchOptions: { args: ['--start-maximized'] },
},
},
{
name: 'firefox',
use: {
browserName: 'firefox',
viewport: { width: 1280, height: 720 },
},
},
],
});Troubleshoot a window that is not maximized
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No browser appears | The run is headless. | Set headless: false or run npx playwright test --headed. |
| The window is visible but the page is still 1280×720 | A fixed context viewport is overriding the desktop window. | Use viewport: null for host-sized debugging, or accept the fixed size intentionally. |
| The maximize switch has no effect | The project is not Chromium, or the desktop environment controls the window. | Scope the switch to Chromium and test in a normal headed desktop session. |
| CI tests change between machines | viewport: null depends on the host window. |
Use an explicit width and height in CI. |
| Layout changes after a resize | The page was navigated before its viewport was set. | Call page.setViewportSize() before page.goto(). |
| A custom argument causes odd failures | Playwright warns that unsupported browser arguments can break functionality. | Remove nonessential arguments, keep only --start-maximized, and retest. |
| The browser opens off-screen in a remote session | The host window manager or virtual display is controlling placement. | Use a fixed viewport for automation; reserve window maximization for local debugging. |
Performance, reliability, and cost considerations
Changing a viewport is a lightweight page-setting operation. Launching a headed browser consumes a desktop session and generally requires more environment setup than headless CI, especially in containers or remote runners. A maximized window also does not make network requests, JavaScript execution, or lazy loading inherently faster; it only changes the available window or page dimensions.
For reliable visual comparisons, pin the viewport, browser version, and display environment. For exploratory debugging, use headed Chromium with viewport: null. Do not mix screenshots produced from host-sized windows with fixed-size baselines unless that difference is intentional.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I maximize a browser in a headless Playwright run?
No. Headless mode has no visible operating-system window. Set a viewport for page dimensions, or switch to headed mode when you need to observe a desktop window.
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Why does a maximized window still report a small viewport?
Playwright may still be using its fixed emulated viewport. Use viewport: null for host-sized debugging, or keep an explicit viewport when repeatability is more important.
Is --start-maximized a Playwright API?
No. It is a Chromium launch argument passed through Playwright, so it should not be treated as a portable Firefox or WebKit setting.
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