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In an active WebdriverIO session, save the current page as a PDF with await browser.savePDF('./output.pdf', options). The path must end in .pdf; WebdriverIO writes the file and returns a Buffer. The API supports orientation, scale, backgrounds, page dimensions, margins, shrink-to-fit, and page ranges. See the official savePDF documentation for the version-specific details.
Use browser.savePDF() for the current WebdriverIO page
savePDF prints the current browsing context, so navigate and wait for the content you need before calling it. A minimal test looks like this:
describe('PDF export', () => {
it('saves the current page', async () => {
await browser.url('https://example.com');
await browser.savePDF('./artifacts/example.pdf');
});
});The destination is resolved relative to the process execution directory. Create the destination directory first and make sure the test process has write permission. The method returns a Buffer, which is useful when you also need to inspect, upload, or store the generated bytes.
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A complete example with print options
import fs from 'node:fs/promises';
describe('Invoice PDF', () => {
it('exports a paginated invoice', async () => {
await browser.url('https://example.com/invoice/123');
await $('main').waitForDisplayed();
await fs.mkdir('./artifacts', { recursive: true });
const pdf = await browser.savePDF('./artifacts/invoice.pdf', {
orientation: 'portrait',
scale: 1,
background: true,
width: 8.27,
height: 11.69,
top: 0.4,
bottom: 0.4,
left: 0.4,
right: 0.4,
shrinkToFit: true,
pageRanges: '1-3'
});
console.log(`Generated ${pdf.length} bytes`);
});
});The option names above are the documented WebdriverIO settings. Select values for your layout rather than treating these numbers as universal defaults. If your installed WebdriverIO release uses a slightly different type definition, follow that release’s API reference.
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Common options and when to use them
| Option | What it controls | Typical reason to change it |
|---|---|---|
orientation |
Portrait or landscape page orientation | Use landscape for wide tables or dashboards. |
scale |
Print scaling | Reduce scale when content is clipped; increase only when the layout has spare room. |
background |
Whether page background colors and graphics are printed | Enable it for branded invoices or colored charts. |
width, height |
Printed page dimensions | Match a paper format or a custom document size. |
top, bottom, left, right |
Page padding/margins | Reserve room for readable text or a binding edge. |
shrinkToFit |
Whether the layout is reduced to fit the printable area | Prevent a wide element from running off the page. |
pageRanges |
Pages included in the output | Export only selected pages, such as 1-3. |
Dimensions and margin units are interpreted by the WebdriverIO print implementation. Check the API page linked above for the exact type and unit expectations of your release, then verify the resulting PDF visually.
Make the capture deterministic before printing
A PDF represents the page at the moment the browser prints it. Navigation finishing does not necessarily mean that client-side data, fonts, images, or a chart has rendered.
Wait for the content that matters
await browser.url('https://example.com/report');
await $('#report-ready').waitForDisplayed({ timeout: 15000 });
await browser.savePDF('./artifacts/report.pdf', { background: true });Prefer a meaningful application signal such as a visible report container or a “ready” marker. A fixed sleep can be useful for a known animation, but it is less reliable when network or server timing changes. If the page has lazy content, scroll it into view before printing and wait for the relevant images or sections.
Control the print layout in CSS
Web pages can define print-specific behavior with @media print and @page. Hide navigation, avoid splitting a card, and set page margins in the application stylesheet:
@media print {
.site-nav, .cookie-banner, .screen-only { display: none !important; }
.invoice-line, .report-card { break-inside: avoid; }
}
@page {
size: A4 portrait;
margin: 12mm;
}These rules belong to the page being printed; WebdriverIO’s options do not replace application print CSS. Browser print engines can paginate flex and grid layouts differently from a screen view, so inspect headings, tables, images, and links across page breaks.
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Alternative: browser.printPage() through WebDriver
WebdriverIO also documents browser.printPage(), a WebDriver protocol command that returns a base64-encoded paginated PDF representation instead of directly writing a file. The surfaced WebdriverIO protocol documentation notes that Chrome currently supports this command only in headless mode; confirm support for the browser and driver versions in your project before choosing it. Read the WebDriver command documentation.
const encoded = await browser.printPage({
orientation: 'portrait',
scale: 1,
background: true
});
const bytes = Buffer.from(encoded, 'base64');
await fs.writeFile('./artifacts/page.pdf', bytes);Use this route when you specifically need the protocol response for another service. If you simply want a file from an existing WebdriverIO session, savePDF is the clearer API.
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For a one-off URL, Chrome’s command-line headless mode can print directly to a PDF:
google-chrome --headless --print-to-pdf=output.pdf https://example.comChrome documents --no-pdf-header-footer to remove its default header and footer, and --timeout to set the maximum wait before capture:
google-chrome
--headless
--no-pdf-header-footer
--timeout=10000
--print-to-pdf=output.pdf
https://example.comThis is a browser CLI, not a WebdriverIO call. It does not reuse cookies, authenticated state, or in-test DOM changes unless you configure Chrome separately. See the Chrome Headless CLI documentation for current flag behavior.
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Choosing the right route
| Situation | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The page is already open in WebdriverIO and you need a file | browser.savePDF() |
One call, documented layout options, and a returned Buffer. |
| You need a WebDriver protocol response | browser.printPage() |
Returns base64 PDF data for your own storage pipeline; Chrome support is headless-only according to the surfaced documentation. |
| You have a public URL and no test session | Chrome Headless CLI | Simple command-line capture with documented timeout and header/footer flags. |
| You need repeatable URL capture without maintaining browsers | ScreenshotNeo | Hosted screenshot/PDF API with cleanup, billing verdicts, and an MCP server. |
Or skip the browser setup: ScreenshotNeo
If your input is a URL rather than an already-authenticated WebdriverIO page, ScreenshotNeo provides a single HTTP request for a PDF or image. It accepts cookie and consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers.
cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot"
-d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY
--data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com
-o shot.webpPython
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
timeout=90,
)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot failed: ${res.status}`);
const body = Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer());
await import('node:fs/promises').then(fs => fs.writeFile('shot.webp', body));The ScreenshotNeo documentation lists PDF parameters and the rest of its 63 options, including full-page lazy-image loading, CSS-selector element capture, dark mode, 12 device presets, custom viewports, retina scale, paper size, margins, landscape mode, page ranges, custom CSS and JavaScript, click-before-capture, selector or network-idle waits, request and resource blocking, headers, cookies, user agents, Authorization, timezone, geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, configurable-TTL caching, signed image links, asynchronous jobs with signed webhooks, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, usage data, and an OpenAPI specification. Parameter names used by other screenshot APIs are also accepted, which can simplify migration.
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Troubleshooting WebdriverIO PDF exports
“The file is empty or missing”
- Confirm the path ends in
.pdf. - Check the process working directory and create the parent folder with
fs.mkdir(..., { recursive: true }). - Verify that the runner user can write to that location.
- Log the returned buffer length and fail the test if it is unexpectedly small.
The PDF shows a loading skeleton
Wait for a page-specific ready element, data table, or image rather than only waiting for navigation. For animated interfaces, wait until the animation completes or disable animation in print CSS.
Colors or logos are missing
Set background: true and ensure the page’s print stylesheet does not remove the artwork. Some sites intentionally use different print colors.
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Try landscape orientation, a smaller scale, wider page dimensions, or shrinkToFit: true. Also inspect horizontal overflow in @media print; a fixed-width table may need a print-specific layout.
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- Portable wireless printer for travel: The thermal printer is equipped with a built-in 1500mAh rechargeable battery, which can print 160 sheets of 8.5" x 11" thermal paper after being fully charged. It weighs only 1.5 pounds and is compact in size. This ink-free portable printer can be easily carried in a backpack or briefcase! It is perfect for business travel, cars, small offices, construction sites, schools and homes. You can print documents, contracts, invoices and boarding passes anytime and anywhere
- The N80 thermal printer has a wide range of uses. The package includes the N80 printer, a roll of US Letter paper(7m/roll), a user manual, a guide card, a type-C soft cable and a type C adapter. Note: The charging adapter is not included. Special thermal paper is required for use; ordinary paper cannot be used. This ink-free portable thermal printer is suitable for various scenarios such as home, school, travel, office, and outdoor, meeting the printing needs of different groups of people. This tattoo template printer is also compatible with tattoo transfer paper, making it an ideal choice for tattoo art
Page breaks split cards or rows
Add print CSS such as break-inside: avoid to the component, and test with realistic content lengths. A rule cannot always prevent a single item taller than one page from splitting.
printPage fails in headed Chrome
The surfaced WebDriver documentation identifies Chrome support as headless-only. Run the session in headless mode or use savePDF instead, then verify compatibility with the exact Chrome, driver, and WebdriverIO versions you deploy.
The PDF differs between machines
Pin browser and driver versions where possible, use the same fonts and locale, and set viewport, timezone, and authentication state explicitly. Rendering can change with installed fonts, responsive breakpoints, and asynchronous data.
Reliability and performance checklist
- Use a dedicated output directory and unique filenames for parallel workers.
- Wait on semantic readiness signals, not a single arbitrary delay.
- Keep PDFs as test artifacts when diagnosing failures; compare page count and file size as smoke checks, then use visual review for layout regressions.
- Close or reset sessions after capture so parallel tests do not share cookies or tabs accidentally.
- For large reports, limit
pageRangeswhen appropriate and avoid loading unrelated heavy resources in the page. - Remember that a PDF is paginated output: responsive breakpoints, print CSS, fonts, and page-break rules matter as much as the screen layout.
Security and data handling
Keep authenticated URLs, cookies, and generated PDFs out of source control and ordinary logs. Use environment variables or your CI secret store for credentials. If you switch from an in-process WebdriverIO browser to a hosted URL API, review what data the page contains and whether sending that URL to an external service is acceptable for your project.
FAQ
Does savePDF print only the visible viewport?
It prints the current browsing context as paginated output. The resulting pages follow print layout rules; inspect the PDF rather than assuming a screen-sized crop.
Can I save the returned buffer somewhere other than disk?
Yes. The documented method returns a Buffer, so you can upload it, hash it, or pass it to another Node.js API in addition to, or instead of, retaining the file.
Should I use WebdriverIO or Chrome’s CLI for authenticated pages?
Use the existing WebdriverIO session when the page depends on login state, test data, or actions performed in the browser. Chrome’s CLI is most convenient for a standalone URL.
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