Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesInstall Playwright in your project, then run npx playwright install. That downloads the browser binaries matched to your Playwright version. To limit the download, name browsers explicitly, such as npx playwright install chromium or npx playwright install chromium webkit. On Linux and CI, add --with-deps when operating-system packages are also required.
1. Install Playwright in the project
Run the package installation from your project directory. The library package is suitable for scripts and applications; Playwright Test projects can use the test package instead.
npm i -D playwrightThe package version determines which browser revisions Playwright expects. Each Playwright release needs specific browser binaries, so keep the package and browser installation in sync. The official package guidance is at playwright.dev/docs/library.
2. Download the supported browsers
Download the default set
npx playwright installThis installs Playwright’s supported Chromium, Firefox and WebKit builds. These are separate binaries from Chrome, Firefox or Safari that you already use for everyday browsing.
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Download selected browsers
npx playwright install chromium
npx playwright install firefox
npx playwright install webkit
npx playwright install chromium webkitInstalling only the engines your test suite uses saves download time and disk space. The command-line reference is maintained at playwright.dev/docs/test-cli.
Install operating-system dependencies on Linux and CI
npx playwright install --with-deps--with-deps downloads the browsers and installs required Linux system packages. Use it in a CI job or Linux machine where those libraries are not already present. If you only need the system packages, run:
npx playwright install-depsThe latter does not download browser binaries.
3. Choose the right browser build
| Need | Install or configure | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-browser testing with Playwright-supported engines | npx playwright install chromium firefox webkit |
Uses Playwright’s patched, version-matched builds. |
| Chromium headless shell only | npx playwright install --only-shell |
Useful when tests use headless Chromium and do not select a channel. |
| Newer Chromium headless mode without the shell | npx playwright install --no-shell |
Use when your setup does not require the separate headless shell. |
| Installed branded Chrome or Edge | Use the relevant Playwright browser channel or CLI option | Those browsers install to the operating system’s global location and may overwrite an existing installation. |
| Custom executable | Set executablePath |
Playwright warns that this is an advanced, risky choice; bundled builds are the supported path. |
Playwright’s Firefox and WebKit builds are patched for automation. They are not interchangeable with branded Firefox or Safari. For Safari-like behavior, the guide notes that WebKit on macOS is closer to Safari in cases such as video playback; Linux WebKit can be a lower-cost CI choice. Treat those as environment-specific trade-offs rather than universal compatibility claims.
4. Install behind a proxy or from an internal mirror
Use a proxy
Set HTTPS_PROXY in the shell before running the install command:
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HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.example:8080 npx playwright installOn Windows PowerShell, the equivalent is:
$env:HTTPS_PROXY="http://proxy.example:8080"
npx playwright installUse an artifact mirror
Playwright downloads from Microsoft’s CDN by default. Point downloads at an internal host with PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST:
PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST=https://artifacts.example.com npx playwright installYou can override hosts per browser with PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD_HOST, PLAYWRIGHT_FIREFOX_DOWNLOAD_HOST and PLAYWRIGHT_WEBKIT_DOWNLOAD_HOST. Set the variables in the same environment used for installation, and ensure the mirror contains the browser archives expected by your Playwright version.
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5. Control where browser files are stored
Default cache locations are:
- Windows:
%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright - macOS:
~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright - Linux:
~/.cache/ms-playwright
Share a cache between projects
Set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH before both installation and test execution:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright install
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright testBoth processes must point to the same path, and the account running tests needs read and execute access.
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Set the variable to 0 to place browsers under node_modules/playwright-core/.local-browsers:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 npx playwright installThis setting does not relocate branded Chrome or Edge installations, which remain managed by the operating system.
Plan for disk usage
The official guide describes each browser as taking a few hundred megabytes and gives example measurements of 281M for Chromium, 187M for Firefox and 180M for WebKit. They are examples, not fixed requirements: release, platform and installed dependencies change the actual footprint.
6. Verify, update and remove browsers
List installed revisions
npx playwright install --listUse this when a machine has several projects or when a CI image appears to contain an unexpected revision.
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Refresh after upgrading Playwright
npm update playwright
npx playwright installRun the install step after a Playwright upgrade if the required revision is missing or out of sync. Playwright normally removes unused browser versions during client updates. To retain them, use --no-remove or set PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_GC=1.
Uninstall
npx playwright uninstall
npx playwright uninstall --allThe first command removes browsers associated with the current Playwright installation; --all removes browsers from all Playwright installations.
7. A reliable CI installation sequence
A minimal Linux CI job should install the locked project dependencies, install browsers and system packages, then run tests:
npm ci
npx playwright install --with-deps
npx playwright testThe official CI guide does not recommend caching browser binaries by default because restoring a cache can take about as long as downloading them. If your team caches anyway, key the cache by the Playwright version so an upgrade cannot accidentally reuse incompatible revisions. See playwright.dev/docs/ci.
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“Executable doesn’t exist” or a missing revision
Cause: the package was installed without its browsers, or Playwright was upgraded.
Fix: run npx playwright install using the same project and user that runs the tests. Confirm the result with npx playwright install --list.
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Linux launch errors mentioning shared libraries
Cause: operating-system dependencies are absent.
Fix: run npx playwright install --with-deps. If browser files are already present, npx playwright install-deps installs only the system packages.
Download timeout or connection refusal
Cause: a corporate proxy, firewall or restricted egress path.
Fix: configure HTTPS_PROXY, or direct downloads to an approved mirror with PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST (or the browser-specific host variables). Check that the CI process receives those variables.
Tests cannot find a shared installation
Cause: PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH was set during installation but not during execution, or permissions differ.
Fix: export the same path in both steps and grant the test user access.
Unexpected Chrome or Edge replacement
Cause: a branded-browser installation uses the operating system’s global location and can overwrite an existing installation.
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Fix: use Playwright’s bundled Chromium unless a branded channel is an explicit requirement. Avoid custom executablePath unless you accept its compatibility risk. The BrowserType API warning is documented at playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype.
Cache appears stale
Cause: the cache key does not include the Playwright version, or garbage collection removed an older revision.
Fix: key caches by the exact package version, reinstall the required browsers, and only use --no-remove or PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_GC=1 when retaining old revisions is intentional.
9. Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to obtain a clean website image rather than run Playwright code, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API and MCP server. A single request returns PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF, without managing local browser binaries.
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)
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}`);Before capture, ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets; each step can be disabled. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server exposes take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf to Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients. The ScreenshotNeo documentation covers options such as full-page lazy-image loading, CSS-selector element capture, device presets, PDF settings, custom JavaScript and CSS, waits, request blocking, cookies, headers, geolocation, caching, signed links, asynchronous webhooks, bulk capture and usage reporting. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
10. Practical decision checklist
- Use bundled Chromium, Firefox or WebKit when you need Playwright automation and reproducible engine versions.
- Install only the engines your tests exercise unless a cross-browser matrix requires all three.
- Add
--with-depson Linux CI images that do not already contain required libraries. - Set proxy or mirror variables before installation in restricted networks.
- Keep
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATHidentical for installation and execution. - Re-run installation after Playwright upgrades and key any CI cache by version.
- Choose ScreenshotNeo when the deliverable is a website screenshot or PDF and maintaining Playwright browsers would add unnecessary setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing Playwright install Google Chrome?
No. The default command installs Playwright’s Chromium, Firefox and WebKit builds. Branded Chrome or Edge are separate channel installations managed in the operating system’s global location.
Can I install browsers globally for every project?
Yes. Set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH to a shared directory before installing and before running each project, then grant all relevant users access.
Should I cache Playwright browsers in CI?
The official CI guidance says caching is not recommended by default because restore time can be comparable to downloading. If you cache, include the Playwright version in the cache key.
Why is WebKit different on macOS and Linux?
Playwright’s WebKit build is patched for automation on both platforms. The documentation notes that macOS WebKit is closer to Safari for cases such as video playback, while Linux WebKit can be a lower-cost CI choice.
Quick Recap
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