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The right fix depends on where the command fails: browser download, Linux system-dependency installation, browser-cache lookup, or a later launch. Start by recording the full error, operating system and distribution, Playwright version, and whether the failure occurs during installation or when a test starts. Then follow the matching branch below; the title alone is not enough to identify one universal cause.
First identify the failing stage
Run these checks from the same project directory and shell used for the failing command:
npx playwright --version
npx playwright install --list
npx playwright install --dry-run chromiumKeep the complete terminal output, including the first error and any preceding download or dependency messages. Note your operating system and Linux distribution if applicable, whether this is a local machine or CI job, and whether installation or browser launch failed. The Playwright CLI documentation describes install and dry-run options; available options can vary with the installed release, so check npx playwright install --help when a flag is rejected.
- Version or missing executable: verify the browser build matches the installed Playwright package.
- Network, TLS, or stalled download: inspect proxy, certificate, timeout, and download-host settings.
- Missing Linux libraries: install system dependencies separately or with the browser.
- Browser not found at test time: compare the installation and runtime cache paths.
- Install succeeds, launch fails: troubleshoot the runtime environment rather than repeating the download blindly.
Match the browser to the installed Playwright version
Playwright releases expect particular browser binaries. After installing or updating Playwright, install the browser again using the project’s local CLI. The Playwright browser guide documents this version relationship.
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- Check the package version with
npx playwright --version. - From the project directory, run
npx playwright install chromium. - If the command still fails, use the exact error to continue to the download, dependency, or cache section below.
npx playwright install chromiumUsing npx from the project directory helps ensure you invoke the project’s installed Playwright CLI rather than diagnosing a different installation. If you changed the package version, rerun the browser installer for that version. Avoid manually selecting an arbitrary Chromium executable to bypass a mismatch: Playwright’s browser builds are paired with its releases, and custom executable paths can have compatibility consequences (see BrowserType).
Separate browser downloads from Linux dependencies
npx playwright install chromium installs the browser. On Linux, browser processes may also need operating-system libraries. If the error names missing libraries or dependencies, install those separately:
npx playwright install-deps chromiumOr request both the browser and its dependencies in one command:
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npx playwright install --with-deps chromiumSystem package installation may require administrator privileges. For a Linux proxy environment, Playwright documents forwarding the proxy to the dependency installer while running it with elevated privileges, for example:
sudo HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example npx playwright install-deps chromiumReplace the example proxy with your organization’s approved proxy configuration. Do not assume a browser archive download error is fixed by installing Linux libraries, or that installing the archive supplies those libraries. The CLI’s --dry-run option can help inspect planned actions; on Linux, dependency dry-run simulates apt-get and may return a nonzero exit when packages are missing.
Fix proxy, TLS, or stalled browser downloads
Playwright documents Microsoft’s CDN as its default browser download source. If a download is blocked or interrupted, choose the setting that matches the error rather than changing several variables at once.
Proxy blocks or requires an explicit route
Pass the proxy to the install process with HTTPS_PROXY:
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HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example npx playwright install chromiumUse the proxy URL and credentials format required by your network administrator. If dependency installation also accesses package repositories through a proxy, configure that step separately as shown above.
Corporate TLS inspection or self-signed certificate chain
If the error identifies an untrusted certificate chain, point Node.js at the trusted organization certificate rather than disabling certificate checks:
NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS=/path/to/cert.pem npx playwright install chromiumUse the correct PEM file supplied by your organization. This setting addresses Node.js trust of the certificate chain; it does not repair a blocked route, invalid certificate file, or unrelated network failure.
Slow or stalled download
Increase the browser-download connection timeout when the download is slow or stalls:
PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT=120000 npx playwright install chromiumThe documented setting increases the download timeout. The value above is an example in milliseconds, not a guarantee that a server or proxy will eventually complete the transfer. If it still fails, check connectivity and proxy logs rather than increasing it indefinitely.
Organization-hosted browser mirror
If your organization mirrors browser archives, Playwright supports PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST and the Chromium-specific PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD_HOST. Follow internal repository policy and verify that the mirror contains the browser build expected by the installed Playwright release. A mirror with a different or incomplete archive can turn a network workaround into a version or download failure.
Find a browser-cache mismatch
A successful install does not guarantee that a later test process looks in the same location. Playwright’s default browser-cache paths are operating-system specific:
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| Operating system | Default browser cache |
|---|---|
| Windows | %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright |
| macOS | ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright |
| Linux | ~/.cache/ms-playwright |
Inspect the browser inventory with:
npx playwright install --listIf you use a shared or custom browser directory, set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH consistently for both installation and test execution. For example, in a POSIX shell:
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PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright install chromium
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright testIn Windows PowerShell, set the environment variable in each process context, for example:
$env:PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH = 'C:playwright-browsers'
npx playwright install chromium
npx playwright testFor a local, package-contained browser installation, Playwright documents this command:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 npx playwright install chromiumApply the same intended configuration when running the tests. If install and test run as different users, in different containers, or with different environment variables, they may see different caches. The browser inventory command and the exact runtime environment help distinguish a missing installation from a path mismatch.
Make CI install and launch reliably
A basic Linux job sequence is:
npm ci
npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
npx playwright testInstall the browser in the job environment that runs the tests. Playwright’s CI guide recommends its Docker image or installing dependencies through the CLI. Browser binaries alone do not include Linux system dependencies, so caching the browser directory does not cache those operating-system packages.
The CI guide cautions that browser caching may not save time when cache restoration takes about as long as downloading, and recommends keying a browser cache to the Playwright version if you do cache it. Playwright’s best practices recommend installing only the browsers the CI job needs; for a Chromium-only job, do not download other browser engines without a project requirement.
If installation succeeds but Chromium later fails to start, enable browser launch diagnostics:
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DEBUG=pw:browser npx playwright testReview the launch output for missing libraries, executable paths, sandbox or container constraints, and other runtime-specific errors. A launch failure is distinct from a failed browser download; the remedy depends on the launch error and job environment.
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The installed CLI may offer options such as --with-deps, --dry-run, --force, --only-shell, --no-shell, and --no-remove. Check npx playwright install --help for the flags supported by your installed version.
--with-depsis relevant when Linux system dependencies need installation along with the browser.--dry-runhelps inspect planned install or dependency actions; it does not perform the installation.--forceand removal-related options can affect existing browser installations, so use them only when the error and CLI documentation justify doing so.--only-shelland--no-shellconcern browser variants; they are not generic fixes for Chromium download failures. Use them only when the project’s mode and Playwright release make them relevant.
Troubleshooting by error symptom
| Symptom | Likely stage | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Browser executable does not exist | Version alignment or cache lookup | Run npx playwright --version and npx playwright install --list; reinstall the matching browser and check PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH. |
| Download cannot connect or is blocked | Network route | Configure HTTPS_PROXY if required and check access to the download source. |
| Self-signed certificate chain | TLS trust | Set NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS to the organization’s trusted certificate file. |
| Download stalls or times out | Slow network or proxy | Try PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT and investigate network interruption. |
| Missing shared libraries on Linux | System dependencies | Run npx playwright install-deps chromium or install with --with-deps. |
| Install completes, test launch fails | Runtime launch | Run with DEBUG=pw:browser; inspect the launch error and runtime environment. |
These are diagnostic starting points, not proof of a cause. Preserve the full error and the environment details when escalating: operating system/distribution, Playwright version, local versus CI, and whether failure occurs during install or launch.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners as a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks/CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses report the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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Why does Playwright say the browser executable doesn’t exist?
The installed browser may not match the current Playwright release, or the test process may be looking in a different browser cache. Check the CLI version and browser inventory, then compare the install and runtime cache configuration.
Does `npx playwright install chromium` install Linux system libraries too?
Not by itself. Use `npx playwright install-deps chromium` for dependencies, or `npx playwright install –with-deps chromium` to request browser installation and dependencies together.
Should I cache Playwright browsers in CI?
It depends on whether restoring the cache is faster than downloading. If you cache browser binaries, key the cache to the Playwright version; remember that Linux system dependencies are not included in that cache.
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