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Where Cypress puts screenshots
The configured screenshotsFolder is the root for screenshots produced by Cypress. Its documented default is cypress/screenshots, relative to your project directory. The setting covers both screenshots requested by a test and screenshots Cypress takes after failures during a run. See the Cypress configuration reference and the cy.screenshot() API.
your-project/
├── cypress/
│ ├── e2e/
│ ├── fixtures/
│ ├── support/
│ └── screenshots/
│ └── ...generated files...
├── cypress.config.js
└── package.jsonThe directory is an artifact destination, not a place for test source. Cypress creates the folder when needed and preserves the folder itself when it performs its normal cleanup.
How to change the screenshot folder
Cypress 10 and later: JavaScript configuration
Set screenshotsFolder in the exported configuration object in cypress.config.js (or the equivalent TypeScript configuration file):
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const { defineConfig } = require('cypress');
module.exports = defineConfig({
screenshotsFolder: 'artifacts/cypress/screenshots',
e2e: {
baseUrl: 'http://localhost:3000'
}
});The path is resolved from the project root. A relative path keeps artifacts inside the project; an absolute path is useful when a CI job mounts a dedicated artifact volume. Keep the value consistent across local and CI configurations if downstream scripts expect one location.
TypeScript configuration
import { defineConfig } from 'cypress';
export default defineConfig({
screenshotsFolder: 'artifacts/cypress/screenshots',
e2e: {
baseUrl: 'http://localhost:3000'
}
});Older Cypress projects
Projects created before the unified configuration file may use cypress.json. The same key is placed at the top level:
{
"screenshotsFolder": "artifacts/cypress/screenshots"
}Use the configuration format supported by the Cypress version installed in the project; configuration names and defaults can change between releases.
Taking a screenshot manually
Use cy.screenshot() in a test
describe('checkout', () => {
it('shows the confirmation page', () => {
cy.visit('/checkout');
cy.get('[data-cy="pay-button"]').click();
cy.get('[data-cy="confirmation"]').should('be.visible');
cy.screenshot('checkout/confirmation');
});
});This writes a named screenshot below the configured root. A name can contain subdirectories, so the example creates a checkout subfolder. You can also call cy.screenshot() without a name; Cypress then derives a name from the spec and test.
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cy.get('[data-cy="invoice"]').screenshot('billing/invoice');Element screenshots are still stored under screenshotsFolder. Ensure the element is visible and in the desired state before capturing it.
Interactive versus run mode
| Mode | Manual cy.screenshot() |
Automatic failure screenshot | Folder cleanup before execution |
|---|---|---|---|
cypress open |
Yes | No | No |
cypress run |
Yes | Yes, by default | Yes, by default |
Cypress documents that screenshots are available in both modes, including CI usage. Automatic failure capture applies when running with cypress run; it is not automatically enabled in the interactive runner.
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How Cypress names and lays out files
Unnamed screenshots
For an unnamed screenshot, Cypress builds a path from the spec and test names beneath the configured root. During a run it removes the longest common ancestor shared by the specs included in that run. Consequently, the relative path can change when you run a different subset of specs.
Named screenshots
A supplied name replaces the suite-and-test-derived name. Names may include directory separators, which lets you impose a stable grouping such as checkout/confirmation. If a filename already exists, Cypress adds a numbered suffix unless you pass overwrite: true:
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cy.screenshot('checkout/confirmation', { overwrite: true });Use overwrite only when replacing an artifact is intentional; unique names are safer for preserving evidence from repeated tests.
Failure screenshots
When a test fails in cypress run, the default test name is used with (failed) appended. The file is placed beneath the same configured root and spec-derived path rules as other screenshots.
Why old screenshots disappear
trashAssetsBeforeRuns defaults to true. Before cypress run, Cypress clears the contents of the downloads, screenshots, and videos directories, including nested files and subdirectories, while leaving the directories in place. On Linux it removes the contents directly; on macOS and Windows it moves them to the system Trash or Recycle Bin. This cleanup does not occur when using cypress open.
Keep artifacts between runs
const { defineConfig } = require('cypress');
module.exports = defineConfig({
trashAssetsBeforeRuns: false,
screenshotsFolder: 'artifacts/cypress/screenshots'
});With this setting, old files remain and duplicate names can accumulate. In CI, a better pattern is often to archive each run to a run-specific directory or upload artifacts before the next run, rather than allowing an unbounded folder to grow.
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Disable automatic failure captures only
module.exports = defineConfig({
screenshotOnRunFailure: false
});This leaves explicit cy.screenshot() calls working while preventing Cypress’s automatic failure images during cypress run.
Source control and CI retention
Screenshots are generated artifacts. Cypress’s test-organization guidance shows cypress/screenshots/ alongside downloads and videos as an example .gitignore entry:
cypress/screenshots/
cypress/videos/
cypress/downloads/Ignore them when screenshots are disposable. If visual-regression reviews or failure diagnosis require retention, keep them out of Git and configure your CI provider to upload the folder after the test command. Cypress Cloud is an optional way to store screenshots and videos with test results; adoption is a project choice, not a requirement for local screenshots.
A reliable CI sequence
- Choose a deterministic
screenshotsFolderin the checked-in Cypress configuration. - Run
npx cypress runwith the desired browser and spec selection. - Upload that folder as a CI artifact even when tests fail (configure the job’s upload step to run on failure).
- Give each CI run its own artifact namespace so files from separate runs cannot overwrite one another.
Common problems and fixes
The folder is empty after a test
- Confirm the test reached the
cy.screenshot()command; a failure before that line produces no manual screenshot. - Check that you are looking under the configured
screenshotsFolder, not only the default path. - Remember that a failure screenshot is automatic in
cypress run, notcypress open. - If a CI step cleans the workspace after Cypress exits, upload artifacts before that cleanup.
Previous files vanished
This is normally trashAssetsBeforeRuns: true. Set it to false when preservation is required, or archive the folder before starting the next run.
The path changes between runs
Cypress removes the longest common ancestor of the specs included in a run. Running one spec versus a larger set can therefore produce different relative paths. Use explicit names with cy.screenshot('stable/name') when consumers need predictable locations.
Two screenshots have unexpected suffixes
Cypress avoids overwriting an existing file by adding a numbered suffix. Supply unique names, isolate each run’s output, or use overwrite: true when replacement is deliberate.
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No failure image is created
Verify that the command is cypress run and that screenshotOnRunFailure has not been set to false. A passing test and an interactive cypress open session do not create automatic failure screenshots.
Configuration changes have no effect
Check that the file name and format match your Cypress generation, that the property is at the top level, and that you are running from the intended project root. A monorepo can contain more than one Cypress project; each project uses its own configuration and artifact path.
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- Full-page or high-resolution screenshots can be large. Capture only the viewport or element needed for the diagnostic, and use stable names for artifacts that must be retained.
- Failure screenshots add storage and upload time on failing suites. Keep them enabled when visual evidence is valuable; disable them only when the artifact cost outweighs the debugging benefit.
- Parallel CI jobs must not write to one shared external directory without isolation. Give each job a unique output location, then merge or upload artifacts after the parallel phase.
- Do not treat a screenshot as proof that a test passed. The image is an artifact; assertions and the Cypress result remain the authoritative test outcome.
- Because generated paths depend on the specs included in a run, consumers should use the configured root plus known explicit names rather than hard-coding an inferred spec path.
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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' });
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FAQ
Does changing screenshotsFolder move existing files?
No. It changes where future Cypress output is written. Move or archive files separately if you need to reorganize artifacts already on disk.
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Can I use a screenshot folder outside the repository?
Yes. Set an absolute path supported by your operating system, then ensure the Cypress process and CI artifact uploader both have permission to access it.
Are screenshots required for every Cypress test?
No. Add cy.screenshot() only where visual evidence helps, or rely on automatic failure images in cypress run. Ordinary passing tests do not create screenshots unless you request them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing screenshotsFolder move existing files?
No. It changes where future Cypress output is written. Move or archive files separately if you need to reorganize artifacts already on disk.
Can I use a screenshot folder outside the repository?
Yes. Set an absolute path supported by your operating system, then ensure the Cypress process and CI artifact uploader both have permission to access it.
Are screenshots required for every Cypress test?
No. Add cy.screenshot() only where visual evidence helps, or rely on automatic failure images in cypress run. Ordinary passing tests do not create screenshots unless you request them.
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