Cypress screenshots are snapshots, not a continuous record of a test. The result depends on the capture mode, when the screenshot is taken, and whether the test ran in cypress open or cypress run. For a missing page section, inspect the capture mode; for a failure image that seems out of step with the error, account for asynchronous capture and consider video.
What Cypress screenshot modes capture
Cypress provides three capture modes. The documented default for the Screenshot API is fullPage, but the right mode depends on whether you need the application, the test runner, or a particular element.
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| Mode | What appears | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
viewport |
The application’s current browser viewport. | You need to inspect what was visible without scrolling the page. |
fullPage |
The application page captured by scrolling from top to bottom and stitching images together. | You need a longer page in one artifact. It is not a single instantaneous browser frame. |
runner |
The browser viewport and Cypress Command Log. | You want the application view alongside runner context. |
Element screenshots are an exception: the capture option is ignored for them. Cypress also forces automatic failure screenshots into runner mode. When Test Replay is enabled and the Runner UI is hidden, Cypress documents an exception: a runner capture shows the application in the current viewport without the Runner UI. See the Cypress screenshot command documentation for mode behavior and examples.
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Full-page capture involves scrolling, taking images along the way, and stitching them together. Cypress specifically calls out fixed and sticky elements as a consideration. If a header or control appears oddly positioned, inspect the result with that scroll-and-stitch behavior in mind rather than assuming the capture was one untouched frame.
Page content can also depend on what happens while the browser scrolls. As practical checks, inspect whether lazy-loaded sections have appeared, whether animations or timers affect the content, and whether the page changes state during the capture. These are application-specific possibilities, not guaranteed Cypress defects. The documented defaults—disableTimersAndAnimations: true and scale: false—do not guarantee that every application’s rendering is stable.
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Why a failure screenshot can differ from the moment of failure
Cypress documents screenshotting as an asynchronous action that takes around 100 ms to complete. The application can change during that time, so a failure screenshot may not show precisely the state that existed when the failing command was issued. The Command Log may also still be rendering; the screenshot may not include the error text you expected.
A screenshot is not a retrying assertion. Cypress runs chained assertions on cy.screenshot() once rather than retrying them. If a still image does not explain a failure, use the test’s other run artifacts or richer debugging rather than treating the screenshot as a frame-by-frame record. See the command documentation.
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Manual and automatic screenshots depend on run mode
You can call cy.screenshot() in both cypress open and cypress run. Automatic screenshots on test failure are taken during cypress run; they are not automatically taken during cypress open. By default, screenshots are written to cypress/screenshots. Set screenshotOnRunFailure to false to disable automatic failure captures.
By default, Cypress clears the screenshots folder, including nested folders and files, before a cypress run. If previous artifacts must remain there, set trashAssetsBeforeRuns: false. Cypress can make CI screenshots available in Cypress Cloud; exporting them to a CI provider’s own interface depends on that provider. Refer to the configuration reference for the settings and defaults applicable to your Cypress version.
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Retries and video provide different evidence
When test retries are enabled, Cypress can capture screenshots for failed attempts. Later attempt screenshots receive an (attempt n) suffix, so check the attempt you are diagnosing rather than assuming every image represents the final result.
Video is a separate artifact and is disabled by default. When enabled, Cypress records each spec in cypress run, not cypress open; videos are stored in cypress/videos by default. A video can show sequence and timing context that a still cannot. With --record, Cypress processes and uploads videos to Cypress Cloud after each spec. Configuration can remove videos for specs without retries or failures. Recording and uploading are distinct choices; check the configuration reference for the relevant options.
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Capture options and masking limits
blackoutselectors obscure matching elements only for viewport captures; they do not apply to runner captures.- The
captureoption does not control element screenshot captures. - Automatic failure screenshots are forced to runner mode, irrespective of a preferred capture mode.
- The documented Screenshot API defaults include
fullPagecapture,disableTimersAndAnimations: true, andscale: false. Defaults are configuration behavior, not a promise that application rendering will be stable.
For version-specific details and examples, consult the screenshot API documentation and verify settings against the Cypress version used by your project.
A practical way to diagnose an unhelpful screenshot
- Check what kind of capture you have. Is it a viewport, full-page, or runner image? Remember that element captures ignore the
captureoption and automatic failure images use runner mode. - Check the run context. A failed test in
cypress opendoes not automatically produce the same failure screenshot behavior ascypress run. Confirm that automatic captures are enabled if you expect them. - Check which artifact and attempt you opened. Look in
cypress/screenshots, account for cleanup at run start, and inspect the retry-specific image when retries are enabled. - For full-page captures, inspect the page while scrolling. Check fixed or sticky UI and verify that content which loads or changes during scrolling is in the state you need.
- Use video if timing or sequence matters. Enable recording for
cypress runwhen a single still cannot explain how the failure developed.
When visual review tools are useful
Cypress’s visual testing guide distinguishes local open-source image-comparison plugins from hosted services that can compare snapshots in consistent cloud environments and support review workflows. It names Argos for CI and pull-request integration, and SmartBear VisualTest for Cypress commands covering full-page, element, and multi-device captures plus a dashboard to review and approve changes. These are examples described by Cypress, not a guarantee of current capabilities or commercial terms. Before choosing a service, verify its current browser and viewport coverage, CI integration, review process, image storage, and pricing in its own documentation. See the Cypress visual testing guide.
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