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Cypress Screenshots Missing in GitLab CI? Fix Artifacts and Capture

Cypress may create failure screenshots while GitLab fails to retain them. Check the job workspace, then configure artifacts to collect the correct nested paths.
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First check whether Cypress created the screenshot in the job workspace. If the PNG exists but GitLab does not show it, collect the nested screenshot paths as job artifacts with when: always. If no file exists, check that the job runs cypress run, that failure screenshots are enabled, and that Cypress’s configured screenshot folder matches the artifact path.

1. Collect Cypress screenshots as GitLab artifacts

Add this to the Cypress test job’s GitLab CI configuration:

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artifacts:
  when: always
  paths:
    - cypress/screenshots/**/*.png

This follows Cypress’s GitLab CI example. The when: always setting matters because screenshots are often most useful when a test job fails. The glob includes PNGs in nested directories; Cypress does not necessarily place every screenshot directly under the screenshots folder.

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The Cypress example also collects videos using cypress/videos/**/*.mp4. Add that path only if you want GitLab to retain those videos too.

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2. Check whether Cypress created a screenshot

Inspect the job log to confirm it ran cypress run, then list the screenshot files immediately after the test command. Cypress normally captures screenshots when tests fail during cypress run, including in CI. It does not automatically capture failure screenshots during cypress open. Cypress documents automatic screenshots for both modes, but failure-triggered capture in a CI job depends on running the test runner.

npx cypress run
find cypress/screenshots -type f -name '*.png' -print

If the command runs in a different directory or your project uses a package script, adapt the check to the job’s working directory and command. The important question is whether the PNG exists before GitLab tries to upload artifacts.

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If no screenshot file exists

  • Check that the CI command is cypress run and that a test actually failed. Cypress’s automatic failure capture is for run mode.
  • Check the effective configuration for screenshotOnRunFailure: false. If present, remove it or set it to true if you want automatic failure screenshots.
  • Check the configured screenshotsFolder. The default is cypress/screenshots, but a project can change it.

Cypress’s screenshot and run configuration options are documented in its configuration reference.

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3. Match GitLab’s artifact path to Cypress’s actual folder

The default screenshotsFolder is cypress/screenshots. Cypress nests images beneath it according to spec-file paths, so a screenshot may be several directories deep. A root-only pattern such as cypress/screenshots/*.png can miss those files; use the recursive glob shown above.

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With a custom folder, point GitLab at that directory instead. For example, if Cypress is configured with screenshotsFolder: 'artifacts/cypress-shots', use:

artifacts:
  when: always
  paths:
    - artifacts/cypress-shots/**/*.png

Cypress derives nested locations from spec paths, removing common ancestor paths among the selected specs. The resulting subfolder can therefore vary when the set of specs changes. If the path is difficult to predict, Cypress provides callbacks that expose the resolved screenshot path; see the after:screenshot event documentation.

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4. Check whether Cypress cleanup removed earlier files

trashAssetsBeforeRuns defaults to true. Before cypress run, Cypress clears the contents of its screenshots folder (and other generated asset folders). If an earlier job step copies screenshots there, they may be deleted when the run starts.

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  • Generate or copy files into the folder after the Cypress run if they need to be uploaded with its outputs.
  • If you deliberately disable cleanup, account for stale images from earlier runs so they are not mistaken for current screenshots.

See Cypress’s configuration reference for the cleanup option and its default.

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5. Choose GitLab artifacts or Cypress Cloud for browsing results

GitLab job artifacts are enough to retain PNG files for download from a pipeline job. Cypress Cloud is an optional route when you want screenshots attached to recorded test results alongside run context.

Route Setup Where to browse Useful when
GitLab job artifacts Set an artifact path matching the screenshot folder; use when: always to collect after failures. The GitLab job’s artifacts. You need the PNGs retained and downloadable from CI.
Cypress Cloud Configure the project to record runs to Cloud and reliably provide the commit SHA in GitLab CI. Recorded test results in Cypress Cloud. You want screenshots with test-run history and related context, such as logs and videos.

Cypress Cloud can attach failure screenshots, manual cy.screenshot() images, videos, and CI logs to recorded results. Its GitLab integration requires project recording setup and a reliably supplied commit SHA; it is not necessary just to expose PNGs through GitLab artifacts. See Cypress’s GitLab CI integration guide and recorded-runs documentation.

6. Troubleshoot by symptom

Symptom Likely cause Check or fix
A test failed, but no PNG exists in the job. The job did not run cypress run, automatic failure capture is disabled, or the folder differs from the one being checked. Confirm the run command, inspect screenshotOnRunFailure, and find the effective screenshotsFolder.
A PNG exists in the workspace, but GitLab shows no artifact. The test job does not collect that path, or collection is skipped after failure. Add when: always and the recursive PNG path to that same job’s artifacts.
The artifact download is empty. The artifact path points to the default folder while Cypress uses a custom one, or the glob omits nested paths. Match the path to screenshotsFolder and include **/*.png.
Files created before Cypress runs disappear. trashAssetsBeforeRuns cleared the screenshot folder at run start. Move file generation until after the run, or deliberately change cleanup behavior and guard against stale files.
A screenshot is saved under an unexpected subfolder. Cypress’s spec-relative nesting reflects the specs selected for that run. Use a recursive artifact glob, or inspect the resolved path with Cypress’s screenshot callback.

Or skip the browser setup

If you also need screenshots of arbitrary web pages outside Cypress, ScreenshotNeo provides a one-request screenshot API. For Cypress failures specifically, GitLab artifacts remain the direct way to retain the files generated by the test run.

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Install no browser automation for this example; request an image directly (replace the target URL and API key):

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. It removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are not billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots, and the free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for the free plan.

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