For a screenshot you capture explicitly, generate a filename-safe timestamp and pass it to cy.screenshot():
const timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, '-')
cy.screenshot(`checkout-${timestamp}`)The result is a name such as checkout-2026-10-03T20-34-05-046Z.png. This uses UTC time and makes the colon and period characters safe for common filesystems. If you also need timestamps on Cypress’s automatic test-failure screenshots, use Cypress’s Node after:screenshot event; that is a separate, post-capture workflow.
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Name an explicit screenshot with a timestamp
cy.screenshot() accepts a name. When supplied, Cypress uses it instead of the default suite or test name. Add a timestamp to that name at the point where you call the command:
const timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, '-')
cy.screenshot(`checkout-${timestamp}`)toISOString() produces a UTC timestamp ending in Z. Replacing colons and periods with hyphens yields a filename-friendly value while retaining the date and time structure. Cypress adds the image extension, such as .png, according to the screenshot format.
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You can include a relative subdirectory in the screenshot name; Cypress creates the directory structure. For example:
const timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, '-')
cy.screenshot(`checkout/${timestamp}`)See the Cypress cy.screenshot() API documentation for command options and naming behavior.
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Use a reusable helper when many tests need the same format
If several explicit captures need a consistent prefix and timestamp, put the formatting in a helper rather than repeating it:
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cy.screenshot(`${name}-${timestamp}`)
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// In a Cypress test:
takeTimestampedScreenshot('checkout')This is ordinary JavaScript around the Cypress command, not a special Cypress filename-template setting. Add a sequence or random component if your workflow requires uniqueness even when two captures occur within the same clock resolution; timestamps alone do not guarantee that.
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Use a different approach for automatic failure screenshots
The timestamp argument above applies to screenshots your test explicitly requests. Cypress also captures screenshots automatically for test failures during cypress run; it does not automatically capture failures in cypress open. Cypress does not document a filename-template option that adds a timestamp to all automatic captures.
For centralized handling after screenshots are saved, use the Node after:screenshot event in the Cypress configuration file. The event receives screenshot information including the saved path, and is intended for post-capture handling. This lets you inspect or process the actual artifact path rather than guessing it from the spec name. Consult the current Cypress Node Events documentation for supported event arguments and return behavior before implementing a rename or other filesystem operation.
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The command-level onAfterScreenshot callback is also post-capture: it receives details such as the saved path and dimensions. It is useful for recording or acting on the completed capture, but the filename has already been selected by then. See Cypress.Screenshot API documentation.
Account for Cypress artifact behavior
- The default screenshot directory is
cypress/screenshots. Cypress path organization can depend on the spec location and the common ancestor of the specs selected for a run; use the path Cypress provides for downstream handling rather than reconstructing it. See Cypress screenshot and video capture guidance and Writing and organizing Cypress tests. - Cypress clears the screenshots folder before
cypress runby default. SettrashAssetsBeforeRuns: falsein configuration if that cleanup is not wanted. The relevant setting is described in Cypress configuration. - Cypress may append suffixes for duplicate screenshots, failures, and retries. A timestamp can reduce collisions, but do not assume it overrides Cypress’s suffix rules. See Cypress test retries.
Choose a timestamp format that fits your workflow
- UTC and chronological sorting: The ISO form with punctuation replaced, as shown above, is readable and sorts by date and time. The trailing
Zindicates UTC. - Stricter filename portability: Replace the
TandZmarkers too if your downstream system has stricter naming rules. For example,new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.TZ]/g, '-')yields a more uniformly hyphenated value. - Local time: If filenames must reflect a local timezone, format the date explicitly for that timezone. Do not treat the
Z-terminated ISO value as local time. - Collision resistance: For captures that could share a timestamp, append a counter or random identifier. Clock skew can also affect ordering across machines, so use a run or sequence identifier when those distinctions matter.
Troubleshooting timestamped screenshot names
The timestamp is missing from a failure screenshot
Check whether the screenshot came from an explicit cy.screenshot() call or Cypress’s automatic failure capture. The name argument covers the explicit call; automatic captures need centralized handling through the Node after:screenshot event, and any rename should use the saved path supplied by Cypress.
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The filename contains an unexpected suffix
Cypress may add suffixes for duplicate names, retries, or failure captures. Treat your timestamp as part of the requested name, not a guarantee that Cypress will omit its own artifact-identification suffixes.
The output path differs between runs
Cypress’s screenshot path can depend on which specs are selected. Avoid hard-coding a reconstructed path for post-processing; inspect the event’s actual path. Also check whether trashAssetsBeforeRuns is cleaning the screenshot directory before a run.
Two screenshots still collide
Timestamp precision is not a uniqueness guarantee. Add a per-run counter or random component if captures may happen within the same clock resolution, especially when multiple workers write artifacts concurrently.
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