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How to Capture a Mobile Viewport Screenshot with Screenshotlayer

Use Screenshotlayer’s viewport parameter for a mobile-sized capture, and add a mobile User-Agent when the site varies its layout by browser identity.

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To capture a mobile-sized screenshot with Screenshotlayer, send the page URL and a viewport value in WIDTHxHEIGHT form to its capture endpoint. Add a mobile user_agent if the site selects its layout based on the browser’s User-Agent. Screenshotlayer’s published example uses 375x667; treat it as an example size, not a guarantee for every phone.

Make a mobile-viewport capture

The endpoint shown in Screenshotlayer’s documentation is https://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture. A request has this general shape:

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https://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture?access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY&url=https://example.com&viewport=375x667&user_agent=YOUR_MOBILE_USER_AGENT

Replace the access key, target URL, and User-Agent with your own values. The 375-by-667 viewport and legacy iPhone 6 User-Agent appear in Screenshotlayer’s example; they do not establish a current recommended device profile. Screenshotlayer’s homepage shows the example, and its FAQ confirms custom User-Agent support.

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Choose the viewport deliberately

viewport sets the requested browser dimensions. Use width and height in CSS pixels that fit the layout scenario you need to inspect; do not assume the example dimensions represent all phones. The available material does not establish accepted dimension limits or named device presets, so check the live API documentation before depending on a particular size.

Decide whether a User-Agent is needed

A viewport change requests a different browser window size. A User-Agent can matter when a site serves different markup or behavior based on the browser identity. Sending a phone-like User-Agent does not prove that the capture reproduces every hardware, browser, or pixel behavior of a physical phone.

Set language when it matters

Screenshotlayer’s example also includes accept_lang=es-ES. Use this control when the page’s displayed language depends on the request language; otherwise it is not necessary for choosing the viewport.

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Set output and rendering behavior

Choose an image format

Screenshotlayer’s FAQ says PNG is the default and lists JPEG and GIF as alternatives selected with the format parameter. Choose based on how you will use the output: PNG is the documented default, while JPEG may suit photographic content where a smaller lossy image is acceptable. Confirm supported values in the current API reference before building around them.

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Allow time for delayed page content

If a page needs time to render effects or animations, Screenshotlayer documents a delay parameter. A delay can help with content that appears after initial load, but it also adds waiting time and does not guarantee that every asynchronous element has finished.

Account for cached captures

The FAQ states that the default cache period is 2,592,000 seconds (30 days) and that ttl can request a shorter period. If the target page changes frequently and freshness matters, review the current cache behavior and request a shorter TTL rather than assuming each identical request produces a new capture.

Protect the API key and validate the request

  • Keep the access key out of public client-side code, shared examples, and logs. Screenshotlayer says each request needs the issued key; its terms, last modified February 17, 2018, make the account holder responsible for keeping credentials secret.
  • Use the exact target page URL and ensure its query-string characters are encoded correctly for your HTTP client. The available documentation does not establish all encoding rules or parameter bounds, so verify the current interactive API reference for production use.
  • Check the response and output file before integrating it into a workflow. The material here does not specify response headers, error codes, or all failure conditions.

Troubleshoot common mismatches

  • The screenshot is desktop-like despite a narrow viewport: the site may choose a layout using User-Agent or other signals. Try a mobile User-Agent as well as the viewport, then verify whether the page actually serves a mobile layout.
  • The screenshot does not match a specific physical phone: the documented viewport and User-Agent are request controls, not evidence of complete device emulation. The published 375×667 sample is an illustration, not a current-device guarantee.
  • Text or effects are missing: the page may render content after the initial load. Consider a documented delay, while recognizing that added wait time cannot guarantee completion of every script or animation.
  • The result appears stale: Screenshotlayer’s FAQ describes a default 30-day cache. Check the request’s ttl setting and current service documentation if the page has changed.
  • The request is rejected or behaves unexpectedly: confirm the access key, URL, parameter spelling, encoding, and currently accepted values in the live API reference. Exact limits and encoding behavior are not established by the examples cited here.

Plan usage and pricing can change

Screenshotlayer’s pricing page displays a Free plan with 100 monthly snapshots, Basic with 10,000 for $19.99 per month, Professional with 30,000 for $59.99 per month, and Enterprise with 75,000 for $149.99 per month. These are provider-advertised terms and may change; check the current pricing page before choosing a plan. The homepage labels free usage non-commercial, and paid tiers begin at $19.99 per month in the displayed offering.

The FAQ says overage fees may apply after an account reaches its request allowance, while the terms say monthly usage limits depend on the subscription plan. Do not assume excess requests are always available or free; verify the billing terms for your account.

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Or skip the browser setup

If you want an API request rather than configuring a browser or capture workflow, ScreenshotNeo returns a screenshot or PDF from one GET request. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the request options.

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

ScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those cleanup steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server lets AI agents use screenshot tools. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Learn about ScreenshotNeo, or sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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