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Use chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab() in a Manifest V3 extension to capture exactly what is visible in the active tab’s viewport. The method returns a Promise that resolves to an image data URL. Request the activeTab permission for user-triggered captures (or the broader all_urls permission), pass the clicked tab’s windowId, and throttle calls to Chrome’s documented limit of two per second.
What captureVisibleTab captures
chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(windowId?, options?) captures the visible area of the currently active tab in the selected window. It captures the viewport, not the entire scrollable document, so content below the fold is excluded. The optional windowId identifies the target window; if omitted, Chrome uses the current window. The result is a string containing an image data URL, suitable for an <img> element, transfer to an extension page, conversion to a Blob, download, or upload.
What the image includes
- Only pixels currently visible in the active tab’s viewport.
- The page as rendered at the moment Chrome performs the capture, including the current zoom and device-scale rendering.
- No content that requires scrolling to reveal.
What it does not do
- It is not a full-page screenshot API.
- It does not automatically scroll, stitch images, or capture an inactive tab.
- It cannot bypass a page that has not loaded or a tab that is unavailable.
Permissions: activeTab or all_urls
The extension needs either activeTab or all_urls permission. For a button, command, or other user action that captures the tab the user is looking at, activeTab is the least-broad choice. Chrome grants temporary access to the invoked tab instead of asking for access to every site.
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| Permission | Use when | Scope |
|---|---|---|
activeTab |
Capture follows a user gesture, such as clicking the extension action | Temporary access to the tab involved in that gesture |
all_urls |
Your extension must capture matching tabs without a fresh user gesture | Broad access to URLs covered by the permission |
Special-page behavior matters. With activeTab, Chrome permits capture of chrome: pages, other extension pages, and data: URLs. A file: URL requires the user to grant the extension file access in Chrome’s extension settings. If the target tab is a restricted or unavailable page, handle the rejected Promise rather than assuming every tab is capturable.
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Minimal Manifest V3 implementation
Create an extension directory containing a manifest and service worker. This example captures after the user clicks the extension action.
manifest.json
{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "Visible Tab Capture",
"version": "1.0.0",
"permissions": ["activeTab"],
"action": { "default_title": "Capture visible tab" },
"background": { "service_worker": "service-worker.js" }
}service-worker.js
chrome.action.onClicked.addListener(async (tab) => {
try {
const dataUrl = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(tab.windowId, {
format: "png"
});
// Send to an extension page, store it, or use it as an image source.
console.log(dataUrl);
} catch (error) {
console.error("Visible-tab capture failed", error);
}
});The Promise form is supported in Manifest V3 and later. The callback form remains the compatibility option for platforms that do not provide Promise support.
Load and try the extension
- Save both files in one directory.
- Open Chrome’s extensions page, enable Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select the directory.
- Open an ordinary web page, click the extension’s toolbar icon, and inspect the service worker console. The logged value begins with an image data-URL prefix.
Choosing capture options and handling the data URL
PNG, JPEG, and quality
Pass an options object to choose the image format. PNG is lossless and is a good default for text or interfaces. JPEG can reduce file size for photographic content; when using JPEG, provide a quality value appropriate for your workflow.
const pngUrl = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(tab.windowId, {
format: "png"
});
const jpegUrl = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(tab.windowId, {
format: "jpeg",
quality: 85
});Display it in an extension page
The data URL can be assigned directly to an image element in a popup or other extension page. Keep the capture in extension-controlled code and send it using your normal extension messaging path.
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// popup.js
chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener((message) => {
if (message.type === "capture") {
document.querySelector("img").src = message.dataUrl;
}
});For a download or upload, convert the data URL to a Blob first. Splitting at the comma separates the metadata from the base64 payload.
function dataUrlToBlob(dataUrl) {
const [header, encoded] = dataUrl.split(",");
const mime = header.match(/data:([^;]+)/)[1];
const binary = atob(encoded);
const bytes = Uint8Array.from(binary, char => char.charCodeAt(0));
return new Blob([bytes], { type: mime });
}Target-window behavior
In an action click listener, use tab.windowId so the capture targets the window containing the tab that the user selected. Omitting the argument is valid only when the current window is definitely the intended target.
// Explicit window (recommended in a click handler)
const image = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(tab.windowId, { format: "png" });
// Current window (use only when that is intentional)
const image2 = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(undefined, { format: "png" });Capturing from commands or a custom UI
The same call works from a keyboard command, popup button, or another user-invoked extension surface. Query the active tab first when your event does not provide a tab object.
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const [tab] = await chrome.tabs.query({ active: true, lastFocusedWindow: true });
if (!tab || tab.windowId === undefined) {
throw new Error("No active tab is available");
}
return chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(tab.windowId, { format: "png" });
}Rate limits and performance
Chrome documents MAX_CAPTURE_VISIBLE_TAB_CALLS_PER_SECOND as two calls per second beginning with Chrome 92. Capturing is expensive, so periodic or burst features must throttle requests and tolerate delayed or rejected calls.
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A simple throttle
let lastCaptureAt = 0;
const MIN_INTERVAL_MS = 500; // two calls per second maximum
async function throttledCapture(windowId) {
const wait = MIN_INTERVAL_MS - (Date.now() - lastCaptureAt);
if (wait > 0) await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, wait));
lastCaptureAt = Date.now();
return chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(windowId, { format: "png" });
}For repeated captures, prefer a queue rather than launching many Promises at once. Stop work when the tab closes or changes, and avoid retaining large data URLs longer than necessary. JPEG may reduce transfer and storage size, while PNG generally preserves UI text more cleanly.
Troubleshooting
“activeTab or all_urls permission is required”
Add "activeTab" (or the intentionally broader "all_urls") to permissions in manifest.json, reload the unpacked extension, and invoke capture from a user action. Editing the manifest without reloading does not update a loaded extension.
The call works on websites but fails on a local file
Enable Allow access to file URLs for the extension on Chrome’s extensions page. Without that user setting, file: tabs are not available to the extension.
The image is blank or the Promise rejects
Check that the tab still exists, is the active tab in the supplied window, and has finished navigating. Restricted pages and transient navigation states can be unavailable. Log the complete error, retry after navigation settles, and present a useful message instead of repeatedly retrying at full speed.
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Captures are rejected during a burst
Apply the two-per-second throttle, serialize requests, and back off after a rejection. Do not run an unconstrained interval or fire-and-forget loop.
Nothing appears in the popup
Verify that the service worker actually sends the data URL to the popup, that the popup is open when you send it, and that the receiver assigns the value to img.src. For durable delivery, store the Blob or data URL and let the popup request it when opened.
When a browser extension is the wrong tool
captureVisibleTab requires a running Chrome extension and captures only the current viewport. For server-side screenshots, automated pipelines, PDFs, full-page captures, or AI-agent workflows, a screenshot API avoids browser setup.
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FAQ
Does captureVisibleTab capture the whole page?
No. It captures only the visible viewport. A full-page result requires a separate scrolling-and-stitching design or a service that renders full pages.
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Can I capture an inactive tab?
The API captures the currently active tab in the selected window. Switch the tab first, then capture, or use a server-side renderer for unattended pages.
Is the returned value a file path?
No. It is an image data URL. Use it as an image source or convert it to a Blob for storage, download, or upload.
Which permission is safer for a capture button?
activeTab is narrower because access follows the user’s invocation. Use all_urls only when your extension genuinely needs broad, non-interactive coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I capture a page while the user scrolls?
Capture the current viewport after each scroll position and manage your own stitching; captureVisibleTab does not provide scrolling or full-page assembly.
Does the API return PNG data by default?
Specify the desired format explicitly, such as format: "png" or format: "jpeg", so your output workflow is predictable.
Quick Recap
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