Open Terminal in the Playwright project and run npx playwright --version. A version confirms that the project’s Playwright command-line package can be resolved. Then run npx playwright install --list to see whether the separately managed Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit browser binaries are installed. These are two different checks.
1. Check the Playwright package and CLI
Playwright is normally installed in a Node.js project, so run the check from the repository that you want to inspect—not from an unrelated folder.
- Open Terminal.
- Change to the project directory, for example:
cd ~/Projects/my-playwright-app. - Run
npx playwright --version. - Read the printed version, such as
Version 1.x.x. The exact number is determined by that project’s dependency resolution.
Playwright documents the same check for other package managers:
| Package manager | Version command |
|---|---|
| npm | npx playwright --version |
| Yarn | yarn playwright --version |
| pnpm | pnpm exec playwright --version |
See Playwright’s Installation documentation for the currently documented setup commands and requirements.
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What a successful version check proves
- The Playwright CLI can be resolved in the project execution context.
- You have a concrete version to compare with the project’s
package.jsonand lockfile. - You have not yet proved that any browser executable is installed.
2. Check the browser binaries
Playwright’s JavaScript package and its browser binaries are managed separately. To list browsers installed for the Playwright versions available on your Mac, run:
npx playwright install --listUse the equivalent package-manager form when appropriate:
yarn playwright install --list
pnpm exec playwright install --listThe output lists browser installations known to Playwright. If the list is empty or does not include the browser your project needs, install the required binaries with:
npx playwright installInstalling browsers can download substantial files, so run it in the same environment where the tests or automation will execute. The browser command and its options are documented on Playwright’s Browsers page.
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| Check | Command | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project package and CLI | npx playwright --version |
A Playwright CLI version is available to the current project context. | That Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit binaries are present. |
| Browser binaries | npx playwright install --list |
Which Playwright-managed browsers are installed. | That your test passes, a page loads, or the selected browser is compatible with every project setting. |
| Cache inspection | ls ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright |
Whether the documented default macOS cache directory exists and contains files. | Whether Playwright is usable when a custom browser path is configured. |
3. Inspect the macOS browser cache without misreading it
Playwright documents ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright as the default browser-cache location on macOS. You can inspect it with:
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ls -la ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwrightAn absent directory is not conclusive. Playwright supports the PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH environment variable, which can move the browser cache elsewhere. Check whether your shell or project sets it:
echo "$PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH"
env | grep PLAYWRIGHTIf a path is printed, inspect that location instead. Prefer npx playwright install --list as the authoritative availability check because it accounts for Playwright’s own browser management rather than relying only on directory names.
4. Verify the project you actually intend to use
Existing project
- Change to the repository root, or to the workspace that declares Playwright.
- Inspect the dependency declaration:
cat package.json. - Check the lockfile used by the project, such as
package-lock.json,yarn.lock, orpnpm-lock.yaml. - Run the version command with the project’s package manager.
- Run the browser-list command and install missing binaries if necessary.
In a monorepo, a command run from a parent directory can resolve a different package than a command run from the package that owns the tests. Use the directory and package manager used by that test project.
New project
For a new or existing npm project, Playwright documents this setup path:
npm init playwright@latestAfter setup completes, run both checks again. The initializer creates the project configuration and dependency declarations; browser availability still belongs to the separate browser-install step.
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5. Troubleshoot common results
“command not found” or Playwright cannot be resolved
- Confirm the current directory with
pwd, then change to the intended repository. - Open
package.jsonand verify that the project declares the Playwright package used by its tests. - Use the project’s package manager rather than mixing npm, Yarn, and pnpm commands.
- If this is a new project, run the documented initializer:
npm init playwright@latest.
A global installation in another project does not prove that the current repository has the dependency it expects.
The version is unexpected
Read the dependency declaration and lockfile in the directory where the command succeeds. A workspace can contain several packages or lockfiles, so the version shown is only meaningful when paired with the project you are about to run.
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The version works, but the browser list is empty
This is the normal symptom of having the package without its managed browser binaries. Run npx playwright install, then repeat npx playwright install --list. Playwright notes that each Playwright version requires specific browser binaries, so rerun the browser installation after changing the Playwright version.
The default cache directory is missing
Check PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH before concluding that browsers are absent. A configured path override means the binaries may be stored somewhere other than ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright.
Installation fails because of the machine or Node.js version
The Playwright installation page accessed on September 29, 2026 lists macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and Node.js 22.x, 24.x, or 26.x as system requirements. These requirements can change, so verify the current official page before changing your runtime or upgrading macOS.
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A browser starts locally but not in another environment
Repeat both checks on the other Mac, CI runner, container, or user account. Browser binaries are managed separately from the package, and a cache on one machine is not evidence that another environment has the same installation.
6. A repeatable diagnostic sequence
For a quick support report or setup checklist, collect these results in order:
pwd— records the project directory.node --version— records the Node.js runtime.npx playwright --version— records the project-resolved Playwright version.npx playwright install --list— records the browser binaries visible to Playwright.echo "$PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH"— reveals whether the default cache path is overridden.
This sequence separates a dependency problem from a browser-download problem and gives another developer enough context to reproduce the check.
7. Keep the result reproducible
- Run commands from the same project directory used by your test command.
- Keep the project’s lockfile under version control so dependency resolution is repeatable.
- After upgrading Playwright, run the browser-list command and install the matching binaries if required.
- Do not use the existence of
~/Library/Caches/ms-playwrightas your only test whenPLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATHmay be configured. - Record the package manager, Playwright version, Node.js version, macOS version, and browser-list output when diagnosing a failure.
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Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I run the check from the folder containing the test file?
Run it from the project or workspace that declares the Playwright dependency and uses the lockfile for the tests. The nearest project context is more useful than the location of an individual test file.
Can I use the cache folder as proof that Playwright is installed?
No. The cache proves neither the project package nor the active browser path. Use the CLI version command and browser-list command, and check PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH if needed.
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The Bottom Line
Use npx playwright --version to verify the project’s Playwright CLI, then npx playwright install --list to verify browser binaries. Treat the macOS cache directory as a secondary clue because PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH can change it.
Quick Recap
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