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Use the check that matches what you need to prove
Playwright has two separate installation layers on Windows: the Node package that provides the CLI and the browser binaries that the CLI launches. Check them independently so a successful version response does not give you false confidence about browsers.
Strictly check for a local project installation
npx --no-install playwright --versionThe --no-install flag tells npx not to resolve or download a package. Run it from the repository that is supposed to contain Playwright. If the command prints a version, the local dependency is accessible through that project’s package-manager context.
Check CLI availability through npx
npx playwright --versionThis is the convenient general check. If no local package is available, npx can resolve a package instead of proving that your project already has one. Use the strict command above when you are diagnosing an existing installation or validating a build environment.
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Use the project’s package manager
| Package manager | Command | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| npm | npx --no-install playwright --version |
Local Playwright CLI only; npx will not fetch it |
| npm | npx playwright --version |
CLI is available through npx, locally or by resolution |
| Yarn | yarn playwright --version |
CLI is available in the Yarn project context |
| pnpm | pnpm exec playwright --version |
CLI is available from the pnpm project context |
Check Playwright’s browser binaries separately
npx playwright install --listThis lists the browsers Playwright knows about on the machine. A version number from the CLI command does not prove that Chromium, Firefox or WebKit has been downloaded. If the browser required by your tests is missing, install all supported browsers with:
npx playwright installTo install only Chromium, for example, run:
npx playwright install chromiumAfter installation, repeat npx playwright install --list and confirm that the browser and revision required by the project appear in the output. Browser downloads are a separate step because Playwright packages and browser executables are maintained independently.
Step-by-step check in a Windows project
- Open a terminal. Start PowerShell or Command Prompt. Windows Terminal works with either shell.
- Change to the repository. In PowerShell, use
Set-Location C:pathtoyour-project. In Command Prompt, usecd /d C:pathtoyour-project. The directory should contain the project’spackage.jsonand lockfile when those files exist. - Run the strict CLI check. Execute
npx --no-install playwright --version. Record the version and whether the command exits successfully. - Confirm the dependency declaration. Open
package.jsonand look for the Playwright package used by the project, commonly underdevDependenciesordependencies. The manifest is evidence of what the project requests; the version command proves that the command is currently resolvable. - List browser binaries. Run
npx playwright install --list. Check for the browser your test configuration selects. - Install a missing browser. Run
npx playwright installor target one browser, such asnpx playwright install chromium. Then run the list command again.
How to interpret the output
A version number appears
The Playwright CLI can be invoked in the current package-manager context. The output does not certify that every browser is installed, that the browsers are usable by your current user account, or that the version matches another repository.
“command not found”, “not recognized”, or an npx failure
With --no-install, this normally means no local Playwright executable is available from the directory where you ran the command. Verify the folder, run the project’s dependency installation command, and check the package manifest. If even node or npm is not recognized, install Node.js or correct its Windows PATH entry before troubleshooting Playwright.
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The browser list is empty or lacks the required browser
The package can be installed while its browser download is absent. Install the required browser and list the browsers again. Playwright’s default Windows cache is %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright. An absent directory at that exact location is not conclusive because Playwright supports overriding the browser path.
The command works in one terminal but not another
Compare the current directory, Node.js installation, package manager, and user account. A global installation, a different repository, or a shell with a different PATH can produce a different result from the project check.
Project context matters more than a global install
Playwright is normally used as a project dependency. Running the command from a parent folder, a different checkout, or a temporary directory can make a healthy installation appear missing. Always check the same directory from which your tests or automation are launched.
If the project is new, Playwright’s installation workflow can create a project with npm init playwright@latest. Existing projects should use the dependency versions recorded in their manifest and lockfile rather than relying on a globally installed CLI. The official setup also supports a VS Code extension, but the terminal checks remain useful in CI and when diagnosing PATH or browser-cache issues.
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Windows, Node.js and WSL considerations
The current Playwright installation page lists Windows 11 and later, Windows Server 2019 and later, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) among supported environments. It currently lists Node.js 22.x, 24.x or 26.x in its system requirements. These requirements can change, so verify the live installation guidance when diagnosing a newer Windows or Node release.
WSL is a separate execution environment. Run the check inside the WSL distribution if that is where the tests run; a successful Windows-host check does not automatically verify the Linux-side project, dependencies or browser cache.
Reliable checks for scripts and CI
Use the strict command when the purpose is to fail fast if the repository does not contain Playwright:
npx --no-install playwright --versionTreat a non-zero exit status as a failed dependency check. Keep the browser check separate so logs show whether the failure is the Node package or a missing browser download:
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npx playwright install --listDo not assume that a successful version command validates a fresh CI worker. A clean worker may have the package restored from a lockfile but still need the browser-install step. Conversely, a cached browser directory can remain available even after a project dependency changes, so record both the CLI version and the browser-list output when reproducing failures.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
npx, npm or node is not recognized |
Node.js is not installed or is missing from PATH | Install a supported Node.js release, reopen the terminal, and verify the executable before checking Playwright. |
npx --no-install playwright --version fails in a project that should use Playwright |
Wrong directory, dependencies not installed, or Playwright is absent from the manifest | Change to the repository, inspect package.json, install the project dependencies, and rerun the strict check. |
Plain npx playwright --version succeeds but strict mode fails |
npx resolved a package instead of finding the project’s local executable | Use the strict result for installation diagnosis; add Playwright to the project and install dependencies if it is required there. |
| Version prints, tests report a missing executable | Browser binaries were not downloaded or are in another cache | Run npx playwright install --list, then install the missing browser with npx playwright install or a browser-specific command. |
| Browser list differs between users | Different Windows accounts or an overridden browser path | Run the check as the same account that runs the tests and inspect the configured browser-cache location; the default is %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright. |
| Yarn or pnpm project behaves differently under npx | The project’s package manager and lockfile are not being used | Run yarn playwright --version or pnpm exec playwright --version from the project directory. |
| Windows succeeds but WSL fails | Commands are running in different operating systems and environments | Install dependencies and browsers inside the environment that actually runs the tests, then repeat both checks there. |
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FAQ
Does a global Playwright installation satisfy the project check?
No. The strict check is intentionally run in the project context and is meant to confirm the dependency that the repository can resolve. A global command can mask a missing or mismatched project dependency.
Why check browsers when the Playwright version is correct?
The CLI package and browser executables are separate installation steps. A project can report a valid version while the browser revision needed for a test has not been downloaded for the current environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a global Playwright installation satisfy the project check?
No. The strict check is run in the project context and confirms the dependency that the repository can resolve; a global command can hide a missing or mismatched local dependency.
Why check browsers when the Playwright version is correct?
The CLI package and browser executables are separate installation steps. A valid version response does not prove that the browser revision required by the test is present.
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