To make a PDF that reflects a webpage’s mobile layout, set the browser’s responsive viewport to the target width before loading the page, then generate the PDF with deliberate screen-versus-print and paper-size settings. A mobile viewport triggers responsive CSS; it does not automatically make the PDF page narrow. If you need a pixel-faithful visual record rather than a paginated document, capture a screenshot instead.
First choose what “mobile-width PDF” means
There are two separate dimensions to control:
- Viewport width: the browser’s CSS-pixel width. This determines which responsive layout rules the page uses.
- PDF page size: the physical width and height of the exported pages. These determine how content is laid out or paginated in the document.
Setting a narrow viewport can trigger the site’s phone layout, but print styles or standard paper dimensions may still change that layout in the PDF. For a record of rendered pixels, use a screenshot. For a document that can flow across pages, use PDF printing and inspect the result.
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| What you need | Use | Decide |
|---|---|---|
| A visual record of the page at mobile width | Responsive viewport plus screenshot | Capture the visible area or the full scrollable page. |
| A paginated PDF | Responsive viewport plus browser PDF printing | Choose screen or print styling, paper dimensions, margins, scale and background handling. |
| Repeatable scripted output | Playwright or Chrome headless | Set the viewport before navigation and configure PDF output explicitly. |
Use Chrome DevTools for a one-off capture
- Open the page in Chrome and open DevTools.
- Toggle the device toolbar, then use Responsive mode to enter the target width and height or select a device dimension. Choose a CSS-pixel width that represents the layout you want.
- Navigate to the page or reload it with that viewport active, so its responsive styles can apply.
- For an image rather than a PDF, use DevTools’ screenshot options to capture the visible viewport or the full page.
- For a PDF, use the browser’s print workflow and review the print preview. Check whether print styling changed the layout and whether the page dimensions give you the narrow output you intended.
Chrome Device Mode simulates a mobile environment; it is not a real phone and cannot reproduce every mobile-specific behavior. Use an actual device to validate behavior that depends on phone hardware or software. See Google’s Device Mode documentation.
Automate PDF generation with Playwright
Set the viewport before navigation, then choose the media type and PDF page options. Playwright’s page.pdf() uses print CSS by default. If you want the screen-rendered styling, emulate screen media before generating the PDF. Numeric PDF dimensions without units are interpreted as pixels; explicit units such as px, in, cm and mm are also accepted.
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import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const targetUrl = 'https://example.com';
const mobileWidth = 390;
const mobileHeight = 844;
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage({
viewport: { width: mobileWidth, height: mobileHeight }
});
await page.goto(targetUrl, { waitUntil: 'networkidle' });
// Use screen CSS rather than Playwright's default print CSS.
await page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' });
await page.pdf({
path: 'mobile-width.pdf',
width: `${mobileWidth}px`,
height: '1100px',
margin: { top: '0', right: '0', bottom: '0', left: '0' },
printBackground: true,
preferCSSPageSize: false
});
await browser.close();Replace the example URL and dimensions with your target. The width in the PDF options controls the output page width; it is separate from the viewport width. Set the height and margins to suit the document you need. If you want print styling, omit the screen-media emulation. If the page defines its own CSS page size and you want to honor it, consider preferCSSPageSize; otherwise configure the output dimensions yourself. Playwright’s Page API reference documents viewport sizing, media emulation and PDF options.
Use Chrome headless from the command line
Chrome headless can print a loaded page to PDF:
chrome --headless --print-to-pdf=output.pdf https://example.comThis command prints the page, but by itself it does not specify a mobile viewport. For a mobile-responsive PDF, use browser automation that sets the viewport before navigation, or use the Chrome DevTools Protocol and configure the emulated device metrics as well as PDF output. The Protocol’s Page.printToPDF method includes paper width and height, margins, orientation, scale, and header/footer controls. See the Chrome Headless command-line reference and the Chrome DevTools Protocol Page documentation.
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The headless command-line reference also documents --timeout to allow time for page content to load and --no-pdf-header-footer to omit generated headers and footers. Flag availability can vary by Chrome version; if Chrome rejects a flag, check the documentation for the installed version.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMake dynamic pages ready before capture
Content loaded after the initial navigation—such as lazy images or client-rendered sections—may not be ready when capture begins. In Playwright, wait for a meaningful page-specific condition when possible, such as a selector that appears when the needed content is ready. A fixed delay is an option when the page offers no readiness signal, but there is no universal delay that works for every site. Chrome headless also provides a timeout option for loading content.
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Check the PDF before relying on it
- Verify that the responsive layout corresponds to the intended viewport width.
- Check whether print CSS has hidden, rearranged or restyled screen content.
- Confirm the PDF page width, page breaks and margins; narrow viewport settings alone do not set the paper dimensions.
- Look for clipped content, missing backgrounds and unwanted headers or footers.
- If the page’s behavior matters on an actual phone, test it on that device rather than relying solely on desktop emulation.
Troubleshooting
The PDF looks like a desktop page
Set the mobile viewport before navigating, not after the page has already laid itself out. In a script, create the page or context with the target viewport before goto(). Check that the chosen width is in CSS pixels and that the page has reloaded at that size.
The PDF switches to a different design
Playwright defaults to print media for PDF generation. Call page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' }) before page.pdf() when you need screen CSS. If print styling is intended, keep print media and inspect the page’s print rules.
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The PDF is still letter- or A4-shaped
Viewport width and PDF paper width are independent. Set the PDF width and, where needed, height explicitly, and account for margins and scale. Chrome’s PDF protocol exposes paper dimensions and other print controls.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Images or sections are missing
Wait for the specific content the capture needs before exporting. For lazy-loaded content, scroll or otherwise trigger it as appropriate, then wait for the relevant elements to appear. Avoid treating a single fixed delay as reliable for every site.
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Chrome rejects a command-line flag
Check the installed Chrome version’s headless documentation; command-line flag availability can change. Use the documented flags for that version or automate PDF settings through the DevTools Protocol.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo can return a webpage capture or PDF from one GET request. Its API supports viewport and PDF controls; cookie banners, newsletter popups and chat widgets are removed before the shot, and each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, with the page verdict and billing status reported in response headers. ScreenshotNeo also has an MCP server for AI agents, with tools including take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. See the API documentation for request options.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpFor mobile-width PDF output, configure the API’s viewport and PDF options as described in the documentation. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month, with no card required.
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