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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To see the browser path Puppeteer has selected, print puppeteer.executablePath(). To launch a different installed browser, pass its absolute path as executablePath to puppeteer.launch(). The path must exist and be executable in the same environment where Node.js runs—not just on your development computer.
Print Puppeteer’s computed browser path
With the full puppeteer package, executablePath() returns the computed path for the configured browser. Run it in the same process and environment where you intend to launch Puppeteer:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const path = puppeteer.executablePath();
console.log(path);
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
await browser.close();The printed value identifies the expected executable; it does not prove the file is present, has execute permission, or can start successfully. Check those conditions in the target runtime. Puppeteer’s configuration documentation describes its browser installation and cache settings.
Use a different installed browser
Set executablePath in the launch options to override the managed browser path. Use an absolute path that points to the browser executable in the runtime:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
browser: 'chrome',
executablePath: '/absolute/path/to/chrome',
});
await browser.close();The browser option identifies the browser type; executablePath selects the actual binary. Puppeteer’s launch options documentation warns that compatibility is guaranteed only with the bundled browser. Validate a custom binary against the Puppeteer version and browser features your code needs.
Using puppeteer-core
puppeteer-core does not provide the normal browser download and configuration defaults of the full package. Supply either an executable path or a browser channel when launching:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/absolute/path/to/chrome',
});
await browser.close();Alternatively, use a supported channel in the launch options. In either case, the selected browser must be available in the environment that runs the process.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsManaging browser binaries directly
If your application uses @puppeteer/browsers to manage browser installations, its API documents computeExecutablePath for a managed cache binary and computeSystemExecutablePath for looking up a system Chrome installation. A system lookup can fail when no browser is installed at a known location. See the browsers API documentation.
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Understand where Puppeteer keeps its browser
Puppeteer’s documented default browser cache is ~/.cache/puppeteer. Set PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR to use a different cache location. Starting with Puppeteer v19.0.0, downloaded browsers are stored in that cache by default, as described in the troubleshooting guide.
If browser download was skipped—through configuration such as skipDownload or the PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD environment variable—the runtime needs a different browser binary. Install the expected browser in that environment or configure a valid system executable; otherwise, the computed path may not point to a usable file.
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Diagnose a missing or unusable executable
- Print the path in the failing runtime. Call
puppeteer.executablePath()from the same process, container, or hosted environment that cannot launch. A local path may not exist in deployment. - Check the file and permissions. Confirm that the path names a real file and that the process can execute it. Also check that the browser cache directory is present and accessible.
- Check download and cache configuration. Review
skipDownload,PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD, andPUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR. Ensure the browser installation is included in the deployed environment. - Check Linux dependencies. A correct executable path does not guarantee launch if shared libraries are missing. The Puppeteer troubleshooting guide recommends checking dynamic dependencies with
ldd chromeand following its distribution-specific guidance. - Do not use
--no-sandboxas a path fix. Puppeteer strongly discourages running without a sandbox. Address the environment’s sandbox configuration rather than treating that flag as a general solution.
For cloud deployments, the official troubleshooting guide covers deployment considerations, including keeping the browser cache available between build and runtime where needed.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallChoose between Puppeteer’s browser and a system browser
| Consideration | Puppeteer-managed browser | System-installed browser |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | The documented default; Puppeteer is designed around its bundled browser. | Arbitrary browser versions are not guaranteed to work; validate the version and features you need. |
| Deployment | The downloaded browser and configured cache must be available in the runtime. | The executable must be installed at the configured path in the runtime. |
| Version control | Browser installation is managed through Puppeteer’s setup and cache configuration. | You control the system browser installation and updates. |
| Operating-system requirements | Required libraries and suitable permissions still need to be present. | Required libraries and suitable permissions still need to be present. |
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to get a website screenshot rather than control a local Puppeteer browser, ScreenshotNeo provides a screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns an image or PDF; the API’s documentation lists supported options.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp- Cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; each step can be turned off.
- Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed; response headers report the page verdict and billing status.
- An MCP server provides
take_screenshot,get_page_info, andcapture_pdftools for AI agents and MCP clients. - The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan to get 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
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