For the specific CentOS 7 report behind this error, the accepted community answer recommends installing the GNU FreeSans font package, then retrying the headless screenshot. The report involved Google Chrome 59.0.3071.86 in 2017; this is a historical, case-specific fix, not a confirmed remedy for every Chrome crash that prints “Could not get the download directory.”
What the original error refers to
The original report describes a command-line screenshot attempt on CentOS 7 using Chrome 59.0.3071.86. Chrome printed “Could not get the download directory” and then terminated with Trace/breakpoint trap. The user had already tried creating download folders in the home directory without resolving the crash. See the original Stack Overflow report.
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The accepted answer says installing gnu-free-sans-fonts fixed that case. Treat this as a community-reported workaround for that environment, not an official Chrome diagnosis or a guarantee for other versions or systems.
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Apply the reported CentOS 7 fix
- Check the environment. Record the Chrome version and the full command you use. The matching report used Chrome 59.0.3071.86 and requested a screenshot, rather than saving a browser download.
- Check package availability. Confirm that
gnu-free-sans-fontsis available from the repositories configured on your CentOS 7 host. Availability can depend on repository configuration. - Install the package if available.
sudo yum install gnu-free-sans-fontsThis is the command given by the accepted answer. Read the accepted Stack Overflow answer.
- Retry the screenshot. The accepted answer suggests this example command:
google-chrome --headless --disable-gpu --enable-logging -v=10
--screenshot=out.png http://www.chromestatus.comIf you are checking against the original report, its command used google-chrome-stable, logging level -v=5, output file out.png, and http://www.google.com. Use the Chrome executable and target URL appropriate to your installation.
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Separate screenshot crashes from download-directory problems
The message alone does not establish that Chrome cannot find a folder you need to create. In the CentOS 7 report, creating home-directory download folders did not fix the screenshot crash; the accepted answer instead reports the font-package installation.
Later community reports describe a different issue: Chrome/ChromeDriver 110 sessions not honoring download.default_directory, with files going elsewhere or downloads marked canceled. Some participants said --headless=new helped their cases, while the discussion did not establish whether the defect belonged to ChromeDriver or Chromium. That is a download-preference problem, not evidence that the flag fixes the Chrome 59 screenshot crash. Read the ChromeDriver Users discussion.
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- Screenshot process crashes: Check the Chrome version, screenshot command, quoted log line, and whether the process ends with a trace/breakpoint trap.
- Automated download goes to the wrong place or is canceled: Check Chrome and ChromeDriver versions, the configured download directory, and the observed download behavior as a separate problem.
Troubleshooting if the package does not help
- The package cannot be found: Check the host’s enabled repositories and whether they provide
gnu-free-sans-fonts. The historical answer does not establish which repositories a particular machine needs. - The crash continues after installation: Confirm that you installed the package on the machine running Chrome, then capture the complete command, Chrome version, and log. The reported fix is not established as universal.
- You are using a newer Chrome/ChromeDriver download workflow: Do not apply the CentOS screenshot workaround or assume
--headless=newis a fix. Verify the versions and diagnose the download preference behavior independently.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to obtain a website screenshot rather than debug a local Chrome installation, ScreenshotNeo provides a screenshot API. One GET request can return an image or PDF; for example, cURL can save a WebP screenshot like this:
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API details. Cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. An MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots, and 1,000 screenshots a month are free with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for free.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Does `–headless=new` fix the CentOS 7 Chrome 59 screenshot crash?
The available report about that flag concerns later Chrome/ChromeDriver download-preference behavior, not the Chrome 59 screenshot crash.
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Is the FreeSans package an official Chrome fix?
No. It is the workaround reported in the accepted community answer for the specific historical CentOS 7 case.
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