If Chrome crashes only when a screenshot runs on a schedule, first find out which process exits, then compare the scheduled launch with a successful manual launch: same Chrome binary and version, same flags, same user, and same environment. On Linux, a scheduled job running Chrome as root is a documented common startup-crash cause; configure it to run as a regular user rather than relying on --no-sandbox.
First identify what actually crashed
A browser crash, a ChromeDriver crash, and a screenshot that completed with the wrong image are different problems. Record the process that exited and its exit status before changing flags or timeouts. The scheduler, operating system, automation framework, and Chrome version are not specified here, so the steps below isolate likely launch-context differences rather than presume one cause.
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- Chrome exits before a page opens: investigate the binary, launch arguments, installation, and scheduled user or service context.
- Chrome starts, but the automation fails: test Chrome directly in the same environment, then investigate the harness or driver.
- The job succeeds but the image is blank, early, or clipped: investigate page readiness and viewport settings; those affect capture output, not process stability.
Chrome’s startup guidance recommends testing the same binary with the same switches from a normal-user command prompt, then trying a direct launch in the test environment before involving WebDriver. See ChromeDriver’s Chrome startup troubleshooting guide.
Isolate the scheduled launch step by step
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Capture the exact launch details
Log the Chrome executable path and version, complete arguments, exit status, standard output and error, scheduler-configured user, and working directory. For WebDriver, inspect the ChromeDriver log to confirm which Chrome binary it launches. Preserve the current flags so you can reproduce the scheduled command accurately.
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Run the same Chrome command manually
From a normal-user command prompt, run the exact executable with the exact switches used by the scheduled job. If Chrome fails there too, check or repair the installation; Chrome’s guidance suggests reinstalling when Chrome itself cannot start.
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Launch Chrome directly in the scheduled environment
Run Chrome from the same task, service, container, or test environment without ChromeDriver or another WebDriver harness. If direct Chrome launch fails, focus on the runtime context or browser startup rather than screenshot code. If it works, add the harness back and see which stage fails.
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Compare the account and service context
A scheduled service may run under a different account or with a different environment from your interactive session. Test the scheduled task under a regular user context. Chrome’s startup guidance notes that its alternate installer, which installs for all users, can often resolve background-service issues.
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Check whether the failing process is ChromeDriver
ChromeDriver’s crash guidance is specifically about ChromeDriver crashes, which differ from Chrome crashing or closing. If the driver itself exits, reduce the case to a reproducible example and follow ChromeDriver’s crash troubleshooting guidance.
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On Linux, avoid running Chrome as root
Chrome identifies running as root as a common cause of startup crashes on Linux and recommends configuring the environment to run Chrome as a regular user. The --no-sandbox flag may appear to work around root execution, but Chrome describes that configuration as unsupported and highly discouraged. Do not treat it as a routine reliability fix.
Verify the Headless binary and version
For unattended capture, confirm which Headless implementation the job invokes. Current Chrome Headless mode uses --headless and shares the regular Chrome implementation. Chrome’s documentation says this mode was updated in Chrome 112: Chrome creates platform windows without displaying them.
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Since Chrome 132.0.6793.0, the old Headless implementation has been available only as the separate chrome-headless-shell binary. The older shell guide is deprecated, so verify examples and supported flags against the binary actually installed rather than copying historical commands blindly. See Chrome’s current Headless documentation and its deprecated Headless shell guide.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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Only investigate capture timing and viewport options after confirming Chrome starts. Chrome’s current command-line reference documents these options:
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| Option | What it controls | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
--screenshot |
Saves screenshot.png in the working directory. |
You need to verify a basic direct CLI capture. |
--window-size=WIDTH,HEIGHT |
Sets the viewport dimensions. | The capture is clipped or rendered at an unexpected size. |
--timeout=MS |
Sets the maximum wait before screenshot, DOM, or PDF capture. | The page needs more time before capture. |
--virtual-time-budget=MS |
Sets virtual time available to time-dependent page scripts. | Page content relies on scripts or timers that need to advance before capture. |
These flags can change when or what Chrome captures; they do not establish or repair a process crash. Check the Chrome Headless command-line options for current syntax.
Common symptoms and the next check
- Manual capture works, scheduled capture crashes: compare the executable, flags, account, working directory, and service environment; run Chrome directly from the scheduled context.
- Chrome fails even when launched directly: confirm the executable path and installation, then try a clean install if Chrome itself will not start.
- The job runs as root on Linux: configure a regular-user account. Do not make
--no-sandboxthe standard fix. - A ChromeDriver log names an unexpected binary: correct the configured Chrome path or installation used by the automation setup.
- Chrome opens but the image is blank or premature: investigate page wait behavior and virtual time, not crash flags.
- The image is cut off: check the requested window size and viewport.
- ChromeDriver exits but Chrome does not: treat it as a driver crash and use the driver-specific guidance.
Or skip the browser setup
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