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Call page.goBack()
Call the method after the page has navigated to a new history entry. Keep the returned value only if you need the main resource response:
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const response = await page.goBack();The return type is Promise<HTTPResponse | null>. Puppeteer documents null for same-page navigation; when redirects occur, the resolved response is for the last redirect. Puppeteer Page.goBack() reference
Complete example
This example opens a browser, visits one page, navigates to another, then goes back and closes the browser even if an operation fails:
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.goto('https://example.org');
const response = await page.goBack();
console.log(response); // HTTPResponse or null
} finally {
await browser.close();
}The first navigation gives the page a history entry to return to after the second navigation. Puppeteer’s Page documentation shows the launch, page creation, navigation, and browser-close lifecycle. Puppeteer Page class
History entries and single-page apps
“Previous page” means the preceding entry in the browser’s history, not necessarily a separate document loaded from the network. Puppeteer treats History API URL changes as navigation. In a single-page app, goBack() can therefore return to an earlier app state when the app created a history entry; it cannot return to a state that was never added to history. Puppeteer FAQ
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Waiting and navigation timeouts
goBack() accepts optional wait options. Set the page’s default navigation timeout in milliseconds with page.setDefaultNavigationTimeout(timeout) when the normal navigation limit does not fit your flow. Puppeteer setDefaultNavigationTimeout() reference
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await page.goBack();Choose the wait behavior and timeout for the page you are automating. A timeout or failed navigation should be handled as an error rather than treated as a successful return.
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Handle missing history and other failures
- No previous entry: When the page has no prior history entry,
goBack()throws. Catch the rejected promise if your flow may reach that state. - Navigation timeout: Adjust the wait options or default navigation timeout to match the page’s behavior, and handle a timeout rejection.
- Unexpected
null: Do not assume a response object is always returned. Same-page navigation can resolve tonull. - Unexpected destination in an SPA: Check that the app actually added the expected History API entry before calling
goBack().
try {
const response = await page.goBack();
if (response === null) {
console.log('Navigation did not produce a main-resource response.');
}
} catch (error) {
console.error('Could not go back:', error);
}Protocol compatibility
Puppeteer’s WebDriver BiDi compatibility page lists Page.goBack() as fully supported. Chrome uses CDP by default unless BiDi is selected; Firefox uses BiDi by default. Since protocol support can vary by Puppeteer version, check the compatibility information for the version and protocol in your project. Puppeteer WebDriver BiDi support
Or skip the browser setup
If you need a screenshot rather than browser-history control, ScreenshotNeo returns an image or PDF with one GET request. For example, this cURL request saves a WebP screenshot of Stripe:
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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 options. Cookie banners, popups and chat widgets are removed before capture; bot checks, blank pages and failed loads are not billed. An MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does page.goBack() return an HTTP response every time?
No. It resolves to an HTTPResponse or null; same-page navigation can return null.
What happens if Puppeteer has no earlier history entry?
The call throws, so catch its rejection if the page may have no entry to return to.
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