For the simplest setup, install puppeteer: its install process normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing browser and chrome-headless-shell. If you manage the browser yourself, use puppeteer-core and provide a supported browser channel or executable path. Puppeteer also supports Firefox; check its version table before choosing a browser build.
Choose the installation path that fits your project
| Setup | Who installs and updates the browser? | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Puppeteer’s install process downloads a paired Chrome for Testing build. | Use for the standard local setup and the most direct compatibility path. |
puppeteer-core |
You provide or connect to the browser. | Use when browser management is handled separately, or when connecting to an existing or remote browser. |
@puppeteer/browsers |
You explicitly manage browser downloads and versions. | Use when you need to install a particular browser channel or version independently. |
Puppeteer documents Chrome for Testing as its default paired browser. Its bundled browser is the compatibility-guaranteed choice; external browser binaries may work, but compatibility is not guaranteed for every version. See the installation guide and supported browsers table.
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Check requirements before installing
The current Puppeteer system requirements list Node.js 22.12 or later and TypeScript 5.0.1 or later when using TypeScript. Supported Chrome for Testing environments listed include Windows x64; macOS x64 and arm64; Debian/Ubuntu Linux x64 and arm64; and openSUSE/Fedora Linux x64 and arm64. Requirements can change between Puppeteer releases; check the current system requirements for your OS and Linux system packages before deployment.
Install Puppeteer and its bundled Chrome
-
In your Node.js project, install the package with your package manager:
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npm install puppeteeryarn add puppeteerpnpm add puppeteerbun add puppeteer
-
Allow the package’s install script to run. Puppeteer normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing build and
chrome-headless-shellduring installation. Package-manager policies that block dependency scripts may skip this download. -
Create a JavaScript file such as
capture.cjsand run it with Node:const puppeteer = require('puppeteer'); (async () => { const browser = await puppeteer.launch(); try { const page = await browser.newPage(); await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle2' }); console.log(await page.title()); } finally { await browser.close(); } })();Run it with
node capture.cjs. The default launch uses the browser installed for Puppeteer; the example navigates to a page, prints its title, and closes the browser even if an error occurs.What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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The current installation guide gives approximate browser download sizes of 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows. These are guide figures, not fixed requirements; actual downloads can change with browser releases. See Puppeteer’s installation guide.
Recover if Chrome was not downloaded
If Puppeteer installs but launch fails with a missing Chrome or “Could not find Chrome” error, check whether your package manager blocked install scripts. You can manually install Puppeteer’s browser using:
npx puppeteer browsers installAlternatively, configure your package manager to allow Puppeteer’s install script, then reinstall as appropriate. The setting differs among npm, pnpm, Yarn Berry, Bun, and Deno, so follow the instructions for your specific manager rather than copying a setting intended for another one. The installation guide covers the package-manager distinction.
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Install a specific Chrome or manage browser versions
For explicit browser management, use the @puppeteer/browsers CLI and API. Its documentation provides commands for installing Chrome for Testing by channel or exact version. Use the supported-browser table to choose a version compatible with your Puppeteer release instead of assuming any Chrome build will work.
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Use system Chrome or Chromium with puppeteer-core
puppeteer-core does not download a browser. Pass either a supported channel for a standard Chrome installation or an executablePath pointing to the browser binary. Puppeteer’s launch documentation describes both options and their compatibility caveat: LaunchOptions and PuppeteerNode.launch().
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Install the core package:
npm install puppeteer-coreThen use one of these launch patterns. Replace the example path with the actual Chrome or Chromium executable path for your machine:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer-core');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome-or-chromium',
headless: true,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle2' });
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();If Chrome is installed in a standard location, a supported channel can be used instead of a path, for example channel: 'chrome'. Verify the channel names accepted by the current Puppeteer release in the launch options documentation. Do not set a guessed executable path: it must point to an installed, runnable browser binary.
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Firefox
Firefox is a documented Puppeteer alternative, but the compatible installation and launch details depend on the Puppeteer release. Consult the supported browser version table and the current browser installation documentation for the release you use. Avoid treating one command or version as universal across releases and platforms.
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Remote browser
If the browser runs elsewhere, Puppeteer can connect to a remote browser rather than installing a local one. The connection workflow and browser endpoint depend on the remote service or host; see Puppeteer’s browser-running guide and the documentation for the browser provider. A remote connection does not remove the need to match Puppeteer with a compatible browser.
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- System libraries: a browser can be installed successfully yet fail at launch if its Linux dependencies are absent. Use the current Puppeteer requirements page for your distribution’s packages.
- Container or CI image: account for the browser download and required system packages in the image or build workflow; a package install that skips scripts may leave the runtime without Chrome.
- Version pinning: if reproducibility matters, coordinate the Puppeteer and browser versions using Puppeteer’s supported version table. A manually updated system browser can drift from the version Puppeteer is documented to support.
- Download and storage: the bundled browser adds a substantial download, with the installation guide’s current approximate sizes listed above. Consider build-cache and storage policies when installing repeatedly in CI.
Troubleshooting common setup failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Could not find Chrome” or missing browser at launch | The install script did not run, often because dependency scripts were blocked. | Run npx puppeteer browsers install, or allow the Puppeteer install script in the package manager you use. |
puppeteer-core launches without finding a browser |
No browser is downloaded by puppeteer-core, and no browser was selected. |
Provide a valid executablePath or a supported channel. |
| External Chrome or Chromium fails to launch or behaves unexpectedly | The binary may be incompatible with the Puppeteer release, incorrectly located, or missing OS dependencies. | Check the executable path, compare versions against the supported-browser table, and verify platform dependencies. |
| Browser executable exists but exits immediately on Linux | Required distribution-specific system libraries may be absent. | Follow the current system requirements for your Linux distribution. The documented dependency-install option for Chrome is for Debian/Ubuntu and requires root. |
| Firefox setup instructions do not match the installed Puppeteer version | Browser installation and support can vary by Puppeteer release. | Use the current browser installation documentation and supported-version table for your exact release. |
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puppeteer install Google Chrome?
Its standard install normally downloads Chrome for Testing, Puppeteer’s paired browser, rather than relying on a separately installed system Chrome.
Can I use a browser I already installed?
Yes. With `puppeteer-core`, supply a supported `channel` or the browser’s `executablePath`; compatibility with external binaries is not guaranteed.
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