For a standard Node.js project, install puppeteer: it normally downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing build for you. If that browser download was skipped or blocked, run Puppeteer’s browser-install command. Use puppeteer-core instead only when you will supply a remote browser or manage the Chrome installation yourself.
The version details below reflect Puppeteer’s online documentation for version 25.12.0, current in 2026; requirements and browser mappings can change between releases.
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Check Node.js and platform requirements
Puppeteer 25.12.0 documents Node.js 22.12 or later as its runtime requirement. If you use TypeScript, the same documentation lists TypeScript 5.0.1 or later; it recommends an ES2022-or-later target if you type-check files in node_modules. Check the Puppeteer system requirements for the release you intend to install.
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For that release’s Chrome for Testing build, documented platforms include Windows x64, macOS x64 and arm64, Debian/Ubuntu Linux x64 and arm64, and openSUSE/Fedora Linux x64 and arm64. Windows archive extraction needs tar.exe or PowerShell; macOS and Linux use unzip, unless optional yauzl is installed.
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Install Puppeteer with its managed Chrome
Run the command for the package manager already used by your project from its directory. Do not install all four alternatives.
npm i puppeteer
# or:
yarn add puppeteer
# or:
pnpm add puppeteer
# or:
bun add puppeteerThe full puppeteer package normally downloads Chrome for Testing during installation. Since Puppeteer 21.6.0, it also downloads a separate chrome-headless-shell binary. Puppeteer’s installation documentation gives approximate browser-download sizes of 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows; allow for the download and cache space. The default cache is $HOME/.cache/puppeteer, a global cache behavior documented since v19.0.0. See Puppeteer installation.
Run a first capture
Save this as capture.js in the project, then run node capture.js. It launches Puppeteer’s managed Chrome in headless mode, opens a page, and writes a PNG into the project directory.
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const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle2' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'example.png', fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})().catch((error) => {
console.error(error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});The launch API defaults to Chrome and headless mode. In this example, networkidle2 is a navigation wait condition, not a guarantee that every site’s dynamic content is finished; for pages with delayed content, wait for a relevant selector or other application-specific condition before taking the screenshot.
Choose managed Chrome or a browser you provide
| Setup | Who provides Chrome? | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Puppeteer installs its compatible browser by default. | Use for the ordinary local-project setup when you want Puppeteer to manage the browser download. |
puppeteer-core |
You provide a remote browser or install and maintain Chrome yourself. | Use when browser management is already handled separately or you need a specific executable or channel. |
puppeteer-core does not download Chrome. Supply an executable path or a supported channel when launching. Puppeteer describes its bundled browser as the compatibility-guaranteed option; with a separately selected Chrome version, verify the combination in your target environment. See the LaunchOptions interface.
Launch a self-managed Chrome
Install the core package and provide the actual executable path for the machine running the script:
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npm i puppeteer-coreconst puppeteer = require('puppeteer-core');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/Chrome',
headless: true,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.screenshot({ path: 'example.png' });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})().catch((error) => {
console.error(error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});Replace /path/to/Chrome with the executable’s real path. When Chrome is installed in a standard location, you can use a documented channel instead; the available channel names and launch options are release-specific, so consult the launch API. Configuration files and Puppeteer environment variables do not configure puppeteer-core.
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If installation succeeds but launch reports Could not find Chrome (ver. ...), a common cause is a package manager or environment that blocked dependency install scripts. From the project directory, explicitly install the browser with the matching command:
npx puppeteer browsers install
# or:
yarn dlx puppeteer browsers install
# or:
pnpm dlx puppeteer browsers install
# or:
bun x puppeteer browsers installThe alternative is to configure the package manager to allow Puppeteer’s install script. The browser installer and its options are documented in the @puppeteer/browsers guide.
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Configure browser downloads and cache location
Puppeteer supports configuration files and environment variables; environment values take precedence where applicable. The official configuration guide recommends configuration files and documents the default cache at ~/.cache/puppeteer. If your deployment moves an installed browser or build artifact to a fresh environment, ensure the browser cache is available there or configure an appropriate cache location before installing.
When you change browser download configuration, rerun the browser-install command so the new settings take effect. Configuration details at Puppeteer’s configuration guide are on the Next documentation path; check the stable guide for the version you deploy.
Handle Linux system dependencies
If Chrome fails to install or launch on Debian or Ubuntu because system libraries are missing, Puppeteer’s browser documentation provides this Chrome-specific command:
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npx puppeteer browsers install chrome --install-depsIt attempts to install required system packages and requires root privileges. This documented option is for Chrome on Debian/Ubuntu; it is not a universal Linux fix. For other Linux distributions, use the applicable platform requirements and resolve the missing dependency named in the error.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common setup failures
- “Could not find Chrome (ver. …)” after installation: The browser download may have been skipped because install scripts were blocked, or Puppeteer may be looking in a cache that is absent. Run the browser-install command above and check the configured cache location.
- Chrome downloads, but launch cannot find the executable: With
puppeteer-core, provide the correctexecutablePathor a validchannel. Withpuppeteer, confirm the browser was installed and its cache is present in the environment where the script runs. - Chrome launches locally but fails on a deployment machine: Confirm the deployment has the browser cache and any required OS packages. A cache created on one machine may not exist in a fresh environment.
- Linux reports missing libraries or system packages: On Debian/Ubuntu, try the documented
--install-depsoption for Chrome if you have root privileges. Do not assume it applies to other distributions. - A separately installed Chrome behaves incompatibly: Puppeteer guarantees compatibility with its bundled browser, not every independently installed Chrome release. Test the selected version with the Puppeteer release and environment you deploy.
- Need the old headless implementation:
headless: trueselects new headless mode;headless: 'shell'selects the separate old headless shell. Use the latter only when your workload specifically requires it; see the launch options documentation.
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing Puppeteer require installing Google Chrome separately?
No. The standard puppeteer package normally downloads its compatible Chrome for Testing browser during installation.
Which browser version does Puppeteer 25.12.0 use?
The Puppeteer supported-browser page maps version 25.12.0 to Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57. This version-specific mapping can change; check the compatibility page for the release you install.
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