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Run npx playwright show-report from your project directory. Playwright starts a local web server for the generated HTML report and opens it in your browser. If the report is somewhere else, add that folder name, for example npx playwright show-report my-report. Opening index.html directly from your file manager can fail because the report is designed to be served over HTTP.
Open the default Playwright report
After a test run that uses Playwright’s HTML reporter, the report is normally written to a folder named playwright-report. In the directory containing your Playwright project, run:
npx playwright show-reportThe command serves that folder locally and opens the report in a browser. It does not rerun your tests; it displays the report that has already been generated.
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- Open a terminal.
- Change to the project directory that contains your Playwright configuration and report folder, for example
cd path/to/your-project. - Run
npx playwright show-report. - Wait for the browser window or tab to open. If it does not, copy the local address printed by the command into your browser.
Open a report in another folder
Pass the report directory as an argument when the HTML output is not in the default location:
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npx playwright show-report my-reportReplace my-report with the path to the folder that contains the report. Relative paths are resolved from your current terminal directory; an absolute path also works.
npx playwright show-report ./artifacts/playwright-report
npx playwright show-report /tmp/ci-reportThe folder name may be different when your Playwright configuration sets the HTML reporter’s outputFolder, or when the PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OUTPUT_DIR environment variable changes the destination. Use the actual output directory in the command.
Open a downloaded CI report
CI systems commonly publish the report as an artifact. Extract the archive first, then point show-report at the extracted directory:
- Download the CI artifact.
- Extract it so that the report’s
index.htmlis at the top level of the directory you will use. - Change into the directory that contains the extracted report, or keep your current directory and provide its path.
- Run
npx playwright show-report extracted-report.
Playwright also accepts a .zip archive when index.html is at the archive’s top level:
npx playwright show-report report.zipIf the archive contains an extra wrapping directory, extract it and pass the inner directory instead. A quick check is to list the archive or extracted folder and verify that index.html is directly inside the path you supplied.
Why double-clicking index.html can fail
The HTML reporter produces a self-contained folder that contains the test-run report and is intended to be served as a web page. Double-clicking the file opens it with a file:// URL instead of through a local web server. Browser security rules and the report’s asset-loading behavior can prevent the interface, traces, or other resources from working correctly in that mode.
npx playwright show-report supplies the missing server. The documented defaults are host localhost and port 9323, so the normal address is equivalent to http://localhost:9323. Keep the terminal process running while you view the report; stopping it stops the local server.
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Use the command-line options when port 9323 is already occupied, when you need a different local interface, or when another tool must connect to the report server:
npx playwright show-report --port 9400
npx playwright show-report --host 127.0.0.1 --port 9400
npx playwright show-report my-report --host localhost --port 9500Open the resulting host-and-port address shown in the terminal. A port change affects only the local server; it does not change where the report files are stored.
Choosing a host carefully
localhost keeps the report on the local machine. If you deliberately bind to another interface for access from a separate device, treat the report as potentially sensitive: test output can contain URLs, stack traces, screenshots, and application data. Use a protected network and stop the server when you are finished.
Control whether Playwright opens a browser automatically
The HTML reporter’s open setting controls automatic browser launching. Its accepted values are:
| Value | Behavior | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
always |
Open the report after every run. | Local development when you want immediate feedback. |
never |
Do not launch a browser automatically. | Headless CI jobs or scripts. |
on-failure |
Open only when the test run fails. | Keeping successful runs quiet while inspecting failures. |
The PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN environment variable can also set this behavior. For a one-time shell override, set it before running your tests:
PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN=never npx playwright test
PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN=always npx playwright testOn Windows PowerShell, use:
$env:PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN = "never"
npx playwright testThese settings affect automatic opening after report generation. They do not replace npx playwright show-report; you can use that command later to serve an existing report.
Common problems and fixes
“Cannot find” the report
Symptom: The command cannot locate a report or starts with an empty location.
Cause: You are in the wrong directory, the report uses a custom output folder, or the CI artifact was extracted one level deeper than expected.
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Fix: Locate the directory that contains index.html, then pass that directory explicitly:
npx playwright show-report path/to/the/folderCheck your reporter outputFolder setting and the value of PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OUTPUT_DIR if the folder name is not playwright-report.
The browser does not open
Symptom: The terminal starts serving, but no browser window appears.
Fix: Read the host and port printed by the command and enter that address manually. Automatic opening is controlled by the reporter’s open option and PLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN; a value of never intentionally suppresses the launch.
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Port 9323 is already in use
Symptom: The server cannot bind to the default port.
Fix: Select an unused port:
npx playwright show-report --port 9400Use the new address printed in the terminal. If you have several report servers running, stop the old process or assign each one a different port.
The page is blank or assets do not load when opened directly
Cause: The file was opened with a file:// URL.
Fix: Close that tab and serve the report with npx playwright show-report. Do not attempt to repair the report by moving individual JavaScript or data files; the folder structure must remain intact.
A ZIP archive does not work
Cause: index.html is not at the archive’s top level, or the archive is not a Playwright HTML-report folder.
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The report stops responding
Cause: The terminal running the server was closed, suspended, or interrupted.
Fix: Start the command again and leave that terminal session running while you browse the report. A new server can use another port if the previous process has not released 9323.
A repeatable workflow for local and CI use
- Generate the HTML report with your normal Playwright test command.
- Confirm the output directory, either
playwright-reportor the configured custom folder. - For local work, run
npx playwright show-report. - For a custom location, run
npx playwright show-report <folder>. - For CI, download and extract the artifact, verify that
index.htmlis at the supplied path’s top level, and serve that directory. - If 9323 is unavailable, add
--port; if automatic opening is undesirable, set the reporter’sopenoption orPLAYWRIGHT_HTML_OPEN=never.
Or skip the browser setup
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FAQ
Does show-report change the test results?
No. It serves the files already written by the HTML reporter; generating a new report requires running the tests again.
Can I keep multiple reports available at once?
Yes. Start a separate server for each report directory and assign a different port to each process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does show-report change the test results?
No. It serves the files already written by the HTML reporter; generating a new report requires running the tests again.
Can I keep multiple reports available at once?
Yes. Start a separate server for each report directory and assign a different port to each process.
What should I archive from CI?
Archive the complete HTML-report folder, not only index.html. The interface depends on the accompanying assets and report data.
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