Format a timestamp with Python’s datetime, add it to a .png filename, and pass that path to Selenium’s driver.save_screenshot(). The example below uses UTC, creates the output folder if needed, and checks whether the file was saved.
Save a Selenium screenshot with a timestamp
This Python WebDriver example creates a timestamped filename in a screenshots directory:
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from datetime import datetime, timezone
from pathlib import Path
output_dir = Path("screenshots")
output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
timestamp = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
filename = output_dir / f"screenshot_{timestamp}.png"
saved = driver.save_screenshot(str(filename))
if not saved:
raise OSError(f"Could not save screenshot to {filename}")For example, the filename might be screenshots/screenshot_20261003_223444.png. That is illustrative; the actual timestamp is generated when the code runs. Selenium’s save_screenshot(filename) captures the current window as a PNG and returns True on success or False if an I/O error occurs. Use a full path and keep .png as the extension. See the Selenium Python WebDriver API.
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Choose timestamp format and timezone
UTC for consistent filenames across machines
datetime.now(timezone.utc) creates a timezone-aware UTC time. This makes filenames easier to compare across machines and avoids interpreting a timestamp as local time. Python documents that when a timezone is supplied, the current date and time are converted to that timezone. See Python’s datetime documentation.
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Local time for a single workstation
For local time, use datetime.now() instead. If files may be shared or compared across time zones—or around daylight-saving changes—document the timezone used so timestamps are not mistaken for UTC.
Seconds or microseconds
The format %Y%m%d_%H%M%S produces a compact year-month-day and hour-minute-second timestamp. It is readable and usually sufficient for sequential runs. If two captures could occur within the same second, add Python’s zero-padded microsecond field, %f:
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timestamp = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S_%f")Alternatively, add a separate run identifier if your workflow needs one. Python’s strftime format codes define these fields.
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Directory, file extension, and screenshot scope
- Create the parent directory:
Path("screenshots").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)creates missing parent directories and does not fail just because the directory already exists. See Python’s pathlib documentation. - Keep the PNG suffix: Selenium’s screenshot method writes PNG data and warns if the filename does not end in
.png. A different suffix does not convert the image to another format. - Pass the path as a string:
str(filename)provides broad compatibility when passing aPathto Selenium. - Know what is captured: the standard WebDriver screenshot method captures the current window. Do not assume it captures an entire long page; full-page capture requires a browser-specific method and should be verified for your browser and setup.
Prevent overwriting and verify the result
A timestamp with second-level precision can produce the same path when multiple captures happen within one second. Add %f or another unique component to reduce that risk. Keep the boolean check: if Selenium returns False, raise or otherwise handle the save failure instead of treating the file as valid. Also make sure the process can write to the selected directory.
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Troubleshooting
- No file appears: confirm the parent directory exists, the process has write permission, and the returned value is
True. Create the directory withmkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)before capturing. - The method reports a save failure: check that the destination path is writable and valid. Handle a
Falsereturn as an error rather than continuing as though the screenshot exists. - Images are overwritten: captures made in the same second may generate the same filename. Include
%for a unique run identifier. - The file is not really the format implied by its name: use
.png. Selenium’s screenshot method saves PNG data; changing the extension does not change its encoding. - The image shows only part of a long page: the standard method captures the current window, not necessarily the full document. Use and verify a browser-specific full-page facility if that is required.
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Example cURL request, saving the response to a timestamped local filename:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use `driver.get_screenshot_as_file()` instead?
Yes. It is Selenium’s corresponding method for saving a screenshot to an explicit filename; pass it the same timestamped `.png` path.
Does a timestamped filename make Selenium capture the whole page?
No. The standard WebDriver screenshot method captures the current window; timestamping changes only the filename.
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