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How to Set a Custom User-Agent in a Website Screenshot API

Screenshot APIs use provider-specific User-Agent fields. Set the documented option, configure viewport emulation separately, and do not expect the change to bypass bot protection.
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Use the screenshot provider’s documented User-Agent option, with the exact field name and encoding that its endpoint expects. For example, Cloudflare Browser Run uses userAgent in a JSON body, while ScreenshotOne documents user_agent as a request parameter. A custom string controls one request signal; it does not set the viewport or guarantee access past bot protection.

Set the value using your provider’s syntax

First identify whether the screenshot endpoint accepts a JSON body, query parameters, or another request format. Then use its dedicated User-Agent setting where available. Names are not standardized across providers: casing and transport format matter.

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Cloudflare Browser Run

Cloudflare Browser Run accepts userAgent as a top-level JSON parameter. The following shows the field shape only; it is not a complete request or a tested example:

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{
  "url": "https://example.com/",
  "userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; ExampleBot/1.0)"
}

Choose a value that accurately describes the software condition you are testing. Cloudflare says setting userAgent does not bypass bot protection; requests can still be identified as bot traffic through headers that cannot be changed. See the Cloudflare Browser Run screenshot endpoint documentation.

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Cloudflare Browser Rendering API

The Browser Rendering screenshot schema lists optional userAgent and a separate setExtraHTTPHeaders option. It also provides viewport configuration, so do not treat a User-Agent override as a substitute for viewport settings. Check the Cloudflare Browser Rendering screenshot API reference for the endpoint’s request schema.

ScreenshotOne

ScreenshotOne documents the user_agent request parameter; its example uses user_agent=screenshoter. Its documented default is the latest version of the browser used by Puppeteer. The provider warns that changing the value may affect stealth-mode capabilities. It also documents that viewport_device overrides user_agent, so remove or change that preset if your custom value is not taking effect. Check the current ScreenshotOne options documentation and its device and viewport option precedence documentation.

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Other providers and local capture

Provider syntax varies. Screenshots.Dev, ScreenshotRun, Screenshot Machine, and ScreenshotCenter document User-Agent options, but verify each service’s current field name, casing, and request encoding before adapting an example. Their documentation includes Screenshots.Dev API docs, ScreenshotRun device docs, and the Screenshot Machine API.

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For local rather than hosted capture, shot-scraper provides a --user-agent TEXT option and supports Chromium, Firefox, WebKit, Chrome, and Chrome Beta. See the shot-scraper documentation.

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Keep User-Agent separate from device emulation

The HTTP User-Agent header is a string that can identify aspects of the requesting application, operating system, vendor, or version. It is not the viewport size, device pixel ratio, touch support, or browser engine. A string that resembles a mobile browser does not by itself make the screenshot a faithful mobile-device rendering. MDN also notes that User-Agent information can contribute to fingerprinting; browsers limit information exposed through this header and related APIs. See MDN’s User-Agent header reference.

Configure these independently when your test requires them:

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  • User-Agent: the request’s declared software identity.
  • Viewport: the page’s CSS layout dimensions.
  • Device scale: the relationship between CSS pixels and output pixels.
  • Mobile or touch behavior: separate emulation controls, if the provider offers them.
  • Extra request headers: separate from the User-Agent option where the provider documents them.

Cloudflare documents viewport configuration separately from userAgent; ScreenshotOne documents viewport and device-scale settings. A device preset may impose precedence rules, so inspect the provider’s schema rather than assuming all options combine.

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Verify the request and interpret the result

  1. Confirm the endpoint and request method, then copy the User-Agent option exactly as documented, including capitalization and encoding.
  2. Set viewport, device, and other emulation settings separately. Check whether a preset overrides the custom string.
  3. Capture a page that displays the received User-Agent, or inspect the page content returned by your test target, to verify that the value reached the document.
  4. Interpret the screenshot as the result of that request, not a guarantee that the server selected a specific variant or that the page loaded successfully.

ScreenshotOne’s documentation points to a User-Agent checking page in its example, but the available documentation does not establish independent test results for any provider. A custom value can help reproduce user-agent-dependent responses; it cannot promise a particular rendering or successful access.

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Common problems and fixes

  • The override appears ignored: check spelling, casing, and whether the value is in the right part of the request. For ScreenshotOne, check whether viewport_device is overriding user_agent.
  • The page still shows a bot check or refuses the request: a User-Agent string is not an access-control workaround. Cloudflare explicitly says Browser Run requests remain identifiable as bot traffic through non-configurable headers.
  • The screenshot has desktop layout despite a mobile-looking value: set the viewport and any documented mobile, touch, or device-preset options separately.
  • Changing the value alters provider behavior: restore the documented default and compare. ScreenshotOne warns that overriding its default may affect stealth-mode capabilities.
  • Extra headers do not change User-Agent: use the provider’s dedicated setting when documented; general extra-header handling may be distinct or have special rules.

Or skip the browser setup

ScreenshotNeo accepts a User-Agent option along with custom headers, cookies, and other capture settings. Its parameter names also work with names used by other screenshot APIs, which can make switching easier. A basic request looks like this:

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the User-Agent parameter and other options. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and the response indicates the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server gives AI agents tools to take screenshots, get page information, and capture PDFs. 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 a custom User-Agent make a screenshot API look like a real phone?

No. It changes the User-Agent value only; viewport, device scale, and mobile or touch emulation are separate settings.

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Can changing User-Agent get past a CAPTCHA or bot check?

No. A custom string does not guarantee access, and Cloudflare says its Browser Run requests remain identifiable as bot traffic.

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