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In WSL Ubuntu, run Chrome with --headless --screenshot to save a PNG without opening a visible browser window. The file is written as screenshot.png in the shell’s current working directory. Add --window-size=WIDTH,HEIGHT to set the viewport.
Take a screenshot from WSL Ubuntu
First make a Chrome-compatible browser binary available in your Ubuntu distribution. The command below assumes it is named google-chrome; package names and executable names differ, so check yours before running it. This guide does not prescribe an installation command.
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Check for a browser executable:
command -v google-chrome command -v chromiumUse whichever command is installed. Chrome’s generic command-line examples use
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Choose where the screenshot should go. For a Linux-side directory:
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mkdir -p ~/screenshots cd ~/screenshots pwdThe
pwdoutput is the directory where Chrome will save the default screenshot. -
Run the capture, replacing the binary name, URL, and dimensions as needed:
google-chrome --headless --screenshot --window-size=1280,900 https://example.comIf your installed browser is named
chromium, for example, substitute that name. The command asks for a 1280-by-900 viewport; it does not promise that every page will finish loading all content or animations in that time.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Confirm the output:
ls -l screenshot.pngChrome’s documented default is
screenshot.pngin the current working directory. See the Chrome Headless command-line reference for current CLI behavior.
Choose the screenshot size and timing
Set the viewport
Use --window-size=WIDTH,HEIGHT alongside --screenshot, with width and height in pixels, such as --window-size=1280,900. The viewport affects responsive page layout, so a different size can change which navigation, columns, or controls appear.
Allow more time for loading
--timeout=MILLISECONDS sets a maximum wait before capture even if the page is still loading. A larger value can give slow pages more time, but it is not a readiness guarantee: network-dependent content, animations, or scripts may still be unfinished when the screenshot is taken.
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--virtual-time-budget=MILLISECONDS can fast-forward time-dependent page code, including timer-based updates. It is not a universal replacement for waiting for network requests or a site-specific ready condition. Consult the Chrome CLI reference for option details.
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Find the file from Windows
Open the current Linux directory
From the WSL shell in the directory containing the image, run:
explorer.exe .File Explorer opens that directory. You can also browse the distribution from a Windows path such as \wsl.localhostUbuntuhomeusernamescreenshots, substituting your actual distribution name and Linux username. Depending on Windows and WSL version, the share may also be exposed through \wsl$. Microsoft documents both approaches in its WSL file system guidance.
Save directly to a Windows drive
Windows drives are mounted under /mnt/ by default. If your automount configuration is unchanged, choose a Windows directory before capturing:
cd /mnt/c/Users/WindowsUser/Pictures
google-chrome --headless --screenshot --window-size=1280,900 https://example.comReplace WindowsUser with the actual Windows account name. Chrome writes screenshot.png into that directory, making it available to Windows applications. Mount configuration can differ.
Pick storage for the tools that will use the file
For Linux development tools, keep working files in the WSL Linux filesystem; for Windows tools, a Windows-mounted directory may be more convenient. Microsoft’s guidance is to store project files on the same operating system as the tools that use them. That is a workflow recommendation, not a requirement that screenshots always live in one filesystem. See Microsoft’s WSL filesystem guidance.
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What the basic screenshot flag does not guarantee
The documented --screenshot command captures the target page to a PNG; the current CLI reference does not establish that this flag alone captures an arbitrarily tall full page. For full-page screenshots, use browser automation with an explicit full-page capture option, such as Puppeteer’s screenshot options.
Current Chrome Headless mode runs Chrome without a visible UI, and Chrome says this updated mode has been available since Chrome 112. The separate old Headless shell documentation is marked deprecated, so it is not the default starting point for a new workflow. The ordinary command shown here does not require adding --disable-gpu.
Troubleshoot common problems
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google-chrome: command not found: Your installation may expose a different binary name or may not have a Chrome-compatible browser installed. Check withcommand -v google-chromeandcommand -v chromium, then use the available executable.Quick wins for a faster PC:
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The file is not where expected: Chrome saves the default screenshot in the process’s current working directory. Run
pwdbefore capture, then check that directory withls -l screenshot.png. -
Windows cannot find the image: If it is in the Linux filesystem, open the current directory with
explorer.exe .or navigate through\wsl.localhostusing your distribution and Linux path. If you intended a Windows destination, verify that the drive is mounted under/mnt/and that the directory exists. -
The page looks incomplete: A timeout is only a maximum wait, not proof that page data has loaded. Try a larger
--timeoutfor slow pages; for timer-driven content, consider a virtual-time budget. Sites with specific readiness requirements may need a browser automation workflow that waits for the relevant selector or condition.Rank #4
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- 【Smooth 144Hz for Better Work Experience】 Enjoy smoother scrolling, reduced motion blur, and more responsive multitasking compared to standard 60Hz monitors—perfect for long work sessions and Gaming!
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You expected a full-page image: The basic documented flag does not establish automatic capture of the entire scrollable page. Use automation with an explicit full-page screenshot option instead.
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Or skip the browser setup
For a one-request capture through a screenshot API, ScreenshotNeo accepts a URL and returns an image or PDF. This cURL example saves the response as a WebP image; replace the URL and supply your API key:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are not billed. It also provides an MCP server for AI agents, and includes 1,000 screenshots per month on the free plan without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Learn more at ScreenshotNeo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the basic Headless Chrome command save a PDF?
No. The command in this guide uses --screenshot to create a PNG. PDF output requires a different capture workflow.
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The documented default is screenshot.png. Whether an explicit output path or filename is supported depends on the installed Chrome version; consult its current CLI reference.
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