Puppeteer automates Chrome and Firefox from JavaScript, and its screenshot API can capture a viewport, an entire page, a selected element, or a defined region. For the simplest local setup, install puppeteer, which downloads a compatible browser by default; use puppeteer-core when you will provide your own browser or connect to a remote one. This guide covers setup, capture options, waiting for dynamic pages, common failures, and when a hosted browser or screenshot API may be a better fit.
Choose the right Puppeteer package
The two packages have different browser-installation assumptions. The full puppeteer package downloads a compatible Chrome for Testing and chrome-headless-shell by default. puppeteer-core does not download Chrome; choose it when managing the browser yourself or connecting to a remote browser. Its configuration is not read from the same configuration files and environment defaults as the full package, so set the browser connection or executable explicitly in your code.
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| Package | Browser setup | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Downloads its compatible browser by default. | Learning Puppeteer and local automation with the standard setup. |
puppeteer-core |
No browser download; provide a browser executable or remote connection. | Self-managed browser installations and remote browser services. |
Install with your package manager: npm i puppeteer, yarn add puppeteer, pnpm add puppeteer, or bun add puppeteer. Replace puppeteer with puppeteer-core if that is your chosen setup. The official installation documentation estimates the automatic browser download at approximately 170 MB on macOS, 282 MB on Linux, and 280 MB on Windows; these are estimates, not fixed measurements. The default browser cache is ~/.cache/puppeteer. Puppeteer installation guide.
Check runtime and platform requirements
As documented for Puppeteer 25.12.0 on October 3, 2026, the system requirements specify Node 22.12 or later and TypeScript 5.0.1 or later for TypeScript projects. Browser dependencies also vary by operating system. Check the current system requirements before deploying: runtime and platform requirements can change between releases.
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Automate a page and save a screenshot
This runnable Node.js example opens a page, waits for the navigation event, captures the full page as a PNG, and closes the browser even if navigation or capture fails. Replace the URL with the page you need.
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: 'page.png', fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();- Launch the browser with
puppeteer.launch(). - Create a tab using
browser.newPage(). - Navigate with
page.goto(), choosing a wait condition that suits the page. - Capture using
page.screenshot(). - Close the browser when the work is complete.
The official screenshot guide uses networkidle2 as an example navigation wait. It is not a universal definition of “ready”: analytics, polling, streaming, and other ongoing requests can make network-based waits unsuitable for some sites. For a dynamic page, wait for the specific content you need, such as a selector, or use a deliberate delay if the page has a known rendering pause. Avoid adding arbitrary waits when a meaningful page condition is available. See the Puppeteer screenshot guide.
Capture a selected element
Use ElementHandle.screenshot() when you need only one component rather than the page. The handle screenshot method attempts to scroll a hidden element into view before capture.
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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: 'domcontentloaded' });
const element = await page.waitForSelector('main');
if (!element) throw new Error('Could not find main element');
await element.screenshot({ path: 'main.png' });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();Change main to a selector that identifies the element you want. Waiting for that selector makes the capture conditional on the target being present instead of assuming a fixed delay is enough.
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Set screenshot scope and output
page.screenshot() captures the page; ElementHandle.screenshot() captures a selected element. Screenshot options let you adjust scope and output:
fullPage: truecaptures the full scrollable page rather than only the visible viewport.clipcaptures a specified rectangular region.pathwrites the image to a file. Puppeteer can infer the output type from the file extension.typeexplicitly chooses the image format.qualitycontrols quality for applicable image formats; it does not apply to PNG.omitBackground: trueremoves the default white background to allow transparency where supported by the output.
Consult the versioned ScreenshotOptions API reference for exact option types and constraints. If you are capturing a very long page, consider whether a full-page image is practical for your downstream use; a viewport or clip may produce a more manageable artifact.
Understand browser versions and protocols
Puppeteer behavior depends on the paired browser and release. The supported-browser table lists the versions tested with each Puppeteer release; it is not a promise that any arbitrary browser version will work. As checked October 3, 2026, Puppeteer v25.12.0 maps to Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57 and Firefox 156.0.1. If an exact Puppeteer release is not listed, the documentation advises using the browser listed for the immediately prior Puppeteer version. Verify the current supported browsers table when pinning dependencies.
From Puppeteer v20, the Chrome download is Chrome for Testing, which supports headless and headful operation; the older headless implementation is separately available as chrome-headless-shell. From v23, Puppeteer downloads and works with stable Firefox. Puppeteer uses Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) by default for Chrome and supports WebDriver BiDi; Firefox uses WebDriver BiDi by default. The FAQ describes production-ready BiDi support for Chrome and Firefox from v23 onward, while CDP support for Chrome continues. API availability can differ by protocol, so check the relevant feature documentation if your automation must run against both browsers. Puppeteer FAQ.
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Fix common setup and capture failures
Puppeteer cannot find its expected Chrome
A package manager may block dependency install scripts, preventing the browser download. Allow the Puppeteer install script or run the documented browser-install command manually, then retry. Confirm that the browser version corresponds to your installed Puppeteer release rather than assuming a system Chrome will match. See the installation guide.
Navigation never reaches the requested wait state
A site that keeps network requests open may not satisfy a network-idle condition. Choose a different navigation condition, then wait for the selector or state that actually matters to your screenshot. A page can also finish network activity before client-rendered content is ready, so check for the target content rather than treating navigation completion as proof of visual readiness.
The element screenshot is missing or fails
Check that the selector matches an element on the page and wait for it before capturing. If the element is hidden, ElementHandle.screenshot() attempts to scroll it into view, but the element still needs to exist and be capturable. For content that appears only after interaction, perform the required action and wait for the resulting state first.
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Check the file extension or set type explicitly. Do not use quality expecting it to affect PNG output. To remove the default white background, set omitBackground: true and choose an output format appropriate for transparency.
Rank #4
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A self-managed or remote browser does not launch
With puppeteer-core, specify the executable path or remote connection details yourself; it does not download Chrome or inherit the full package’s configuration defaults. Also confirm that the browser and runtime meet the current system requirements.
When local Puppeteer is enough—and when to go hosted
Local Puppeteer is a straightforward choice for learning the API, capturing pages from a controlled environment, and jobs that fit the machine’s browser and concurrency capacity. A hosted browser may help when a team needs more browser or operating-system combinations, concurrent CI sessions, debugging artifacts, or less responsibility for installing and maintaining browser infrastructure. Consider these dimensions before moving a workflow:
- Which browsers and operating systems are supported, and which versions are actually available on the plan?
- How many sessions must run concurrently, and what happens at the concurrency limit?
- How much CI setup is required, and are logs or recordings useful for debugging?
- Can the browser reach private staging environments or other network locations the workflow needs?
- What infrastructure maintenance moves to the provider, and what usage limits or current prices apply?
BrowserStack describes Automate for running Puppeteer tests across cloud browsers, with parallel execution, CI integrations, and debugging features. Its product page claims parallel testing can make tests run 30x faster; that is a vendor claim, not an independently validated benchmark. Its product and documentation pages summarize browser coverage differently, so check the current plan and documentation for the coverage that applies to your use case. BrowserStack Automate and its Puppeteer integration guide.
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Browserless offers managed browsers reachable through Puppeteer or Playwright over WebSocket, as well as REST and GraphQL routes for tasks such as screenshots and PDFs. Its testing page advertises a starting price of $25 per month; confirm current pricing and plan terms before relying on that figure. A hosted browser is optional, not a requirement for ordinary local screenshots. Browserless, Browserless testing, and Browserless pricing.
Best Value
Or skip the browser setup
If you only need a screenshot rather than a programmable browser session, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns an image or PDF. Its API can accept a URL and return a capture without your installing and managing a local browser.
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 details. The service removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. It also has an MCP server so AI agents can take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puppeteer require Chrome?
Puppeteer officially supports Chrome and Firefox. The full package downloads its compatible Chrome setup by default; Firefox support and browser pairing depend on Puppeteer version.
Can Puppeteer save screenshots as PDF?
Puppeteer has separate page PDF functionality; the screenshot methods discussed here produce image captures. Use the current Puppeteer page API documentation for PDF options.
Quick Recap
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