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Choose an installation route
The right choice depends on who manages the browser, whether your package manager runs install scripts, and how much control you need over browser versions and storage.
| Route | Best fit | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
puppeteer |
Local development or a project that wants the browser version paired with its Puppeteer release. | Downloads browser binaries and relies on the package install script unless you install them separately. |
| Install the browser manually | Environments that block dependency install scripts, or setups requiring an explicit browser-install step. | You must run the install command and ensure Puppeteer uses the right cache and configuration. |
puppeteer-core with a managed or remote browser |
A separately managed browser fleet, remote browser service, or explicit version management. | You provide the browser executable or connection and own compatibility and maintenance. |
| Use a system Chrome channel or path | A workstation or CI environment that already has Chrome installed. | Puppeteer does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary external browser versions. |
Puppeteer’s installation guide documents puppeteer as the convenience route and says the downloaded Chrome for Testing version is guaranteed to work with that Puppeteer release. For other browser versions, it says Puppeteer works best with the bundled version and does not guarantee compatibility. See the official installation guide and supported browsers.
Install Puppeteer and its paired browser
Install the puppeteer package using your package manager:
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npm i puppeteer
# or
yarn add puppeteer
# or
pnpm add puppeteer
# or
bun add puppeteerThe install process downloads Chrome for Testing and chrome-headless-shell (included since Puppeteer v21.6.0). Puppeteer’s current installation guide, labeled version 25.12.0, gives approximate browser download sizes of 170 MB for macOS, 282 MB for Linux, and 280 MB for Windows; these are guide figures, not install-time benchmarks. The default browser cache location has been $HOME/.cache/puppeteer since Puppeteer v19.0.0. Details can change by release, so consult the installation guide for your version.
Check the release-specific system requirements before installing. The current documentation lists Node.js 22.12 or newer. Its Chrome for Testing support list includes Windows x64, macOS x64 and arm64, Debian/Ubuntu Linux x64 and arm64, and openSUSE/Fedora Linux x64 and arm64. The same page lists platform-specific archive-unpacking utilities.
Install the browser manually when scripts are blocked
Some package-manager configurations block dependency install scripts. In that case, Puppeteer’s automatic browser download is skipped, and launching can produce Could not find Chrome (ver. ...). Run Puppeteer’s browser installer explicitly:
npx puppeteer browsers install
# or
yarn puppeteer browsers install
# or
pnpm exec puppeteer browsers install
# or
bunx puppeteer browsers installAlternatively, adjust the package-manager configuration to permit Puppeteer’s postinstall script, then reinstall as appropriate for that environment. Manual installation is a deliberate extra setup step: it must run in the environment and cache context where the application will look for the browser. The official installation guide documents the skipped-download error and manual remedy.
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puppeteer-core does not download Chrome during package installation. Use it when your infrastructure supplies a browser, such as a remote browser service or a separately managed local binary. A local launch needs an executable path or browser channel; a remote setup must provide the relevant connection configuration for that service.
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npm i puppeteer-coreExample using an installed Chrome executable:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
executablePath: '/path/to/chrome',
headless: true,
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
console.log(await page.title());
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Replace /path/to/chrome with the actual executable path on the machine running the script. If using a browser channel instead, Puppeteer launch options accept a release channel such as Chrome’s stable channel:
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
channel: 'chrome',
headless: true,
});Use the channel only when that browser is installed and discoverable in the execution environment. Puppeteer’s guidance is that it works best with the bundled browser and does not guarantee other versions. Review launch options and configuration.
Control browser downloads, versions, and cache
Puppeteer configuration provides defaultBrowser, executablePath, cacheDirectory, and skipDownload. The documented environment variables include PUPPETEER_BROWSER, PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH, PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR, and PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD; Chrome-specific download skipping can be controlled with PUPPETEER_CHROME_SKIP_DOWNLOAD. Use the configuration guide to confirm the exact behavior for your release.
The @puppeteer/browsers tooling can select a browser, build ID, platform, and cache directory. Its CLI examples cover Chrome for Testing stable, a specific version, or a milestone. The browser install API can also optionally check a downloaded archive against an expected SHA-256 hash. installDeps is documented for Chrome on Debian/Ubuntu and requires system privileges. See the browsers API and the install API.
Custom browser providers are not officially supported by Puppeteer. If you choose one, compatibility testing, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance are your responsibility. For managed environments, pin and validate the browser build alongside the Puppeteer version rather than assuming any installed Chrome will work.
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Verify version-specific compatibility
Browser mappings change. For example, Puppeteer documentation version 25.12.0 maps to Chrome for Testing 154.0.8037.57 and Firefox 156.0.1. Treat those as version-specific documented mappings, not permanent recommendations; check the supported browsers table for the release you actually install.
For a reliable setup decision, confirm all of the following before deployment:
- The Node.js and operating-system requirements for the Puppeteer release in use.
- Whether the deployment environment runs package install scripts.
- Where the browser binary is installed and which cache directory Puppeteer reads.
- Whether you are using the bundled browser, a channel, an explicit executable path, or a remote connection.
- Who is responsible for pinning browser versions, compatibility checks, and upgrades.
Common installation and launch problems
Could not find Chrome (ver. ...)
Likely cause: The package manager skipped Puppeteer’s install script, or the browser was installed in a different cache context. Fix: run npx puppeteer browsers install in the deployment environment, or permit the postinstall script. Check whether PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD or PUPPETEER_CHROME_SKIP_DOWNLOAD is set and confirm the configured cache directory.
Executable path does not exist
Likely cause: executablePath points to a path valid on another machine, container, or operating system. Fix: inspect the runtime environment and provide the actual browser executable path there, or use a supported installed channel.
Chrome channel cannot be found
Likely cause: Chrome is not installed in the environment or is not discoverable under the requested channel. Fix: install the channel’s browser in that environment or configure the explicit executable path.
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Browser launches but behaves incompatibly
Likely cause: The external browser version is not the one paired with your Puppeteer release. Fix: use the bundled version or validate and pin the external build with the Puppeteer version before relying on it. Puppeteer does not guarantee arbitrary browser-version compatibility.
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Browser download fails or is unexpectedly large
Likely cause: The download is blocked, the environment lacks required archive utilities, or the browser binaries have not been cached. Fix: check network and proxy rules, verify the platform’s archive tools in the system requirements, and use the documented cache configuration if your environment needs a persistent browser cache. Puppeteer’s approximate binary download sizes are listed in its installation guide.
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How do I install Puppeteer with pnpm?
Run pnpm add puppeteer. If install scripts are blocked, also run pnpm exec puppeteer browsers install.
Can I use my own Chrome installation?
Yes. Use a supported release channel or set executablePath to the installed browser. Puppeteer recommends its bundled browser and does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary versions.
Does puppeteer-core install Chrome?
No. You must provide a browser executable or channel, or connect it to a separately managed browser.
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