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Puppeteer setFollowSymlinks(): What It Does—and How to Set the Browser Cache Path

Puppeteer’s setFollowSymlinks() method controls symlink handling for file operations, not cache location. Set the browser cache separately with cacheDirectory or PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR.
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setFollowSymlinks(followSymlinks) controls whether Puppeteer follows symlinks for file operations; it is not the setting for moving Puppeteer’s browser cache. To choose the cache location, use cacheDirectory or PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR. The distinction matters when Puppeteer cannot find a browser: check the cache path used during installation and make sure it is available at runtime.

What does Puppeteer’s setFollowSymlinks() do?

The PuppeteerNode API describes setFollowSymlinks(followSymlinks) as defining “whether Puppeteer should follow symlinks for file operations.” The reference does not specify which individual operations or paths are affected. Do not assume this method changes the browser-cache location, fixes a missing browser, or has a particular default without checking documentation for your installed Puppeteer version.

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It is a method on PuppeteerNode, not a property in Puppeteer’s configuration interface. The current API reference identifies Puppeteer version 25.12.0 and lists the method on the PuppeteerNode class. PuppeteerNode API reference

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How do you configure Puppeteer’s browser cache directory?

Set the cache directory separately, using the cacheDirectory configuration property or the PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR environment variable. The current configuration interface lists the default as path.join(os.homedir(), '.cache', 'puppeteer'). Puppeteer’s guide says browser downloads moved to ~/.cache/puppeteer starting in version 19.0.0; older installations may use a different location.

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Option 1: Set cacheDirectory in a configuration file

The official guide recommends a Puppeteer configuration file. For example, this ES module configuration sets a project-local cache directory:

// puppeteer.config.js
import {join} from 'path';

export default {
  cacheDirectory: join(import.meta.dirname, '.cache', 'puppeteer'),
};

Keep the configuration file where Puppeteer can discover it for your project. After changing cache configuration, reinstall Puppeteer as described in the configuration guide so the change takes effect.

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Option 2: Set PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR

Set the environment variable to the intended directory in the install and runtime contexts that need to share the browser cache. For example, in a POSIX shell:

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export PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR="$PWD/.cache/puppeteer"
npm install puppeteer

Use the equivalent environment-variable syntax for your shell or deployment environment. Ensure the directory and downloaded browser are accessible to the user and process that run Puppeteer. If you change browser download options, rerun the browser installation or postinstall step as the configuration guide directs.

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See the official Configuration interface for supported properties and the configuration guide for file and environment setup.

How are symlink handling and cache location different?

Control What it changes Where it is configured Use it when
setFollowSymlinks(followSymlinks) Whether Puppeteer follows symlinks for file operations; specific operations and defaults are not stated in the accessible API description. PuppeteerNode method You need the documented symlink-following behavior for file operations.
cacheDirectory The directory Puppeteer uses for caching. Puppeteer configuration file You need to choose a browser-cache location.
PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR The browser cache directory selected through an environment variable. Environment You need to set the cache path for the relevant install or runtime environment.

Does this work with puppeteer-core?

Not in the same way as the standard puppeteer package. The standard package downloads a browser by default. puppeteer-core does not download Chrome and is intended for setups where you manage the browser yourself or connect to a remote browser. Puppeteer configuration files and environment variables do not apply to puppeteer-core. See the official installation guide for package distinctions and installation details.

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Why can’t Puppeteer find Chrome in the cache?

A missing-browser error commonly means the browser is not in the location Puppeteer expects, the install and runtime environments use different paths, or the browser was never downloaded. Check these items in order:

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  1. Confirm the package. Check whether the project uses puppeteer or puppeteer-core. The latter does not download a browser.
  2. Confirm the cache path. Check cacheDirectory or PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR, and account for the default change beginning with Puppeteer v19.0.0.
  3. Compare install and runtime environments. The browser must be present in the cache directory visible to the process running Puppeteer.
  4. Check whether installation scripts ran. If a package manager blocked install scripts, the browser may not have downloaded.
  5. Install the browser if needed. The installation guide recommends allowing Puppeteer’s install script or running npx puppeteer browsers install manually.

The official troubleshooting guide includes cache-directory configuration examples and recommends reinstalling Puppeteer after changing that configuration: Troubleshooting.

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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 documentation for API parameters. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, and failed loads are not billed, and cache hits cost nothing; response headers report the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. 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 setFollowSymlinks() move Puppeteer’s browser cache?

No. Set the cache location with cacheDirectory or PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR.

What is Puppeteer’s current default browser-cache directory?

The current configuration interface lists path.join(os.homedir(), '.cache', 'puppeteer'); the documented move to ~/.cache/puppeteer began with Puppeteer v19.0.0.

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