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Use Playwright’s saved authentication state to open the page as a logged-in user, then call page.pdf() for a paginated PDF. Playwright’s PDF output uses print styling by default. For a screen-styled PDF, emulate screen media first. If you need one tall image of the full page instead, use page.screenshot({ fullPage: true })—that produces an image, not a PDF.
Set up a logged-in browser context
Playwright can save browser authentication state and load it into a later context so your capture script does not have to repeat the login flow. The official guide describes state that can include cookies, local storage, IndexedDB, and passkeys, depending on the authentication model. Standard storage state does not persist session storage; the guide describes a separate approach for applications that rely on it. See Playwright’s authentication guide.
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First, authenticate through the site’s normal login flow and save state only after confirming the account is genuinely logged in. A redirect by itself is not a reliable proof that authentication finished. Keep the state file private: it may contain cookies or headers that can be used to impersonate the account. Store it in a directory excluded by .gitignore, limit access to it, and use an account with only the permissions required for the capture.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
// Replace with the site's supported login flow.
await page.goto('https://example.com/login');
// Complete login here, then verify an authenticated-only element is visible.
await context.storageState({ path: 'playwright/.auth/account.json' });
await browser.close();For repeat use, create a context with the saved state. The example below waits for an application-specific heading before exporting; replace the URL and selector with ones appropriate to your page.
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import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext({
storageState: 'playwright/.auth/account.json',
});
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com/account/report', {
waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded',
});
await page.locator('h1').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
await page.pdf({ path: 'page.pdf' });
await browser.close();Choose a readiness signal that reflects the content you need: for example, a visible heading, a report table, or an application-specific completion indicator. There is no universal readiness condition for every site. If the page loads data after navigation, wait for that data rather than assuming the initial document event means the export is ready.
Choose between a paginated PDF and a full-page image
| Need | Playwright operation | What it produces |
|---|---|---|
| A document divided across pages | page.pdf() |
A PDF rendered using print CSS by default. |
| A PDF using the site’s screen styling | page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' }), then page.pdf() |
A paginated PDF rendered with screen media styling. |
| One continuous capture of the scrollable page | page.screenshot({ fullPage: true }) |
A full-page image, such as PNG—not a PDF. |
| A PDF containing one tall, screen-faithful capture | Capture a full-page image, then use a separate image-to-PDF tool | A PDF made from the image; the conversion is separate from Playwright’s documented PDF API. |
Playwright documents page.pdf() as a print operation, while fullPage belongs to the screenshot API. Do not pass fullPage to page.pdf() expecting a single tall page.
Configure the PDF’s media, paper, and appearance
PDF output is paginated. The defaults and key controls are:
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- Media: print CSS is used by default. Call
page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' })beforepage.pdf()when the screen presentation is what you want. - Paper: the default format is Letter. Set
formatfor another paper format, or use PDF options such aswidthandheightwhen those suit the layout. - Backgrounds: background graphics are off by default. Set
printBackground: trueto include them. - Page size from CSS: CSS
@pagesize can take precedence whenpreferCSSPageSizeis enabled. - Page selection: an empty
pageRangessetting means all pages; specify ranges if only particular pages are needed. - Layout controls: use options such as margins, landscape orientation, and scale to adjust the printed document. Check the result because print-specific CSS and pagination can change where content falls.
await page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' });
await page.pdf({
path: 'page.pdf',
format: 'A4',
printBackground: true,
landscape: false,
margin: {
top: '12mm',
right: '12mm',
bottom: '12mm',
left: '12mm',
},
});To retain print styling, omit the emulateMedia call. To capture the entire scrollable page as an image, use the distinct screenshot operation:
await page.screenshot({ path: 'page.png', fullPage: true });End-to-end example: reuse state and save a PDF
This Node.js example assumes the saved state file already exists and is valid for the target site. Change the URL, selector, paper format, and media choice to match the page and output you need.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext({
storageState: 'playwright/.auth/account.json',
});
const page = await context.newPage();
try {
await page.goto('https://example.com/account/report', {
waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded',
});
// Replace with a reliable, page-specific readiness check.
await page.locator('h1').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
// Optional: use screen CSS rather than the PDF default, print CSS.
// await page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' });
await page.pdf({
path: 'page.pdf',
format: 'A4',
printBackground: true,
margin: { top: '12mm', right: '12mm', bottom: '12mm', left: '12mm' },
});
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Use printBackground: true only when the page’s background graphics are part of the desired document. If a single long raster capture is the actual requirement, replace the PDF call with await page.screenshot({ path: 'page.png', fullPage: true }) and convert that image separately if a PDF container is required.
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Or skip the browser setup
If you want a screenshot or PDF from a URL without writing a Playwright login-and-capture flow, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its one-call API example returns a screenshot for the supplied URL; use your API key and adapt the target URL as needed. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
The page opens but shows a login screen
The saved state may be expired, may not include the authentication mechanism the site uses, or may have been saved before login completed. Run the supported login flow again, confirm an authenticated-only element is visible, and save a fresh state. If the application depends on session storage, note that the standard storage-state mechanism does not persist it; use the separate save/load approach described in the authentication guide.
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The PDF is missing content loaded after navigation
A navigation event does not guarantee that a client-rendered report, images, or other delayed content is ready. Wait for a specific visible element or application-specific completion signal before calling page.pdf(). Avoid relying on an arbitrary delay when the page offers a clear readiness condition.
The PDF looks different from the browser
That is expected when the page has print-specific styles: page.pdf() uses print CSS by default. Call page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' }) before generating the PDF if screen styling is preferred. The document remains paginated, so its page breaks can still differ from the continuous browser view.
Colors or background graphics are absent
PDF background graphics are disabled by default. Set printBackground: true if those graphics should appear, and check whether the page’s print styles intentionally alter colors.
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The capture is split across pages instead of being one tall page
page.pdf() creates a paginated document, not a full-page screenshot. Use page.screenshot({ fullPage: true }) for a single tall image, then convert that image with a separate tool if a PDF file is required.
The PDF uses unexpected paper dimensions or content is clipped
PDF output defaults to Letter. Set the desired format, review margins and scale, and check for CSS @page sizing. When preferCSSPageSize is enabled, CSS page sizing can take precedence over the configured format.
The saved state is exposed or committed to source control
Treat authentication state as a credential because it may contain usable cookies or headers. Remove it from any public or shared repository, restrict file access, and add the authentication-state directory to .gitignore. If it may have been exposed, revoke or rotate the account’s sessions or credentials using the site’s available security controls.
Reliability and cost considerations
For repeatable exports, use a least-privilege account, save state only after verifying login, select a page-specific readiness condition, and keep the state file out of source control. PDF layout depends on the site’s print CSS, paper settings, and content length; inspect a representative output after changing those inputs. The documentation cited here does not establish a universal runtime, reliability rate, or cost for a particular capture workload, so those depend on the application and the environment running Playwright.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Playwright’s PDF API offer a `fullPage` option?
No. `fullPage` is an option for `page.screenshot()`; `page.pdf()` creates a paginated PDF.
Can a saved Playwright state file include session storage?
Not through the standard storage-state mechanism. Playwright’s authentication guide describes a separate save/load approach for applications that rely on session storage.
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