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World desk5 min

Selenium News and Updates: Selenium 4.49 and SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3 Explained

“Selenium 61” does not identify a confirmed Selenium core release. Here’s how Selenium 4.49.0 differs from Robot Framework SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3, and what to check before upgrading.
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There is no confirmed Selenium core 6.1 release in the official material covered here. The “61” in the title most plausibly points to SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3, a Robot Framework library release from October 12, 2023. Selenium core is a separate project: its official downloads page listed Selenium 4.49.0, released September 9, 2026, as stable when checked on October 3, 2026. The distinction matters because the two projects have separate release histories and compatibility requirements.

What does “Selenium 61” mean?

The available release information does not establish a Selenium core 6.1 version. There are two plausible readings: “61” could mean SeleniumLibrary 6.1, or it could be an installment number in a news series. The version-specific release that matches the number is SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3, so this article identifies it explicitly rather than treating it as Selenium core.

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Selenium is the browser-automation project, with language-specific client bindings and its own release history. SeleniumLibrary is a separate Robot Framework library that uses Selenium internally. A version number or compatibility statement for one project does not automatically apply to the other.

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Latest core Selenium release identified

As of October 3, 2026, the official Selenium blog listed Selenium 4.49 as released on September 9, 2026, and the official downloads page identified Selenium 4.49.0 as stable, with the same release date. The blog also listed a post about AI agents with Selenium on September 29 and a post on September 21 about an ExpectedCondition change planned to start with Selenium 4.51.

Those entries are dated release and blog information, not a guarantee that 4.49.0 remains the latest version. For an upgrade decision, check Selenium’s live downloads page and release history, and confirm the binding for the programming language you use. Selenium’s core downloads cover those language bindings; Robot Framework SeleniumLibrary’s release history and compatibility information are maintained separately.

What changed in SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3?

The Robot Framework SeleniumLibrary maintainers released version 6.1.3 on October 12, 2023 as a hotfix. Its specific fix addressed remote-browser startup when browser options were not provided. The release also removed Selenium’s deprecated desired_capabilities usage from SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3.

This is a narrow, historical fix—not a general Selenium core update. It is relevant if you use Robot Framework SeleniumLibrary and your remote browser fails to start when no options are supplied. It does not establish that upgrading Selenium core alone will fix that problem.

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Historical compatibility statement

The 6.1.3 release notes state compatibility with Python 3.8 or higher, Selenium 4.3 or higher, and Robot Framework 4.1.3 or higher. These are the maintainers’ requirements for that 2023 release, not the current support matrix for SeleniumLibrary overall. The current releases listing has advanced through 6.9.0; check the compatibility details for the exact release you plan to install.

Installing or pinning version 6.1.3

If you specifically need the 6.1.3 hotfix, the release document gives this pip command:

python -m pip install robotframework-seleniumlibrary==6.1.3

Pinning an older release may be appropriate to reproduce an existing environment or verify a version-specific fix. For new or maintained projects, first compare the current release’s compatibility requirements with your Python, Selenium and Robot Framework versions rather than assuming that the historical minimums still apply.

How to choose the right release to upgrade

  1. Identify the package. If your project imports Selenium language bindings directly, use Selenium core’s release history. If your tests use Robot Framework keywords from SeleniumLibrary, consult SeleniumLibrary’s releases and compatibility information.
  2. Match the symptom to the change. SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3 specifically addressed remote-browser startup when options were omitted. A different failure may have a different cause and may not be helped by this hotfix.
  3. Check all version requirements together. Compare the release’s stated Python, Selenium and Robot Framework requirements with the versions installed in your environment. Treat 6.1.3’s stated minimums as historical, not as the current SeleniumLibrary support matrix.
  4. Review the release notes before changing a pin. Check for fixes, deprecations and compatibility updates between your installed version and the version you intend to use.
  5. Upgrade in a controlled environment. Record the current package versions, update the intended package, and run the affected browser tests—including remote-browser startup if that is the issue being addressed—before changing a shared or production test environment.

Common version and upgrade mistakes

  • Searching for “Selenium 6.1” as though it were confirmed core software: the official materials covered here identify Selenium core 4.49.0, not a core 6.1 release. Check the current official release history rather than inferring a version from the shorthand.
  • Applying SeleniumLibrary notes to a core binding: the 6.1.3 fix and its compatibility statement belong to the Robot Framework library. They do not define support for every Selenium language binding.
  • Treating old minimums as current: Python 3.8+, Selenium 4.3+ and Robot Framework 4.1.3+ are the compatibility claims stated for SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3 in 2023. Look up the matrix for the release you will actually run.
  • Upgrading the wrong package to fix remote startup: first establish whether the failing test uses SeleniumLibrary and whether it starts a remote browser without options. The 6.1.3 note describes that specific case.
  • Assuming the blog’s latest dated post is a release: the Selenium blog includes general posts as well as release announcements. Confirm the stable version on the downloads page and inspect the release history for subsequent changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Selenium 6.1 exist?

The official release material covered here does not confirm a Selenium core 6.1 release. The matching versioned release is Robot Framework SeleniumLibrary 6.1.3.

Is SeleniumLibrary the same product as Selenium?

No. SeleniumLibrary is a Robot Framework library that uses Selenium; each project has its own versions and compatibility information.

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