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Selenium Screenshot Crops a Web Page When the Browser Window Is Maximized

Maximizing a Selenium browser does not ensure the saved screenshot matches the requested dimensions. Here’s how to measure the window and image and troubleshoot the mismatch.
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Maximizing a Selenium-controlled browser does not guarantee that the saved screenshot will have the pixel dimensions you expect. Measure the browser window after maximizing it, then inspect the saved image itself; the two measurements can differ. The cause depends on the browser, driver, Selenium version, operating system, and headed or headless mode.

Why maximizing does not guarantee the screenshot size

WebDriver treats maximizing a window, setting its size, and taking a screenshot as separate operations. On most operating systems, maximize expands the window to fill the screen while leaving operating-system menus and toolbars unobstructed. That is not the same as requesting a particular screenshot width and height.

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In Selenium’s Python API, maximize_window() requests a maximized window. set_window_size(width, height) requests explicit window dimensions, while get_window_size() and get_window_rect() report window geometry. Screenshot methods save or return an image for the current browsing context. A returned window size is therefore useful diagnostic information, but it is not a substitute for checking the image file’s pixel dimensions. See Selenium’s window documentation and Python WebDriver API.

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Measure the window and the screenshot separately

This Python example records the requested and reported window geometry, saves a screenshot, then reads the PNG dimensions. Install Selenium and Pillow first with python -m pip install selenium pillow; have a compatible browser and WebDriver available in your environment. Set TEST_URL to the page you need to diagnose.

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import os
from pathlib import Path
from PIL import Image
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

url = os.environ.get("TEST_URL", "https://example.com")
output = Path("selenium-shot.png")

options = Options()
# For a headless comparison, uncomment the next line and keep it constant
# across the configurations you test.
# options.add_argument("--headless=new")

driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
try:
    driver.get(url)

    # Choose one operation to test. Do not assume maximize implies a
    # particular pixel size.
    driver.maximize_window()
    print("Window size:", driver.get_window_size())
    print("Window rectangle:", driver.get_window_rect())

    driver.save_screenshot(str(output))
    with Image.open(output) as image:
        print("Screenshot pixels:", image.size)
finally:
    driver.quit()

If you need to test a specific browser-window request instead, replace the maximize call with driver.set_window_size(1800, 900) and record the reported size and output image dimensions again. The requested window size is a diagnostic input, not a guarantee that the screenshot will match it exactly.

Use a controlled troubleshooting sequence

  1. Record the environment. Note the operating system, Selenium version, browser and browser version, driver and driver version, headed or headless mode, and browser startup arguments. Without these details, a report of “cropped” is difficult to compare with other configurations.
  2. Record the operation and its result. Log whether you called maximize_window() or set_window_size(width, height), followed by get_window_size() or get_window_rect(). Keep the requested values and Selenium’s reported values distinct.
  3. Inspect the saved file. Read the actual image dimensions after saving. Do not infer screenshot dimensions from the browser window query.
  4. Compare startup sizing with runtime sizing. ChromeDriver documents Chrome options for start-maximized and window-size. Compare those startup arguments with runtime maximize or resize calls one change at a time, keeping the rest of the environment fixed. Neither startup option is documented as a universal guarantee of screenshot dimensions. See ChromeDriver capabilities.
  5. Change one environment variable at a time. If the discrepancy persists, compare a controlled browser, driver, or execution-mode change, and report each exact version and measurement. The available documentation and issue report do not establish a universal root cause or fix.

What one reported mismatch does—and does not—show

A SeleniumHQ issue describes a specific headless configuration after migration to Ubuntu 24.04: the reporter used Chrome for Testing and ChromeDriver 130.0.6723.69 with --window-size=1800,900. Selenium returned a window size of 1800×900, while the reported screenshot measured 1800×708. The reporter raised Chrome or ChromeDriver as possibilities while seeking a workaround; the report does not confirm a cause or establish that other systems behave the same way. See the SeleniumHQ issue.

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If your results resemble that report, include your own actual image dimensions and full environment details when investigating. Do not assume the Ubuntu report identifies the cause in your setup.

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Or skip the browser setup

For a one-request alternative, ScreenshotNeo accepts a URL and returns a screenshot. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for options and response details.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does maximize_window() capture the full web page vertically?

No. It changes the browser window state; it does not itself request a full-page screenshot. The dimensions and capture behavior depend on the screenshot method and browser configuration.

Should I report the SeleniumHQ issue’s 1800×708 result as a Selenium bug?

Treat it as the reporter’s result for the stated Ubuntu 24.04, Chrome for Testing, and ChromeDriver 130.0.6723.69 setup. The issue does not establish a confirmed cause or a universal Selenium defect.

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