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playwright-mcp/README.md
Pavel Feldman c506027aec
chore: run w/ sandbox by default (#412)
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## Playwright MCP
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides browser automation capabilities using [Playwright](https://playwright.dev). This server enables LLMs to interact with web pages through structured accessibility snapshots, bypassing the need for screenshots or visually-tuned models.
### Key Features
- **Fast and lightweight**. Uses Playwright's accessibility tree, not pixel-based input.
- **LLM-friendly**. No vision models needed, operates purely on structured data.
- **Deterministic tool application**. Avoids ambiguity common with screenshot-based approaches.
### Requirements
- Node.js 18 or newer
- VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop or any other MCP client
<!--
// Generate using:
node utils/generate-links.js
-->
### Getting started
First, install the Playwright MCP server with your client. A typical configuration looks like this:
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
```
[<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-VS_Code?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=0098FF" alt="Install in VS Code">](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect?url=vscode%3Amcp%2Finstall%3F%257B%2522name%2522%253A%2522playwright%2522%252C%2522command%2522%253A%2522npx%2522%252C%2522args%2522%253A%255B%2522%2540playwright%252Fmcp%2540latest%2522%255D%257D) [<img alt="Install in VS Code Insiders" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-VS_Code_Insiders?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=24bfa5">](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect?url=vscode-insiders%3Amcp%2Finstall%3F%257B%2522name%2522%253A%2522playwright%2522%252C%2522command%2522%253A%2522npx%2522%252C%2522args%2522%253A%255B%2522%2540playwright%252Fmcp%2540latest%2522%255D%257D)
<details><summary><b>Install in VS Code</b></summary>
You can also install the Playwright MCP server using the VS Code CLI:
```bash
# For VS Code
code --add-mcp '{"name":"playwright","command":"npx","args":["@playwright/mcp@latest"]}'
```
After installation, the Playwright MCP server will be available for use with your GitHub Copilot agent in VS Code.
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Install in Cursor</b></summary>
Go to `Cursor Settings` -> `MCP` -> `Add new MCP Server`. Name to your liking, use `command` type with the command `npx @playwright/mcp`. You can also verify config or add command like arguments via clicking `Edit`.
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Install in Windsurf</b></summary>
Follow Windsuff MCP [documentation](https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/cascade/mcp). Use following configuration:
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Install in Claude Desktop</b></summary>
Follow the MCP install [guide](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart/user), use following configuration:
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
```
</details>
### Configuration
Playwright MCP server supports following arguments. They can be provided in the JSON configuration above, as a part of the `"args"` list:
- `--allowed-origins <origins>`: Semicolon-separated list of origins to allow the browser to request. Default is to allow all. Origins matching both `--allowed-origins` and `--blocked-origins` will be blocked
- `--blocked-origins <origins>`: Semicolon-separated list of origins to block the browser to request. Origins matching both `--allowed-origins` and `--blocked-origins` will be blocked
- `--block-service-workers`: Block service workers
- `--browser <browser>`: Browser or chrome channel to use. Possible values:
- `chrome`, `firefox`, `webkit`, `msedge`
- Chrome channels: `chrome-beta`, `chrome-canary`, `chrome-dev`
- Edge channels: `msedge-beta`, `msedge-canary`, `msedge-dev`
- Default: `chrome`
- `--caps <caps>`: Comma-separated list of capabilities to enable, possible values: tabs, pdf, history, wait, files, install. Default is all.
- `--cdp-endpoint <endpoint>`: CDP endpoint to connect to
- `--config <path>`: Path to the configuration file
- `--device`: Emulate mobile device
- `--executable-path <path>`: Path to the browser executable
- `--headless`: Run browser in headless mode (headed by default)
- `--host <host>`: Host to bind server to. Default is localhost. Use 0.0.0.0 to bind to all interfaces
- `--ignore-https-errors`: Ignore https errors
- `--isolated`: Keep the browser profile in memory, do not save it to disk
- `--no-image-responses`: Do not send image responses to the client
- `--no-sandbox`: Disable the sandbox for all process types that are normally sandboxed
- `--output-dir`: Directory for output files
- `--port <port>`: Port to listen on for SSE transport
- `--proxy-bypass <bypass>`: Comma-separated domains to bypass proxy, for example ".com,chromium.org,.domain.com"'
- `--proxy-server <proxy>`: Proxy server, for example "http://myproxy:3128" or "socks5://myproxy:8080"'
- `--storage-state <path>`: Path to the storage state file for isolated sessions
- `--user-agent <ua string>`: Specify user agent string
- `--user-data-dir <path>`: Path to the user data directory. If not specified, a temporary directory will be created
- `--viewport-size <size>`: Specify browser viewport size in pixels, for example "1280, 720"
- `--vision`: Run server that uses screenshots (Aria snapshots are used by default)
### User profile
You can run Playwright MCP with persistent profile like a regular browser (default), or in the isolated contexts for the testing sessions.
**Persistent profile**
All the logged in information will be stored in the persistent profile, you can delete it between sessions if you'd like to clear the offline state.
Persistent profile is located at the following locations and you can override it with the `--user-data-dir` argument.
```bash
# Windows
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\ms-playwright\mcp-{channel}-profile
# macOS
- ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright/mcp-{channel}-profile
# Linux
- ~/.cache/ms-playwright/mcp-{channel}-profile
```
**Isolated**
In the isolated mode, each session is started in the isolated profile. Every time you ask MCP to close the browser,
the session is closed and all the storage state for this session is lost. You can provide initial storage state
to the browser via the config's `contextOptions` or via the `--storage-state` argument. Learn more about the storage
state [here](https://playwright.dev/docs/auth).
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest",
"--isolated",
"--storage-state={path/to/storage.json}
]
}
}
}
```
### Configuration file
The Playwright MCP server can be configured using a JSON configuration file. You can specify the configuration file
using the `--config` command line option:
```bash
npx @playwright/mcp@latest --config path/to/config.json
```
<details>
<summary>Configuration file schema</summary>
```typescript
{
// Browser configuration
browser?: {
// Browser type to use (chromium, firefox, or webkit)
browserName?: 'chromium' | 'firefox' | 'webkit';
// Keep the browser profile in memory, do not save it to disk.
isolated?: boolean;
// Path to user data directory for browser profile persistence
userDataDir?: string;
// Browser launch options (see Playwright docs)
// @see https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch
launchOptions?: {
channel?: string; // Browser channel (e.g. 'chrome')
headless?: boolean; // Run in headless mode
executablePath?: string; // Path to browser executable
// ... other Playwright launch options
};
// Browser context options
// @see https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browser#browser-new-context
contextOptions?: {
viewport?: { width: number, height: number };
// ... other Playwright context options
};
// CDP endpoint for connecting to existing browser
cdpEndpoint?: string;
// Remote Playwright server endpoint
remoteEndpoint?: string;
},
// Server configuration
server?: {
port?: number; // Port to listen on
host?: string; // Host to bind to (default: localhost)
},
// List of enabled capabilities
capabilities?: Array<
'core' | // Core browser automation
'tabs' | // Tab management
'pdf' | // PDF generation
'history' | // Browser history
'wait' | // Wait utilities
'files' | // File handling
'install' | // Browser installation
'testing' // Testing
>;
// Enable vision mode (screenshots instead of accessibility snapshots)
vision?: boolean;
// Directory for output files
outputDir?: string;
// Network configuration
network?: {
// List of origins to allow the browser to request. Default is to allow all. Origins matching both `allowedOrigins` and `blockedOrigins` will be blocked.
allowedOrigins?: string[];
// List of origins to block the browser to request. Origins matching both `allowedOrigins` and `blockedOrigins` will be blocked.
blockedOrigins?: string[];
};
/**
* Do not send image responses to the client.
*/
noImageResponses?: boolean;
}
```
</details>
### Standalone MCP server
When running headed browser on system w/o display or from worker processes of the IDEs,
run the MCP server from environment with the DISPLAY and pass the `--port` flag to enable SSE transport.
```bash
npx @playwright/mcp@latest --port 8931
```
And then in MCP client config, set the `url` to the SSE endpoint:
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"url": "http://localhost:8931/sse"
}
}
}
```
<details>
<summary><b>Docker</b></summary>
**NOTE:** The Docker implementation only supports headless chromium at the moment.
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "--init", "--pull=always", "mcr.microsoft.com/playwright/mcp"]
}
}
}
```
You can build the Docker image yourself.
```
docker build -t mcr.microsoft.com/playwright/mcp .
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Programmatic usage</b></summary>
```js
import http from 'http';
import { createConnection } from '@playwright/mcp';
import { SSEServerTransport } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/sse.js';
http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
// ...
// Creates a headless Playwright MCP server with SSE transport
const connection = await createConnection({ browser: { launchOptions: { headless: true } } });
const transport = new SSEServerTransport('/messages', res);
await connection.connect(transport);
// ...
});
```
</details>
### Tools
The tools are available in two modes:
1. **Snapshot Mode** (default): Uses accessibility snapshots for better performance and reliability
2. **Vision Mode**: Uses screenshots for visual-based interactions
To use Vision Mode, add the `--vision` flag when starting the server:
```js
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"@playwright/mcp@latest",
"--vision"
]
}
}
}
```
Vision Mode works best with the computer use models that are able to interact with elements using
X Y coordinate space, based on the provided screenshot.
<!--- Generated by update-readme.js -->
<details>
<summary><b>Interactions</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_snapshot**
- Title: Page snapshot
- Description: Capture accessibility snapshot of the current page, this is better than screenshot
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_click**
- Title: Click
- Description: Perform click on a web page
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `ref` (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_drag**
- Title: Drag mouse
- Description: Perform drag and drop between two elements
- Parameters:
- `startElement` (string): Human-readable source element description used to obtain the permission to interact with the element
- `startRef` (string): Exact source element reference from the page snapshot
- `endElement` (string): Human-readable target element description used to obtain the permission to interact with the element
- `endRef` (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_hover**
- Title: Hover mouse
- Description: Hover over element on page
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `ref` (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_type**
- Title: Type text
- Description: Type text into editable element
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `ref` (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot
- `text` (string): Text to type into the element
- `submit` (boolean, optional): Whether to submit entered text (press Enter after)
- `slowly` (boolean, optional): Whether to type one character at a time. Useful for triggering key handlers in the page. By default entire text is filled in at once.
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_select_option**
- Title: Select option
- Description: Select an option in a dropdown
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `ref` (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot
- `values` (array): Array of values to select in the dropdown. This can be a single value or multiple values.
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_press_key**
- Title: Press a key
- Description: Press a key on the keyboard
- Parameters:
- `key` (string): Name of the key to press or a character to generate, such as `ArrowLeft` or `a`
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_wait_for**
- Title: Wait for
- Description: Wait for text to appear or disappear or a specified time to pass
- Parameters:
- `time` (number, optional): The time to wait in seconds
- `text` (string, optional): The text to wait for
- `textGone` (string, optional): The text to wait for to disappear
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_file_upload**
- Title: Upload files
- Description: Upload one or multiple files
- Parameters:
- `paths` (array): The absolute paths to the files to upload. Can be a single file or multiple files.
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_handle_dialog**
- Title: Handle a dialog
- Description: Handle a dialog
- Parameters:
- `accept` (boolean): Whether to accept the dialog.
- `promptText` (string, optional): The text of the prompt in case of a prompt dialog.
- Read-only: **false**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Navigation</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_navigate**
- Title: Navigate to a URL
- Description: Navigate to a URL
- Parameters:
- `url` (string): The URL to navigate to
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_navigate_back**
- Title: Go back
- Description: Go back to the previous page
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_navigate_forward**
- Title: Go forward
- Description: Go forward to the next page
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Resources</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_take_screenshot**
- Title: Take a screenshot
- Description: Take a screenshot of the current page. You can't perform actions based on the screenshot, use browser_snapshot for actions.
- Parameters:
- `raw` (boolean, optional): Whether to return without compression (in PNG format). Default is false, which returns a JPEG image.
- `filename` (string, optional): File name to save the screenshot to. Defaults to `page-{timestamp}.{png|jpeg}` if not specified.
- `element` (string, optional): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to screenshot the element. If not provided, the screenshot will be taken of viewport. If element is provided, ref must be provided too.
- `ref` (string, optional): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot. If not provided, the screenshot will be taken of viewport. If ref is provided, element must be provided too.
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_pdf_save**
- Title: Save as PDF
- Description: Save page as PDF
- Parameters:
- `filename` (string, optional): File name to save the pdf to. Defaults to `page-{timestamp}.pdf` if not specified.
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_network_requests**
- Title: List network requests
- Description: Returns all network requests since loading the page
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_console_messages**
- Title: Get console messages
- Description: Returns all console messages
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Utilities</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_install**
- Title: Install the browser specified in the config
- Description: Install the browser specified in the config. Call this if you get an error about the browser not being installed.
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_close**
- Title: Close browser
- Description: Close the page
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_resize**
- Title: Resize browser window
- Description: Resize the browser window
- Parameters:
- `width` (number): Width of the browser window
- `height` (number): Height of the browser window
- Read-only: **true**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Tabs</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_tab_list**
- Title: List tabs
- Description: List browser tabs
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_tab_new**
- Title: Open a new tab
- Description: Open a new tab
- Parameters:
- `url` (string, optional): The URL to navigate to in the new tab. If not provided, the new tab will be blank.
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_tab_select**
- Title: Select a tab
- Description: Select a tab by index
- Parameters:
- `index` (number): The index of the tab to select
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_tab_close**
- Title: Close a tab
- Description: Close a tab
- Parameters:
- `index` (number, optional): The index of the tab to close. Closes current tab if not provided.
- Read-only: **false**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Testing</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_generate_playwright_test**
- Title: Generate a Playwright test
- Description: Generate a Playwright test for given scenario
- Parameters:
- `name` (string): The name of the test
- `description` (string): The description of the test
- `steps` (array): The steps of the test
- Read-only: **true**
</details>
<details>
<summary><b>Vision mode</b></summary>
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_screen_capture**
- Title: Take a screenshot
- Description: Take a screenshot of the current page
- Parameters: None
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_screen_move_mouse**
- Title: Move mouse
- Description: Move mouse to a given position
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `x` (number): X coordinate
- `y` (number): Y coordinate
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_screen_click**
- Title: Click
- Description: Click left mouse button
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `x` (number): X coordinate
- `y` (number): Y coordinate
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_screen_drag**
- Title: Drag mouse
- Description: Drag left mouse button
- Parameters:
- `element` (string): Human-readable element description used to obtain permission to interact with the element
- `startX` (number): Start X coordinate
- `startY` (number): Start Y coordinate
- `endX` (number): End X coordinate
- `endY` (number): End Y coordinate
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_screen_type**
- Title: Type text
- Description: Type text
- Parameters:
- `text` (string): Text to type into the element
- `submit` (boolean, optional): Whether to submit entered text (press Enter after)
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_press_key**
- Title: Press a key
- Description: Press a key on the keyboard
- Parameters:
- `key` (string): Name of the key to press or a character to generate, such as `ArrowLeft` or `a`
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_wait_for**
- Title: Wait for
- Description: Wait for text to appear or disappear or a specified time to pass
- Parameters:
- `time` (number, optional): The time to wait in seconds
- `text` (string, optional): The text to wait for
- `textGone` (string, optional): The text to wait for to disappear
- Read-only: **true**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_file_upload**
- Title: Upload files
- Description: Upload one or multiple files
- Parameters:
- `paths` (array): The absolute paths to the files to upload. Can be a single file or multiple files.
- Read-only: **false**
<!-- NOTE: This has been generated via update-readme.js -->
- **browser_handle_dialog**
- Title: Handle a dialog
- Description: Handle a dialog
- Parameters:
- `accept` (boolean): Whether to accept the dialog.
- `promptText` (string, optional): The text of the prompt in case of a prompt dialog.
- Read-only: **false**
</details>
<!--- End of generated section -->
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