## 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, Goose or any other MCP client ### 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" ] } } } ``` [

](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) [

](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)

Install in VS Code

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.

Install in Cursor

#### Click the button to install: [![Install MCP Server](https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg)](https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=playwright&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IEBwbGF5d3JpZ2h0L21jcEBsYXRlc3QifQ%3D%3D) #### Or install manually: 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" ] } } } ```

Install in Windsurf

Follow Windsurf MCP [documentation](https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/cascade/mcp). Use following configuration: ```js { "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } } ```

Install in Claude Desktop

Follow the MCP install [guide](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart/user), use following configuration: ```js { "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } } ```

Install in Claude Code

Use the Claude Code CLI to add the Playwright MCP server: ```bash claude mcp add playwright npx @playwright/mcp@latest ```

Install in Goose

#### Click the button to install: [![Install in Goose](https://block.github.io/goose/img/extension-install-dark.svg)](https://block.github.io/goose/extension?cmd=npx&arg=%40playwright%2Fmcp%40latest&id=playwright&name=Playwright&description=Interact%20with%20web%20pages%20through%20structured%20accessibility%20snapshots%20using%20Playwright) #### Or install manually: Go to `Advanced settings` -> `Extensions` -> `Add custom extension`. Name to your liking, use type `STDIO`, and set the `command` to `npx @playwright/mcp`. Click "Add Extension".

Install in Qodo Gen

Open [Qodo Gen](https://docs.qodo.ai/qodo-documentation/qodo-gen) chat panel in VSCode or IntelliJ → Connect more tools → + Add new MCP → Paste the following configuration: ```js { "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } } ``` Click Save.

Install in Gemini CLI

Follow the MCP install [guide](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/docs/tools/mcp-server.md#configure-the-mcp-server-in-settingsjson), use following configuration: ```js { "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } } ```

### Configuration Playwright MCP server supports following arguments. They can be provided in the JSON configuration above, as a part of the `"args"` list: ``` > npx @playwright/mcp@latest --help --allowed-origins semicolon-separated list of origins to allow the browser to request. Default is to allow all. --blocked-origins semicolon-separated list of origins to block the browser from requesting. Blocklist is evaluated before allowlist. If used without the allowlist, requests not matching the blocklist are still allowed. --block-service-workers block service workers --browser browser or chrome channel to use, possible values: chrome, firefox, webkit, msedge. --browser-agent Use browser agent (experimental). --caps comma-separated list of capabilities to enable, possible values: tabs, pdf, history, wait, files, install. Default is all. --cdp-endpoint CDP endpoint to connect to. --config path to the configuration file. --device device to emulate, for example: "iPhone 15" --executable-path path to the browser executable. --headless run browser in headless mode, headed by default --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. --image-responses whether to send image responses to the client. Can be "allow", "omit", or "auto". Defaults to "auto", which sends images if the client can display them. --no-sandbox disable the sandbox for all process types that are normally sandboxed. --output-dir path to the directory for output files. --port port to listen on for SSE transport. --proxy-bypass comma-separated domains to bypass proxy, for example ".com,chromium.org,.domain.com" --proxy-server specify proxy server, for example "http://myproxy:3128" or "socks5://myproxy:8080" --save-trace Whether to save the Playwright Trace of the session into the output directory. --storage-state path to the storage state file for isolated sessions. --user-agent specify user agent string --user-data-dir path to the user data directory. If not specified, a temporary directory will be created. --viewport-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 ```

Configuration file schema

```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[]; }; /** * Whether to send image responses to the client. Can be "allow", "omit", or "auto". * Defaults to "auto", images are omitted for Cursor clients and sent for all other clients. */ imageResponses?: 'allow' | 'omit' | 'auto'; } ```

### 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" } } } ```

Docker

**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 . ```

Programmatic usage

```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.sever.connect(transport); // ... }); ```

### 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.

Interactions

- **browser_snapshot** - Title: Page snapshot - Description: Capture accessibility snapshot of the current page, this is better than screenshot - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **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 - `doubleClick` (boolean, optional): Whether to perform a double click instead of a single click - Read-only: **false** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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**

Navigation

- **browser_navigate** - Title: Navigate to a URL - Description: Navigate to a URL - Parameters: - `url` (string): The URL to navigate to - Read-only: **false** - **browser_navigate_back** - Title: Go back - Description: Go back to the previous page - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **browser_navigate_forward** - Title: Go forward - Description: Go forward to the next page - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true**

Resources

- **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** - **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** - **browser_network_requests** - Title: List network requests - Description: Returns all network requests since loading the page - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **browser_console_messages** - Title: Get console messages - Description: Returns all console messages - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true**

Utilities

- **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** - **browser_close** - Title: Close browser - Description: Close the page - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **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**

Tabs

- **browser_tab_list** - Title: List tabs - Description: List browser tabs - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **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** - **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** - **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**

Testing

- **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**

Vision mode

- **browser_screen_capture** - Title: Take a screenshot - Description: Take a screenshot of the current page - Parameters: None - Read-only: **true** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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** - **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**

playwright

Tools

Parameters

npx Configuration 1

npx Configuration 2

npx Configuration 3

npx Configuration 4