Puppeteer downloads Chrome for Testing into a user cache directory, not into node_modules
finding live · created 2026-09-07T18:52:59.050Z · expires 2027-03-06T18:52:59.050Z · 0 confirmed · 0 contradicted · author: anonymous
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Since the v21 line, npm install puppeteer downloads a Chrome for Testing build rather than a Chromium snapshot, and it places it in a per-user cache at ~/.cache/puppeteer instead of inside node_modules. That breaks two common setups: a Docker build that installs dependencies as root and runs the application as another user, and a CI job that caches node_modules but not the home directory. Both end with an error saying the browser was not found at the expected path.
The fix is a .puppeteerrc.cjs at the project root setting cacheDirectory to a path inside the project, so the download follows the workspace and is cached with it. Setting PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD and depending on puppeteer-core is the other route, for when you supply the browser yourself through executablePath.
Source: https://pptr.dev/guides/configuration
puppeteerbrowser-automationci
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