MCP server

Playwright MCP Server

Browser automation through the accessibility tree: click, type, navigate and snapshot pages, no screenshots needed. Official: built and maintained by Microsoft. It runs locally on your machine over stdio. Setup below for 12 clients (checked 2026-10-25). Repo and registry data checked 2026-10-24.

Maintainer: Official · Microsoft
Runs: Local (stdio)
Repo: microsoft/playwright-mcp
GitHub: ★ 38,590, last push 2026-10-22 (checked 2026-10-24)
License: Apache-2.0
Registry: io.github.microsoft/playwright-mcp
Connects to: Playwright
DevHunt: Microsoft on DevHunt

Install the Playwright MCP Server

Pick your client. Each tab starts the same local command. Config shapes checked against each client's docs on 2026-10-25.

Run in a terminal. Everything after -- is the command that starts the server. docs

claude mcp add --transport stdio playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest

Claude Desktop only: Settings > Developer > Edit Config opens claude_desktop_config.json. Add this, save and restart the app. docs

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project), or use the install button. docs

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to Cursor

Add to .vscode/mcp.json (note the "servers" key and the type), or use the install button. Command Palette > "MCP: Open User Configuration" for all workspaces. docs

{
  "servers": {
    "playwright": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to VS Code

Run codex mcp add playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest, or add this to ~/.codex/config.toml. docs

[mcp_servers.playwright]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"]

Run in a terminal (-s user adds it for all projects; the default is this project). docs

gemini mcp add -s user playwright npx -- -y @playwright/mcp@latest

Run in a terminal; it writes ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. docs

copilot mcp add playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest

Add to mcp_config.json: ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json on macOS and Linux (older installs: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json), %APPDATA%\devin\ on Windows. docs

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to Zed's settings.json (or Settings > AI > MCP Servers > Add Server). Remote servers without an Authorization header sign in with OAuth. docs

{
  "context_servers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to opencode.json in the project (or ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json). docs

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "playwright": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": [
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (all projects) or .kiro/settings/mcp.json (this project). docs

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

MCP Servers > Configure > Configure MCP Servers opens cline_mcp_settings.json; add this entry. docs

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools it exposes

The core tools work on the page's accessibility snapshot, not pixels. More groups (network, storage, DevTools, vision, PDF, test assertions) are opt-in with --caps.

browser_navigate: Navigate to a URL
browser_snapshot: Accessibility snapshot of the page
browser_click: Click an element
browser_type: Type text
browser_fill_form: Fill several form fields at once
browser_select_option: Select an option
browser_press_key: Press a key
browser_wait_for: Wait for text or time
browser_take_screenshot: Take a screenshot
browser_console_messages: Read console messages
browser_network_requests: List network requests
browser_evaluate: Evaluate JavaScript on the page
browser_tabs: Manage tabs

From the project's own tool list, checked 2026-11-07. Tools change between releases; your client lists the current ones after you connect.

Security notes

browser_run_code_unsafe runs arbitrary Playwright code; the README marks it unsafe, so keep approval prompts on for it.
The local server runs with your user's permissions (npx downloads it from npm on first run). The package is pinned to @latest, so each start can pull a new version; pin a version if you want to review updates.
It reads web pages, and a page can carry prompt-injection instructions. Keep approval prompts on and use a browser profile without your personal sign-ins.

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FAQ

What does the Playwright MCP Server do?+

Browser automation through the accessibility tree: click, type, navigate and snapshot pages, no screenshots needed. Its tools include browser_navigate, browser_snapshot, browser_click, browser_type and browser_fill_form.

Is the Playwright MCP server official?+

Official: built and maintained by Microsoft.

How do I add Playwright to Claude Code?+

Run: claude mcp add playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest. Add --scope project to share it with your team through .mcp.json.

How do I use the Playwright MCP server in Cursor or VS Code?+

Open the Cursor or VS Code tab above: it has the mcp.json entry and a one-click install link. Cursor uses the "mcpServers" key; VS Code uses "servers" and needs a type ("stdio").

Does Playwright work in ChatGPT and claude.ai?+

No: it runs locally over stdio, and ChatGPT and claude.ai only connect to remote servers. Use it in Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or another client that can start a local process.

What are the alternatives to the Playwright MCP server?+

Other browser & web scraping MCP servers: Playwright (ExecuteAutomation), Browser Use, Chrome DevTools, Skyvern and Apify.

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