How to install Playwright with npm

Playwright projects use npm to add the Playwright Test runner, browser automation package, and starter configuration to a Node.js workspace. This setup fits JavaScript or TypeScript test suites that need Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit automation from the same project directory.

The npm initializer creates the Playwright config, example tests, package entries, and browser install plan in one pass. The scaffold shown here uses TypeScript and a Chromium starter project so the first install stays small; add Firefox or WebKit projects later when the suite must run against those engines.

Current Playwright packages require Node.js 18 or newer, and browser processes need operating-system libraries on minimal Linux or CI hosts. The sample path is ~/projects/playwright-demo; keep the install inside the project that will own package.json and playwright.config.ts.

1. Open the Node.js project directory.

   $ cd ~/projects/playwright-demo

2. Confirm that the project uses a supported Node.js runtime.

   $ node --version
   v22.22.1

   Current @playwright/test releases require Node.js 18 or newer.
   Related: Install the latest Node.js on Ubuntu

3. Scaffold the Playwright Test project with npm.

   $ npm init playwright@latest -- --quiet --browser=chromium --lang=ts --no-browsers
   Getting started with writing end-to-end tests with Playwright:
   Initializing project in '.'
   Installing Playwright Test (npm install --save-dev @playwright/test)
   added 3 packages, and audited 4 packages in 1s
   Writing playwright.config.ts.
   Writing tests/example.spec.ts.
   Success! Created a Playwright Test project at ~/projects/playwright-demo

   Omit --quiet when you want the interactive prompts from the official initializer. The --browser=chromium choice keeps the starter config focused on one browser; edit playwright.config.ts later when the project needs Firefox or WebKit too.

4. Install Chromium and the Linux libraries needed to launch it.

   $ npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
   Installing dependencies
   ##### snipped #####
   Downloading Chrome for Testing 149.0.7827.55 (playwright chromium v1228)
   Chromium 149.0.7827.55 downloaded to ~/.cache/ms-playwright/chromium-1228
   ##### snipped #####
   Chrome Headless Shell 149.0.7827.55 downloaded to ~/.cache/ms-playwright/chromium_headless_shell-1228

   Use npx playwright install without a browser name when the project config runs all default browser projects. On macOS or Windows, omit --with-deps because system browser libraries are not installed through the Linux package manager.

5. Confirm the installed Playwright command.

   $ npx playwright --version
   Version 1.61.1

6. Run the generated Chromium tests.

   $ npx playwright test --project=chromium --reporter=line
   
   Running 2 tests using 2 workers
   
   [1/2] [chromium] › tests/example.spec.ts:3:5 › has title
   [2/2] [chromium] › tests/example.spec.ts:10:5 › get started link
     2 passed (1.3s)

   After this smoke test passes, replace tests/example.spec.ts with project-specific tests or continue with the general test-run workflow.
   Related: Run Playwright tests