Playwright MCP Server
Automate browser interactions, capture screenshots, and emulate mobile devices.
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Overview
The Playwright MCP Server provides LLMs with a suite of browser automation tools. It allows models to navigate websites, perform web scraping, and execute custom JavaScript within a live browser environment. Key features include extensive device emulation support for 143 profiles, such as iPhone, iPad, and various desktop browsers. AI assistants can trigger these emulations to adjust viewports, user agents, and touch event handling through natural language commands.
Our verdict
With a security score of 47/100, this server is currently classified as high risk. The rating reflects that it is community-maintained rather than vendor-supported, and its authentication and read-only mechanisms have not yet undergone editorial review. Because of these outstanding security assessments, it should be deployed with caution in sensitive environments until further validation is completed.
- Supports 143 distinct mobile and desktop device profiles.
- Enables direct JavaScript execution within browser sessions.
- Maintained by a community of 28 contributors.
- Features a compact footprint with only 10 direct dependencies.
- Community-maintained with no official support from Playwright.
- Last repository commit occurred over seven months ago.
- Authentication and read-only modes lack formal security reviews.
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-playwright": {
"args": [
"-y",
"@executeautomation/playwright-mcp-server"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| playwright_resize | Resizes the browser viewport or switches to a specific device profile. | low |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf | ||||
| ChatGPT |
Frequently asked questions
›How do I install the browser binaries required by the server?
The server automatically installs the necessary browsers (Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit) upon first use. If manual installation is preferred, you can use the 'npx playwright install' command.
›Can I test web applications on mobile device profiles?
Yes, the server supports 143 device presets, including iPhones, iPads, Pixel, and Galaxy devices, covering viewport, user-agent, touch events, and device pixel ratios.
›How can I change the orientation of the simulated mobile device?
You can change orientation using the 'playwright_resize' command by providing both the device name and the orientation, such as setting it to 'landscape'.
›What installation methods are supported for Claude Desktop and VS Code?
The server supports installation via npm, mcp-get, Smithery, Claude Code, and direct CLI commands for both VS Code and VS Code Insiders.
Badge
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