A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides browser automation capabilities using Playwright. This server enables LLMs to interact with web pages through structured accessibility snapshots, bypassing the need for screenshots or visually-tuned models.

• 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.

• Web navigation and form-filling
• Data extraction from structured content
• Automated testing driven by LLMs
• General-purpose browser interaction for agents

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

Install the Playwright MCP server in VS Code using one of these buttons:

Alternatively, you can install the Playwright MCP server using the VS Code CLI:

# For VS Code
code --add-mcp '{"name":"playwright","command":"npx","args":["@playwright/mcp@latest"]}'

# For VS Code Insiders
code-insiders --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.

Playwright MCP will launch Chrome browser with the new profile, located at

- `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\ms-playwright\mcp-chrome-profile` on Windows
- `~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright/mcp-chrome-profile` on macOS
- `~/.cache/ms-playwright/mcp-chrome-profile` on Linux

All the logged in information will be stored in that profile, you can delete it between sessions if you'dlike to clear the offline state.

This mode is useful for background or batch operations.

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

When running headed browser on system w/o display or from worker processes of the IDEs, you can run Playwright in a client-server manner. You'll run the Playwright server from environment with the DISPLAY

npx playwright run-server

And then in MCP config, add following to the env:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        // Use the endpoint from the output of the server above.
        "PLAYWRIGHT_WS_ENDPOINT": "ws://localhost:<port>/"
      }
    }
  }
}

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:

{
  "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.

import { createServer } from '@playwright/mcp';

// ...

const server = createServer({
  launchOptions: { headless: true }
});
transport = new SSEServerTransport("/messages", res);
server.connect(transport);

The Playwright MCP provides a set of tools for browser automation. Here are all available tools:

• browser_navigate

  • Description: Navigate to a URL
  • Parameters:
    • url (string): The URL to navigate to

• browser_go_back

  • Description: Go back to the previous page
  • Parameters: None

• browser_go_forward

  • Description: Go forward to the next page
  • Parameters: None

• browser_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

• browser_hover

  • 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

• browser_drag

  • Description: Perform drag and drop between two elements
  • Parameters:
    • startElement (string): Human-readable source element description used to obtain 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 permission to interact with the element
    • endRef (string): Exact target element reference from the page snapshot

• browser_type

  • 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): Whether to submit entered text (press Enter after)

• browser_select_option

  • Description: Select 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.

• browser_press_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

• browser_snapshot

  • Description: Capture accessibility snapshot of the current page (better than screenshot)
  • Parameters: None

• browser_save_as_pdf

  • Description: Save page as PDF
  • Parameters: None

• browser_wait

  • Description: Wait for a specified time in seconds
  • Parameters:
    • time (number): The time to wait in seconds (capped at 10 seconds)

• browser_close

  • Description: Close the page
  • Parameters: None

Vision Mode provides tools for visual-based interactions using screenshots. Here are all available tools:

• browser_navigate

  • Description: Navigate to a URL
  • Parameters:
    • url (string): The URL to navigate to

• browser_go_back

  • Description: Go back to the previous page
  • Parameters: None

• browser_go_forward

  • Description: Go forward to the next page
  • Parameters: None

• browser_screenshot

  • Description: Capture screenshot of the current page
  • Parameters: None

• browser_move_mouse

  • Description: Move mouse to specified coordinates
  • Parameters:
    • x (number): X coordinate
    • y (number): Y coordinate

• browser_click

  • Description: Click at specified coordinates
  • Parameters:
    • x (number): X coordinate to click at
    • y (number): Y coordinate to click at

• browser_drag

  • Description: Perform drag and drop operation
  • Parameters:
    • startX (number): Start X coordinate
    • startY (number): Start Y coordinate
    • endX (number): End X coordinate
    • endY (number): End Y coordinate

• browser_type

  • Description: Type text at specified coordinates
  • Parameters:
    • text (string): Text to type
    • submit (boolean): Whether to submit entered text (press Enter after)

• browser_press_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

• browser_save_as_pdf

  • Description: Save page as PDF
  • Parameters: None

• browser_wait

  • Description: Wait for a specified time in seconds
  • Parameters:
    • time (number): The time to wait in seconds (capped at 10 seconds)

• browser_close

  • Description: Close the page
  • Parameters: None