Add
OfficialBrowser & Web

Playwright

by Microsoft

Give an assistant control of a real browser to navigate pages, click, type and read page structure.

ConnectOfficial docs(opens in a new tab)Repository(opens in a new tab)

Best for

Exploratory automation, self-healing tests and long-running workflows that benefit from a persistent browser context.

Connect Playwright

Choose your client

Local

This server runs on your machine. Pick your client for the matching config; placeholders stand in for any secrets.

Tip

The README notes that coding agents may do better with the Playwright CLI and skills, which use fewer tokens than MCP tool schemas and page snapshots.

claude_desktop_config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
  • Add this under the existing mcpServers key if the file already has one, then fully restart Claude Desktop.

Format checked Oct 30, 2026 against Claude Desktop documentation. Client settings change, so confirm with the client's own docs.

Official setup guide(opens in a new tab)

Connection details

Package

npm package · stdio
@playwright/mcp@0.0.82

Overview

Playwright MCP lets an assistant drive a browser through Playwright. Instead of working from screenshots, it reads structured accessibility snapshots of the page, then navigates, clicks and types through tools. It runs locally: the registry lists an npm package started with npx over stdio and no hosted endpoint. Optional capability groups, switched on with the --caps flag, add features such as PDF output, DevTools access and coordinate-based vision actions. Playwright's documentation site and the repository README do not list exactly the same groups, so check the docs for the version you run.

What it can do

  • Works from structured accessibility snapshots of the page rather than screenshots, so no vision model is required.
  • Core browser tools are always on; other groups are opt-in through --caps, which the README documents as vision, pdf and devtools.
  • The browser profile can be kept in memory only (--isolated), or the server can attach to a running Chrome or Edge through the Playwright extension (--extension).

What you need

Sign-in and credentials

The setup instructions mention no account or API key; it runs as a local npm package.

Runs as

npm package

Sources

MCP Registry
Listed in the MCP Registry as io.github.microsoft/playwright-mcp
Official docs
playwright.dev/mcp/introduction
Repository
github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Last checked
Oct 31, 2026
Record reviewed
Oct 31, 2026

Statements on this page come from

Why is this labelled Official?

Registry name io.github.microsoft/playwright-mcp. The registry only lets an organization's owners publish under its io.github.<org> namespace (registry authentication docs, read 2026-10-30). Repository microsoft/playwright-mcp is owned by the microsoft organization; the playwright.dev MCP introduction page footer reads "Copyright © 2026 Microsoft" (read 2026-10-30).

Listing on HistChat is not an endorsement or a security review. MCP servers can access data or perform actions, so review the source and permissions before connecting.

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