chrome-devtools-cli

The package is chrome-devtools-mcp, but the action CLI is chrome-devtools. Use chrome-devtools <tool> ... for this skill. Do not use npx chrome-devtools-mcp@latest unless you are configuring an MCP server outside this skill.

Core Workflow

chrome-devtools new_page "https://example.com"
chrome-devtools take_snapshot
chrome-devtools click "1_3"
chrome-devtools fill "1_5" "search text"
chrome-devtools press_key "Enter"

take_snapshot returns accessibility-tree UIDs such as 1_3. Always act on UIDs from the latest snapshot. Re-snapshot after navigation, reloads, or major DOM updates.

Operating Rules

• Run tools directly; the background daemon starts implicitly on first real action and preserves browser state.
• Do not run start, status, or stop before every action. Use them only for setup, custom launch flags, or troubleshooting.
• Use chrome-devtools <command> --help for exact syntax. Output defaults to Markdown; add --output-format=json when structured output is useful.
• Prefer snapshots over screenshots for deciding what to click or fill. Use screenshots for visual proof, layout inspection, or reports.
• Use evaluate_script, console, and network commands when debugging runtime behavior; use Lighthouse and performance tracing for page-quality/performance work.

Common Tasks

chrome-devtools list_pages
chrome-devtools navigate_page --url "https://example.com"
chrome-devtools navigate_page --type "reload" --ignoreCache=true
chrome-devtools evaluate_script "() => document.title"
chrome-devtools list_console_messages --types error
chrome-devtools list_network_requests --pageSize 50
chrome-devtools take_screenshot --filePath page.png
chrome-devtools lighthouse_audit --mode "navigation"
chrome-devtools performance_start_trace --reload=true --autoStop=false --filePath trace.json.gz
chrome-devtools performance_stop_trace

For a broader command map, read references/cli-reference.md.

Setup

If this is the first time using the CLI or chrome-devtools is missing, read references/installation.md. Installation is a one-time prerequisite, not part of the regular workflow.

References

• references/cli-reference.md — command groups, daemon behavior, output modes, and troubleshooting commands
• references/installation.md — global install and PATH troubleshooting