playwright-stealth — Claude Code MCP server for browser automation
Let an agent control a Playwright browser, capture page images, and record sessions. Stealth behavior is an optional setting.
claude mcp add --env STEALTH_MODE=<STEALTH_MODE> --env STEALTH_USER_AGENT=<STEALTH_USER_AGENT> --env STEALTH_MASK_LINUX=<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX> --env STEALTH_LOCALE=<STEALTH_LOCALE> --env HEADLESS=<HEADLESS> --transport stdio playwright-stealth -- npx -y playwright-stealth-mcp-serverWhat playwright-stealth does
The server exposes Playwright code execution through browser_execute, with the current page object available to the code. Browser state persists between calls, so an agent can carry out a multi-step flow. Separate tools report browser state, capture screenshots, and start or stop WebM recording.
Set STEALTH_MODE to enable the optional stealth layer, which relies on playwright-extra and a stealth plugin. Environment variables also control proxy settings and browser behavior. Headless operation and ignoring HTTPS certificate errors are the defaults; set IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS to false when certificate validation should be stricter. All browser permissions are granted by default, so review that setting before using the server with a live site.
What it helps with
- run Playwright actions on a web page
- keep browser state across consecutive agent calls
- capture a full page or selected element
- save a browser session as a WebM recording
- inspect the active browser URL and title
Example prompts for the agent
- Open the sign-in page and return its title using Playwright.
- Capture a screenshot of the element selected by
#main-content. - Record the browser interaction and save the WebM video.
How to install playwright-stealth
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env STEALTH_MODE=<STEALTH_MODE> --env STEALTH_USER_AGENT=<STEALTH_USER_AGENT> --env STEALTH_MASK_LINUX=<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX> --env STEALTH_LOCALE=<STEALTH_LOCALE> --env HEADLESS=<HEADLESS> --transport stdio playwright-stealth -- npx -y playwright-stealth-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values. 10 more environment variables are in the server README
Platform CLI
codex mcp add playwright-stealth --env STEALTH_MODE=<STEALTH_MODE> --env STEALTH_USER_AGENT=<STEALTH_USER_AGENT> --env STEALTH_MASK_LINUX=<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX> --env STEALTH_LOCALE=<STEALTH_LOCALE> --env HEADLESS=<HEADLESS> -- npx -y playwright-stealth-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values. 10 more environment variables are in the server README
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"playwright-stealth": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"playwright-stealth-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"STEALTH_MODE": "<STEALTH_MODE>",
"STEALTH_USER_AGENT": "<STEALTH_USER_AGENT>",
"STEALTH_MASK_LINUX": "<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX>",
"STEALTH_LOCALE": "<STEALTH_LOCALE>",
"HEADLESS": "<HEADLESS>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. 10 more environment variables are in the server README
Config file
{
"servers": {
"playwright-stealth": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"playwright-stealth-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"STEALTH_MODE": "<STEALTH_MODE>",
"STEALTH_USER_AGENT": "<STEALTH_USER_AGENT>",
"STEALTH_MASK_LINUX": "<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX>",
"STEALTH_LOCALE": "<STEALTH_LOCALE>",
"HEADLESS": "<HEADLESS>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. 10 more environment variables are in the server README
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e STEALTH_MODE=<STEALTH_MODE> -e STEALTH_USER_AGENT=<STEALTH_USER_AGENT> -e STEALTH_MASK_LINUX=<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX> -e STEALTH_LOCALE=<STEALTH_LOCALE> -e HEADLESS=<HEADLESS> playwright-stealth npx -y playwright-stealth-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values. 10 more environment variables are in the server README
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about playwright-stealth
How do I install playwright-stealth in Claude Code?
Run `claude mcp add --env STEALTH_MODE=<STEALTH_MODE> --env STEALTH_USER_AGENT=<STEALTH_USER_AGENT> --env STEALTH_MASK_LINUX=<STEALTH_MASK_LINUX> --env STEALTH_LOCALE=<STEALTH_LOCALE> --env HEADLESS=<HEADLESS> --transport stdio playwright-stealth -- npx -y playwright-stealth-mcp-server`.
What does playwright-stealth do?
It gives an agent browser automation through Playwright. The agent can run code against the page, take screenshots, and record browser activity.
How can I use a proxy with the server?
Configure PROXY_URL, PROXY_USERNAME, and PROXY_PASSWORD as environment variables. Stealth mode is controlled separately with STEALTH_MODE.
