Installing system dependencies requires root privileges

Error

Installing system dependencies requires root privileges

What it means

Puppeteer raised this from its browser installation code. In practice, it usually means your script reached a browser, page, frame, element, or option state that the API cannot use safely.

How to fix it

• Verify network access to the browser download host and avoid setting PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD unless you provide your own browser.
• Clear the Puppeteer browser cache and reinstall if an archive or metadata file is corrupt.
• On Linux, install required system packages before launching the browser.

Minimal guard

try {
  // Run the Puppeteer operation that triggers this error.
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof Error && error.message.includes("Installing system dependencies requires ")) {
    // Apply the fix above, then retry or fail with a clearer message.
  }
  throw error;
}