Browser Launch Modes

browser_use.start has only two launch modes:

• Default: managed CDP
• private_mode=true: Playwright-managed

Parameter meanings:

• headed: whether to display the browser window
• private_mode: whether to disable CDP and use Playwright instead

The two parameters are independent and can be freely combined.

Common Usage

Default launch:

{"action": "start"}

Open a visible window:

{"action": "start", "headed": true}

Without CDP:

{"action": "start", "private_mode": true}

Visible window + without CDP:

{"action": "start", "headed": true, "private_mode": true}

When to Use private_mode

Only set private_mode=true when the user explicitly requests one of the following:

• Does not want the browser managed via CDP
• Wants to use Playwright instead
• Wants to reduce the possibility of other local tools connecting via CDP

Otherwise, just set headed=true as needed.

Notes

• The default is managed CDP
• The launch mode is entirely determined by the call parameters
• Managed CDP requires Chrome / Chromium / Edge to be installed locally
• private_mode=true does not mean absolutely undetectable — it simply switches to Playwright management
• When the user manually operates the visible browser, the idle timer may not be refreshed
• private_mode is an explicit parameter for each start call and is not persisted
• If a browser is already running, you must stop it and then start again to switch launch modes or window visibility
• Visible mode occupies the desktop and requires a graphical environment; it may not work on servers or headless environments