microsoft · dgozman · Dec 3, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
diff --git a/docs/src/api/params.md b/docs/src/api/params.md
@@ -1078,8 +1078,7 @@ Close the browser process on SIGHUP. Defaults to `true`.
 
 Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
 [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-[Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-[`option: BrowserType.launch.devtools`] option is `true`.
+[Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
 
 ## js-python-browser-option-firefoxuserprefs
 * langs: js, python
@@ -1117,13 +1116,6 @@ disable timeout.
 
 If specified, traces are saved into this directory.
 
-## browser-option-devtools
-* deprecated: Use [debugging tools](../debug.md) instead.
-- `devtools` <[boolean]>
-
-**Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-[`option: headless`] option will be set `false`.
-
 ## browser-option-slowmo
 - `slowMo` <[float]>
 
@@ -1133,7 +1125,6 @@ Slows down Playwright operations by the specified amount of milliseconds. Useful
 - %%-browser-option-args-%%
 - %%-browser-option-channel-%%
 - %%-browser-option-chromiumsandbox-%%
-- %%-browser-option-devtools-%%
 - %%-browser-option-downloadspath-%%
 - %%-csharp-java-browser-option-env-%%
 - %%-js-browser-option-env-%%

diff --git a/packages/playwright-client/types/types.d.ts b/packages/playwright-client/types/types.d.ts
@@ -14998,14 +14998,6 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
      */
     deviceScaleFactor?: number;
 
-    /**
-     * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-     * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-persistent-context-option-headless)
-     * option will be set `false`.
-     * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-     */
-    devtools?: boolean;
-
     /**
      * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
      * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -15085,9 +15077,7 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
     /**
      * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
      * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-     * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-     * `true`.
+     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
      */
     headless?: boolean;
 
@@ -15428,14 +15418,6 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
      */
     chromiumSandbox?: boolean;
 
-    /**
-     * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-     * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-server-option-headless) option
-     * will be set `false`.
-     * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-     */
-    devtools?: boolean;
-
     /**
      * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
      * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -15480,9 +15462,7 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
     /**
      * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
      * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-     * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-     * `true`.
+     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
      */
     headless?: boolean;
 
@@ -21763,14 +21743,6 @@ export interface LaunchOptions {
    */
   chromiumSandbox?: boolean;
 
-  /**
-   * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-   * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-headless) option will be
-   * set `false`.
-   * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-   */
-  devtools?: boolean;
-
   /**
    * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
    * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -21815,9 +21787,7 @@ export interface LaunchOptions {
   /**
    * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
    * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-   * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-   * `true`.
+   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
    */
   headless?: boolean;
 

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/protocol/validator.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/protocol/validator.ts
@@ -506,7 +506,6 @@ scheme.BrowserTypeLaunchParams = tObject({
   timeout: tFloat,
   env: tOptional(tArray(tType('NameValue'))),
   headless: tOptional(tBoolean),
-  devtools: tOptional(tBoolean),
   proxy: tOptional(tObject({
     server: tString,
     bypass: tOptional(tString),
@@ -536,7 +535,6 @@ scheme.BrowserTypeLaunchPersistentContextParams = tObject({
   timeout: tFloat,
   env: tOptional(tArray(tType('NameValue'))),
   headless: tOptional(tBoolean),
-  devtools: tOptional(tBoolean),
   proxy: tOptional(tObject({
     server: tString,
     bypass: tOptional(tString),

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/remote/playwrightServer.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/remote/playwrightServer.ts
@@ -375,7 +375,6 @@ const defaultLaunchOptions: Partial<LaunchOptionsWithTimeout> = {
   handleSIGTERM: false,
   handleSIGHUP: false,
   headless: true,
-  devtools: false,
 };
 
 const optionsThatAllowBrowserReuse: (keyof LaunchOptionsWithTimeout)[] = [

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/bidi/bidiChromium.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/bidi/bidiChromium.ts
@@ -123,8 +123,6 @@ export class BidiChromium extends BrowserType {
       chromeArguments.push('--enable-unsafe-swiftshader');
     }
 
-    if (options.devtools)
-      chromeArguments.push('--auto-open-devtools-for-tabs');
     if (options.headless) {
       chromeArguments.push('--headless');
 

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/browserType.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/browserType.ts
@@ -293,15 +293,14 @@ export abstract class BrowserType extends SdkObject {
   }
 
   private _validateLaunchOptions(options: types.LaunchOptions): types.LaunchOptions {
-    const { devtools = false } = options;
-    let { headless = !devtools, downloadsPath, proxy } = options;
+    let { headless = true, downloadsPath, proxy } = options;
     if (debugMode() === 'inspector')
       headless = false;
     if (downloadsPath && !path.isAbsolute(downloadsPath))
       downloadsPath = path.join(process.cwd(), downloadsPath);
     if (options.socksProxyPort)
       proxy = { server: `socks5://127.0.0.1:${options.socksProxyPort}` };
-    return { ...options, devtools, headless, downloadsPath, proxy };
+    return { ...options, headless, downloadsPath, proxy };
   }
 
   protected _createUserDataDirArgMisuseError(userDataDirArg: string): Error {

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/chromium/chromium.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/chromium/chromium.ts
@@ -141,13 +141,8 @@ export class Chromium extends BrowserType {
   }
 
   override async connectToTransport(transport: ConnectionTransport, options: BrowserOptions, browserLogsCollector: RecentLogsCollector): Promise<CRBrowser> {
-    let devtools = this._devtools;
-    if ((options as any).__testHookForDevTools) {
-      devtools = this._createDevTools();
-      await (options as any).__testHookForDevTools(devtools);
-    }
     try {
-      return await CRBrowser.connect(this.attribution.playwright, transport, options, devtools);
+      return await CRBrowser.connect(this.attribution.playwright, transport, options, this._devtools);
     } catch (e) {
       if (browserLogsCollector.recentLogs().some(log => log.includes('Failed to create a ProcessSingleton for your profile directory.'))) {
         throw new Error(
@@ -326,8 +321,6 @@ export class Chromium extends BrowserType {
       chromeArguments.push('--enable-unsafe-swiftshader');
     }
 
-    if (options.devtools)
-      chromeArguments.push('--auto-open-devtools-for-tabs');
     if (options.headless) {
       chromeArguments.push('--headless');
 

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/chromium/crDevTools.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/chromium/crDevTools.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export class CRDevTools {
   private _preferencesPath: string;
   private _prefs: any;
   private _savePromise: Promise<any>;
-  __testHookOnBinding?: (parsed: any) => any;
 
   constructor(preferencesPath: string) {
     this._preferencesPath = preferencesPath;
@@ -39,8 +38,6 @@ export class CRDevTools {
         return;
       const parsed = JSON.parse(event.payload);
       let result = undefined;
-      if (this.__testHookOnBinding)
-        this.__testHookOnBinding(parsed);
       if (parsed.method === 'getPreferences') {
         if (this._prefs === undefined) {
           try {

diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts b/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts
@@ -14998,14 +14998,6 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
      */
     deviceScaleFactor?: number;
 
-    /**
-     * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-     * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-persistent-context-option-headless)
-     * option will be set `false`.
-     * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-     */
-    devtools?: boolean;
-
     /**
      * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
      * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -15085,9 +15077,7 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
     /**
      * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
      * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-     * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-     * `true`.
+     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
      */
     headless?: boolean;
 
@@ -15428,14 +15418,6 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
      */
     chromiumSandbox?: boolean;
 
-    /**
-     * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-     * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-server-option-headless) option
-     * will be set `false`.
-     * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-     */
-    devtools?: boolean;
-
     /**
      * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
      * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -15480,9 +15462,7 @@ export interface BrowserType<Unused = {}> {
     /**
      * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
      * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-     * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-     * `true`.
+     * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
      */
     headless?: boolean;
 
@@ -21763,14 +21743,6 @@ export interface LaunchOptions {
    */
   chromiumSandbox?: boolean;
 
-  /**
-   * **Chromium-only** Whether to auto-open a Developer Tools panel for each tab. If this option is `true`, the
-   * [`headless`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-headless) option will be
-   * set `false`.
-   * @deprecated Use [debugging tools](https://playwright.dev/docs/debug) instead.
-   */
-  devtools?: boolean;
-
   /**
    * If specified, accepted downloads are downloaded into this directory. Otherwise, temporary directory is created and
    * is deleted when browser is closed. In either case, the downloads are deleted when the browser context they were
@@ -21815,9 +21787,7 @@ export interface LaunchOptions {
   /**
    * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
    * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-   * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-   * `true`.
+   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
    */
   headless?: boolean;
 

diff --git a/packages/playwright/types/test.d.ts b/packages/playwright/types/test.d.ts
@@ -6747,9 +6747,7 @@ export interface PlaywrightWorkerOptions {
   /**
    * Whether to run browser in headless mode. More details for
    * [Chromium](https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/04/headless-chrome) and
-   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true` unless the
-   * [`devtools`](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-browsertype#browser-type-launch-option-devtools) option is
-   * `true`.
+   * [Firefox](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-headless-mode-in-firefox/). Defaults to `true`.
    *
    * **Usage**
    *

diff --git a/packages/protocol/src/channels.d.ts b/packages/protocol/src/channels.d.ts
@@ -887,7 +887,6 @@ export type BrowserTypeLaunchParams = {
   timeout: number,
   env?: NameValue[],
   headless?: boolean,
-  devtools?: boolean,
   proxy?: {
     server: string,
     bypass?: string,
@@ -913,7 +912,6 @@ export type BrowserTypeLaunchOptions = {
   handleSIGHUP?: boolean,
   env?: NameValue[],
   headless?: boolean,
-  devtools?: boolean,
   proxy?: {
     server: string,
     bypass?: string,
@@ -943,7 +941,6 @@ export type BrowserTypeLaunchPersistentContextParams = {
   timeout: number,
   env?: NameValue[],
   headless?: boolean,
-  devtools?: boolean,
   proxy?: {
     server: string,
     bypass?: string,
@@ -1026,7 +1023,6 @@ export type BrowserTypeLaunchPersistentContextOptions = {
   handleSIGHUP?: boolean,
   env?: NameValue[],
   headless?: boolean,
-  devtools?: boolean,
   proxy?: {
     server: string,
     bypass?: string,

diff --git a/packages/protocol/src/protocol.yml b/packages/protocol/src/protocol.yml
@@ -467,7 +467,6 @@ LaunchOptions:
       type: array?
       items: NameValue
     headless: boolean?
-    devtools: boolean?
     proxy:
       type: object?
       properties:

diff --git a/tests/library/chromium/launcher.spec.ts b/tests/library/chromium/launcher.spec.ts
@@ -34,24 +34,6 @@ it('should not throw with remote-debugging-port argument', async ({ browserType,
   await browser.close();
 });
 
-it('should open devtools when "devtools: true" option is given', async ({ browserType, mode, platform, channel }) => {
-  it.skip(mode !== 'default' || platform === 'win32' || !!channel);
-
-  let devtoolsCallback;
-  const devtoolsPromise = new Promise(f => devtoolsCallback = f);
-  const __testHookForDevTools = devtools => devtools.__testHookOnBinding = parsed => {
-    if (parsed.method === 'getPreferences')
-      devtoolsCallback();
-  };
-  const browser = await browserType.launch({ headless: false, devtools: true, __testHookForDevTools } as any);
-  const context = await browser.newContext();
-  await Promise.all([
-    devtoolsPromise,
-    context.newPage()
-  ]);
-  await browser.close();
-});
-
 it('should not create pages automatically', async ({ browserType }) => {
   const browser = await browserType.launch();
   const browserSession = await browser.newBrowserCDPSession();

diff --git a/tests/library/playwright.config.ts b/tests/library/playwright.config.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ for (const browserName of browserNames) {
   const executablePath = getExecutablePath(browserName);
   if (executablePath && !process.env.TEST_WORKER_INDEX)
     console.error(`Using executable at ${executablePath}`);
-  const devtools = process.env.DEVTOOLS === '1';
   const testIgnore: RegExp[] = browserNames.filter(b => b !== browserName).map(b => new RegExp(b));
 
   const projectTemplate: typeof config.projects[0] = {
@@ -127,7 +126,6 @@ for (const browserName of browserNames) {
       video: video ? 'on' : undefined,
       launchOptions: {
         executablePath,
-        devtools
       },
       trace: trace ? 'on' : undefined,
     },

diff --git a/utils/generate_types/test/test.ts b/utils/generate_types/test/test.ts
@@ -226,7 +226,6 @@ playwright.chromium.launch().then(async browser => {
 // Test v0.12 features
 (async () => {
   const launchOptions: playwright.LaunchOptions = {
-    devtools: true,
     env: {
       TIMEOUT: '52',
       SOMETHING: '/some/path',