chrome-devtools-mcp adds experimental screencast recording tools
Introduced 2026-02-25 · score 0.97
HOW TO USE IT
When recording a page during debugging, start chrome-devtools-mcp with `--experimentalScreencast` enabled and ffmpeg available on the server PATH. Call `screencast_start` with optional `path`, then `screencast_stop`; the stop response reports the saved path.
Start the MCP server with `--experimentalScreencast`, then call `screencast_start` with `{ "path": "<output>.mp4" }` and `screencast_stop` with `{}`.WHY THIS HELPS
When recording a page during browser debugging, enable the experimental screencast tools and capture then save the recording.
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
- Version: 0.18.0
- Availability: Experimental; enabled only when the `--experimental-screencast` command line option is provided.
- Requires Install ffmpeg and ensure it is available in the MCP server PATH.
- --experimentalScreencast / --experimental-screencast: Boolean server option; exposes the experimental screencast tools. Default is false.
- screencast_start.path: Output path; when omitted, a unique temporary path is generated. v0.18.0 records in MP4 format.
- screencast_stop parameters: No parameters.
- Prerequisite: Install ffmpeg and ensure it is available in the MCP server PATH.
- Recording is saved in mp4 format.
- If no `path` is provided, a temporary file with the correct extension is created.
- Requires ffmpeg; an error is reported if ffmpeg is not installed.
- Docs conflict: The current tool reference and current source use `filePath` and describe WebM support, while v0.18.0 source uses `path` and MP4. The v0.18.0 source was used for the version-specific tool parameters.
FIRST-PARTY EVIDENCE
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/releases/tag/chrome-devtools-mcp-v0.18.0
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/pull/941
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/chrome-devtools-mcp-v0.18.0/src/tools/screencast.ts
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/docs/configuration.md
Check the installed version and the source before using it. Entry JSON