performance_start_trace supports cold-load traces with ignoreCache
Introduced 2026-10-15 · score 0.98
HOW TO USE IT
For a cold page-load trace, first navigate to the target URL, then call `performance_start_trace` with `reload: true` and `ignoreCache: true`.
performance_start_trace({"pageId": <pageId>, "reload": true, "ignoreCache": true})WHY THIS HELPS
When measuring a cold page load, start a trace that reloads the page with the HTTP cache bypassed.
BEFORE THIS CHANGE
Previously, a cold trace required starting the trace without reload, then calling `navigate_page({ignoreCache: true})` separately.
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
- Version: 1.11.0
- pageId (required): Targets a specific page by ID.
- reload: Automatically reloads the target page after tracing starts.
- ignoreCache: Bypasses the HTTP cache on reload to measure a cold page load; only applies when `reload` is true.
- Prerequisite: Navigate to the target URL with `navigate_page` before starting the trace when `reload` is true.
- `ignoreCache` has no effect unless `reload` is true.
FIRST-PARTY EVIDENCE
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/releases/tag/chrome-devtools-mcp-v1.11.0
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/pull/2931
- https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/3467d40da8f27aecf779ce325549e4b2436761ae/docs/tool-reference.md
Check the installed version and the source before using it. Entry JSON