TL;DR

  • New PUPPETEER_DANGEROUS_NO_SANDBOX environment variable for sandbox control.
  • Updated Chrome browser to versions 146.0.7680.153 and 146.0.7680.80.
  • General stability and compatibility improvements for test automation.

Key Changes

Puppeteer puppeteer-core-v24.40.0, released on March 19, 2026, introduces a key feature and important browser updates.

Features: A notable addition is support for the PUPPETEER_DANGEROUS_NO_SANDBOX environment variable. This allows users to disable the Chrome sandbox, which can be crucial for specific CI/CD environments or systems where sandbox restrictions cause issues. This provides greater flexibility for test execution setups.

Fixes: The update includes critical rolls to Chrome versions 146.0.7680.80 and 146.0.7680.153. These updates ensure Puppeteer remains compatible with the latest browser features, security patches, and performance enhancements.

For full details, refer to the official changelog.

Impact for QA Teams

QA engineers gain more control over test environments with the new sandbox option, simplifying execution in restricted setups. The Chrome updates ensure tests run against a current browser version, reducing compatibility issues and reflecting real-world user conditions. This helps maintain reliable automation scripts, whether you’re comparing Puppeteer with Playwright or using it as your primary tool.