--- title: "Open Web Browser Step" url: "https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/open-web-browser-step" language: "en" last_updated: "2026-10-23T07:38:20.292Z" --- # Open Web Browser Step The Open Web Browser Step opens a web browser and goes to a specific website address, or attaches to a browser that is already running. This step uses a Selenium driver to control the browser. The driver downloads by itself to match your chosen browser and its version. ## How to Use the Open Web Browser Step Use this step to begin automating tasks on the web by opening a browser window. ### Step 1: Add the Open Web Browser Step 1. Drag the **Open Web Browser Step** into your process workflow. 2. Click on the step to change its settings. ### Step 2: Set Up Browser Settings 1. **Type:** Pick your browser from the list. - Chrome - Edge 2. **URL:** Type in the full web address you want to open. For example: [`https://www.robotiq.`](https://www.robotiq.ai/), required unless you attach to an existing browser. 3. **Maximized:** Turn this on (`T` for True) if you want the browser window to open full-screen. It's off (`F` for False) by default.  ### Step 3: Additional Properties (Optional) 1. **Attach to existing browser**: Turn this on (T) to attach to a browser that is already running instead of starting a new one. If a browser is already running with this debugging port, the step attaches to it. Otherwise a new browser is launched with that port. It's off (F) by default. 2. **Debugging port**: Shown when Attach to existing browser is T. The port used to attach to the browser or to launch a new one. The default is 9222. 3. **Extension paths**: Shown when Attach to existing browser is F. Click Add new and enter the path to the folder of each extension you want to load. ### Step 4: Record Web Actions (Optional) 1. After you pick the browser type and enter the URL, click the **Start Web Browser Recording** button. 2. This lets you record what you do and choose items on the webpage. **Important:** If you don't have internet or the robot isn't allowed to download the Selenium driver automatically, you'll need to download it yourself. Put the driver in this folder on your VM: `C:\Users\%username%\.cache\selenium` Inside this folder, make another folder for your browser type (like `chromedriver` or `msedgedriver`). Inside that, make a `win64` subfolder. Then, make another subfolder with the driver version (for example, `142.0.7444.61`). Put the driver file inside this version folder. ## Parameters Explained **Step Name** (Optional) - A name you choose for this step in your process. **Start Web Browser Recording** (Optional) - Starts recording to capture web elements and actions. - This button shows up after you pick a browser type and enter a URL. - For more information, see [Record process](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/record-process). **Type** (Required) - The kind of web browser to open. - Choices: `Chrome`, `Edge`. **URL** (Required if Attach to existing browser is F) - The full web address to open in the browser. - Not used when Attach to existing browser is T. - Example: `https://www.robotiq.ai` **Maximized** (Required) - Controls if the browser window opens full-screen. - `T` (True): Opens full-screen. - `F` (False): Opens in a regular window (this is the default). **Prevent Browser Download** (Required) - Controls whether the browser automatically downloads the driver. - `T` (True): Prevents the browser from automatically downloading the driver. - `F` (False):  Allows the browser to automatically download the driver (default). **Browser arguments** (Optional) - Special commands given to the browser when it starts. - These change how the browser acts, like turning on incognito mode or running without showing a window. - Arguments are text, starting with `--`. Put a space between multiple arguments. - Example: `--incognito --disable-popup-blocking` - Available when Attach to existing browser is F **Attach to existing browser** (Optional) - T (True): Attaches to a browser that is already running with the given debugging port. If no browser is running on that port, a new browser is launched with it. - F (False): Always starts a new browser (default). **Debugging port** (Required if Attach to existing browser is T)  - The port of the browser's remote debugging. - The default is 9222. Allowed values: 1024 to 65535. - Available when Attach to existing browser is T. **Extension paths** (Optional) - Paths to the folders of browser extensions to load when the browser is started. - Click Add new for each extension and enter the path to the extension folder (the folder that contains manifest.json). You can use an existing variable name or type in a direct value. - Available when Attach to existing browser is F. Extensions cannot be loaded into a browser the step attaches to. ## Common Issues **Problem:** Selenium driver doesn't download by itself. **Solution:** Download the right Selenium driver for your browser and version yourself. Put it in `C:\Users\%username%\.cache\selenium\[browser_type]\win64\[driver_version]\`. ## Related Articles - [Web Automation with Selenium](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/web-automation-with-selenium) - [Close Web Browser Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/close-web-browser-step) - [Selenium driver](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/selenium-driver) ## Need Help? Can't find what you're looking for? Join the [Robotiq Community](https://community.robotiq.ai/home/) to get help from other users and the Robotiq team. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/99d571db-4738-4b01-8933-fac07757accf) **Additional comments** When launching a Chromium-based browser (like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) using Selenium or any automation tool, you can pass special command-line arguments (also called flags) to customize the browser’s behavior. These arguments allow you to control how the browser starts such as enabling incognito mode, disabling popups, or running in headless mode. Arguments are passed as strings, prefixed with `--`, and you can pass multiple arguments by separating them with a space. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/bd807268-ff6f-41ef-b3a5-f19f28f61ed3) Here are some of the most frequently used command‑line arguments for Chromium‑based browsers (Chrome, Edge) when automating via Selenium. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/e2c0039d-3286-481d-a439-2c22955cc336) Most command-line arguments listed here work across Chromium-based browsers (like Chrome and Edge); however, be cautious with the WebDriver you are using, as some Microsoft Edge-specific arguments may not work in Chrome, and vice versa. This [list](https://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/) covers flags that are generally compatible with multiple Chromium-based browsers. **NOTE**: If you don’t have internet access or permission for the robot to automatically download the Selenium driver, it must be downloaded manually([link](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/selenium-driver)). ## Reusing Browser Drivers in Functions A dedicated variable type is available for browser driver references. This allows browser drivers to be reused across steps, accessed from Script steps, and passed as parameters to functions if needed, making web automations more flexible and reusable. When passing a browser driver to a function, the parameter must be defined as an input parameter with the variable type `BrowserReference`. The parameter name does not need to match the original driver name and can use any custom name. When calling the function, the system will offer only the web drivers that are currently available in the process. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/1ebb5858-e2de-4a11-85cf-7c87ef6ac517) ## Using BrowserReference in Script Steps Browser driver references can also be used inside Script steps, allowing you to directly interact with the browser instance within your scripts. The value inside the brackets must match the reference ID defined in the Open Web Browser step. `IWebDriver driver = WebBrowserReference["WEB_REFERENCE_1769608929995_1770382586525"];`  In this example, `WEB_REFERENCE_1769608929995_1770382586525` represents the browser reference generated in the Open Web Browser step. Using this reference allows the script to interact with the same browser instance that was opened earlier in the process. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/2e969939-99c6-46c5-9148-14ea424838df) ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/becf1df9-a95c-43e0-98cd-c50ef8e127c3)