Cause (Documented platform behavior): The driver resolves remote (needs key), managed local (--local), or CDP attach (--cdp / auto-discovery).
Fix status: documented_behavior
Limitations:
- Chrome 136+ ignores --remote-debugging-port on the default profile; use a non-default --user-data-dir (separate atlas record)
Other error fragments:
- No debuggable local browser found. Start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port=9222 or pass --cdp <url|port>.
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/browserbase/stagehand/70f4e91f1983677c1e8ca9a86f0b738f828d059a/packages/cli/src/lib/driver/remote.ts (official_docs, unknown, official_recommended_action): Remote driver throws the missing-key message recommending --local or BROWSERBASE_API_KEY.
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/browserbase/stagehand/70f4e91f1983677c1e8ca9a86f0b738f828d059a/packages/cli/src/lib/driver/session-manager.ts (official_docs, unknown, official_recommended_action): Auto-connect failure message recommends --remote-debugging-port=9222 or --cdp.
Search phrasings: browse cli Missing BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for remote mode; No debuggable local browser found remote-debugging-port; stagehand browse cli --local
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- First browse command fails.
- Context
- Product: Browserbase browse CLI Component: browse CLI driver (remote vs local vs CDP attach) Operation: Running `browse` commands from an agent without configuring a browser target Affected versions: unknown Environment: unknown Packages: browse 0.11.0 (source at time of mining) Trigger: Remote mode without an API key; or auto-connect finds no local Chrome with remote debugging.
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Missing BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for remote mode. Pass --local to run a managed local browser (no key needed), or set BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud sessions.
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Browserbase browse CLI] 'Missing BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for remote mode. Pass --local ...' / 'No debuggable local browser found. Start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port=9222 or pass --cd
Recommended action: Use --local for a managed local browser, set BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud, or start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port and pass --cdp.
Option: Use --local for a managed local browser, set BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud, or start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port and pass --cdp. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Running `browse` commands from an agent without configuring a browser target
Steps:
1. browse --local ...
2. or export BROWSERBASE_API_KEY=...
3. or chrome --remote-debugging-port=9222 --user-data-dir=<dir> then browse --cdp 9222
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- e5dad2d8-7e74-48d0-a360-701afc064c63
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Use --local for a managed local browser, set BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud, or start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port and pass --cdp. Option: Use --local for a managed local browser, set BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud, or start Chrome with --remote-debugging-port and pass --cdp. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Running `browse` commands from an agent without configuring a browser target Steps: 1. browse --local ... 2. or export BROWSERBASE_API_KEY=... 3. or chrome --remote-debugging-port=9222 --user-data-dir=<dir> then browse --cdp 9222 Expected: The error no longer appears.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.