If you want to install browser-act and actually use BrowserAct on the same day, the goal is simple: get the CLI installed, confirm the binary works, create or pick a browser, and run one small task end to end. That sounds obvious, but it is where most setup guides go wrong. They stop at "install the package" and never show what to do next. For browser automation, the post-install step matters more than the install step, because the real test is whether the agent can open a browser, keep state, a

Quick Answer

The simplest way to install BrowserAct is:

uv tool upgrade browser-act-cli --python 3.12 || uv tool install browser-act-cli --python 3.12

Then verify it:

browser-act --help
browser-act browser list

If those commands work, you are past the hard part.

What You Need Before You Start

BrowserAct works best when you already know which browser mode your workflow needs.

Typical options include:

• a stealth browser for repeatable agent workflows
• a Chrome-based session when you want to reuse local login state
• a real browser flow when you need a human to take over

If your task is just content extraction, start with stealth-extract. If your task is logged-in, multi-step work, start with a browser session.

Step 1: Install the CLI

The standard install command is:

uv tool upgrade browser-act-cli --python 3.12 || uv tool install browser-act-cli --python 3.12

Why this matters:

• uv tool gives you a clean tool install
• the upgrade fallback keeps existing installs current
• Python 3.12 matches the workspace convention used in the internal docs

If you are on a machine where browser-act already exists, the upgrade branch is harmless.

Step 2: Verify the Binary

Once the install finishes, check that the command is on your path:

browser-act --help

Then confirm the browser registry is visible:

browser-act browser list

If browser-act --help works but browser-act browser list fails, that usually means the CLI is installed but the local environment is not fully configured yet.

Step 3: Do a Read-Only Smoke Test

The best first test is not login or posting. It is a read-only extraction.

browser-act stealth-extract https://example.com --output ./page.md

That tells you three useful things:

• the command runs
• the browser layer can fetch a page
• the output path and permissions are working

If you want a lighter test, try a plain text page first before moving to a protected site.

Step 4: Open Your First Browser Session

For interactive work, BrowserAct is more useful when the browser session is explicit.

browser-act browser list
browser-act --session my-task browser open <browser-id> https://example.com

Then inspect the page:

browser-act --session my-task eval "document.title"

That tiny loop is the real starting point for browser automation:

• choose the browser
• attach the session
• open the page
• inspect state

Once that works, you can build on top of it.

Step 5: Learn the Three Commands You Will Use Most

Most new users only need three command families at the beginning:

stealth-extract

Use this when you want page content without building a full interaction flow.

browser-act stealth-extract https://example.com --content-type markdown

browser open

Use this when the browser session itself matters.

browser-act --session shop-a browser open <browser-id> https://shop.example.com

eval

Use this when you need to inspect the current DOM state or pull a value from the page.

browser-act --session shop-a eval "document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent"

These three commands cover most tutorial-level workflows without forcing you into a full framework mindset.

Step 6: Pick the Right Browser Mode

BrowserAct is easier to use once you stop thinking of "the browser" as one thing.

If you are not sure, start with a read-only stealth task and move to a login-sensitive workflow later.

For a broader product overview before you pick a mode, the AI browser guide explains why browser access matters for agents. If you are evaluating tools, best browser automation for AI agents gives the higher-level comparison.

Common Setup Mistakes

1. Trying to start with the hardest workflow

Do not begin with a live posting flow, a payment page, or a 2FA-heavy dashboard. Start with a page you can safely read.

2. Skipping the browser inventory step

3. Treating install as the finish line

The install is only the first checkpoint. The first successful stealth-extract or browser open is the real milestone.

4. Mixing one browser identity across unrelated tasks

If you are going to do repeated work, keep sessions explicit. Reusing one fuzzy browser context across unrelated workflows is how state leaks happen.

A Good First Workflow

If you want a practical starter path, use this sequence:

1. Install BrowserAct
2. Run browser-act --help
3. Run browser-act browser list
4. Run browser-act stealth-extract on a public page
5. Open one session with browser-act --session my-task browser open
6. Inspect the DOM with eval
7. Move to a login-sensitive workflow only after the first six steps are stable

That sequence gives you a stable foundation before you try anything production-like.

Where to Go After Install

Once the CLI works, the next step depends on your workflow:

Why This Tutorial Matters

The point of installing BrowserAct is not to prove you can install a CLI. The point is to get to a browser workflow that can survive real work:

• real login state
• real page changes
• real browser sessions
• real handoff when things get blocked

If your automation still breaks at the first browser boundary, the problem is usually not the model. It is the setup.

Conclusion

If you came here to install browser-act, the shortest path is:

uv tool upgrade browser-act-cli --python 3.12 || uv tool install browser-act-cli --python 3.12
browser-act --help
browser-act browser list
browser-act stealth-extract https://example.com --output ./page.md

Once that works, you have a real starting point for browser automation. From there, the next step is to choose the right browser mode and build one workflow you can repeat.