The short answer
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed.
What is it?
Recent Playwright versions download a separate, lighter Chromium build used for headless test runs, stored as chromium_headless_shell-<build> folders in ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright. A new folder appears as Playwright is upgraded, and old ones can linger. Each is typically a few hundred MB.
What happens if you delete it?
Playwright downloads the headless shell again when a project that needs it runs npx playwright install. The newest version is kept, so current projects are not affected.
How to remove it properly
Run npx playwright uninstall in a project to remove browsers that no Playwright installation still uses. Otherwise move the older chromium_headless_shell-* folders to the Trash in Finder (Go › Go to Folder… ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright).
Quit the app that uses it, then move it to the Trash. Empty the Trash when you’re sure.
- MoreRoom keeps the newest 1 and suggests the older ones.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this item, shows its real size and when it was last used, and labels it “Safe to remove”. In the free version you can move it to the Trash in one click, with Undo; Pro collects every safe item at once.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete Playwright’s chromium_headless_shell folders?
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed. Playwright downloads the headless shell again when a project that needs it runs npx playwright install. The newest version is kept, so current projects are not affected.
Will Playwright headless shell (old versions) come back after I delete it?
Yes. Playwright downloads the headless shell again when a project that needs it runs npx playwright install. The newest version is kept, so current projects are not affected.
How do I remove Playwright headless shell (old versions) properly?
Run npx playwright uninstall in a project to remove browsers that no Playwright installation still uses. Otherwise move the older chromium_headless_shell-* folders to the Trash in Finder (Go › Go to Folder… ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright).