Never Start From Scratch: Persistent Browser Sessions for AI Agents

Building AI agents that interact with the web presents unique challenges. One of the most frustrating is the lack of persistent browser session for ai. Imagine an AI assistant that has to log in to a website every time it needs to perform a task. This repetitive process is not only time-consuming but also disrupts the flow of information and can lead to errors. Fortunately, there’s a solution: maintaining persistent browser sessions for your AI agents.

The Problem with Stateless AI Web Interactions

Without a persistent browser session, each interaction with a website is treated as a brand new visit. This means your AI agent loses all previous context, including login credentials, cookies, and browsing history. This “stateless” approach forces the agent to start from scratch each time, leading to:

• Repetitive Logins: Constant login prompts hinder automation and slow down processes.
• Loss of Context: Crucial information from previous interactions is lost, impacting the agent’s ability to perform complex tasks.
• Inefficient Resource Use: Repeatedly loading websites and resources consumes unnecessary time and computing power.

• Repetitive Logins: Constant login prompts hinder automation and slow down processes.
• Loss of Context: Crucial information from previous interactions is lost, impacting the agent’s ability to perform complex tasks.
• Inefficient Resource Use: Repeatedly loading websites and resources consumes unnecessary time and computing power.

The Power of Persistent Browser Sessions for AI

A persistent browser session for ai allows your agent to maintain a continuous connection with a website, preserving its state across multiple interactions. This means:

• Eliminate Repetitive Logins: Your AI agent stays logged in, ready to perform tasks without interruption.
• Preserve Context: Retain crucial information like cookies, browsing history, and form data for seamless task execution.
• Streamline Workflow: Enable complex, multi-step automation without constantly restarting the process. This is crucial for tasks like web scraping, data extraction, and automated testing.

How Browser-Use Enables Persistent Sessions

Browser-Use offers a powerful solution for managing persistent browser context for ai. By leveraging its features, you can easily create and maintain browser sessions, allowing your AI agents to operate with maximum efficiency. This functionality is especially beneficial for long-running ai browser sessions that require continuous interaction with web applications.

Installation Guide

Prerequisites

• Python 3.11 or higher
• Git (for cloning the repository)

Option 1: Local Installation

Read the quickstart guide or follow the steps below to get started.

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/browser-use/web-ui.git
cd web-ui

Step 2: Set Up Python Environment

We recommend using uv for managing the Python environment.

Using uv (recommended):

uv venv --python 3.11

Activate the virtual environment:

• Windows (Command Prompt):

.venv\Scripts\activate

• Windows (PowerShell):

.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

• macOS/Linux:

source .venv/bin/activate

Step 3: Install Dependencies

Install Python packages:

uv pip install -r requirements.txt

Install Playwright:

playwright install

Step 4: Configure Environment

1. Create a copy of the example environment file:

• Windows (Command Prompt):

copy .env.example .env

• macOS/Linux/Windows (PowerShell):

cp .env.example .env

2. Open .env in your preferred text editor and add your API keys and other settings

Option 2: Docker Installation

Prerequisites

• Docker and Docker Compose installed
  • Docker Desktop (For Windows/macOS)
  • Docker Engine and Docker Compose (For Linux)

Installation Steps

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/browser-use/web-ui.git
cd web-ui

2. Create and configure environment file:

• Windows (Command Prompt):

copy .env.example .env

• macOS/Linux/Windows (PowerShell):

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env with your preferred text editor and add your API keys

3. Run with Docker:

# Build and start the container with default settings (browser closes after AI tasks)
docker compose up --build

# Or run with persistent browser (browser stays open between AI tasks)
CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=true docker compose up --build

4. Access the Application:

• Web Interface: Open http://localhost:7788 in your browser
• VNC Viewer (for watching browser interactions): Open http://localhost:6080/vnc.html
  • Default VNC password: “youvncpassword”
  • Can be changed by setting VNC_PASSWORD in your .env file

Docker Setup

Environment Variables:

All configuration is done through the .env file

Available environment variables:

# LLM API Keys
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here
GOOGLE_API_KEY=your_key_here

# Browser Settings
CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=true   # Set to true to keep browser open between AI tasks
RESOLUTION=1920x1080x24         # Custom resolution format: WIDTHxHEIGHTxDEPTH
RESOLUTION_WIDTH=1920           # Custom width in pixels
RESOLUTION_HEIGHT=1080          # Custom height in pixels

# VNC Settings
VNC_PASSWORD=your_vnc_password  # Optional, defaults to "vncpassword"

Platform Support:

Supports both AMD64 and ARM64 architectures

For ARM64 systems (e.g., Apple Silicon Macs), the container will automatically use the appropriate image

Browser Persistence Modes:

Default Mode (CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=false):

Browser opens and closes with each AI task

Clean state for each interaction

Lower resource usage

Persistent Mode (CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=true):

Browser stays open between AI tasks

Maintains history and state

Allows viewing previous AI interactions

Set in .env file or via environment variable when starting container

Viewing Browser Interactions:

Access the noVNC viewer at http://localhost:6080/vnc.html

Enter the VNC password (default: “vncpassword” or what you set in VNC_PASSWORD)

Direct VNC access available on port 5900 (mapped to container port 5901)

You can now see all browser interactions in real-time

Persistent browser sessions are essential for building efficient and robust AI agents that interact with the web. By eliminating repetitive logins, preserving context, and streamlining workflows, you can unlock the true potential of AI web automation. Explore Browser-Use and discover how its persistent session management can revolutionize your AI development process. Start building smarter, more efficient AI agents today!