Fixing "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" Error: A Step-by-Step Guide

SenseBridge

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25-10-2024

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Encountering the "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" error can be frustrating for those working with Selenium for web automation. This error typically arises when the Chromedriver executable is missing, not installed correctly, or not compatible with the version of Google Chrome installed on your system. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of resolving this issue step-by-step. 🚀

Understanding Chromedriver

What is Chromedriver? 🤔

Chromedriver is a standalone server that implements the WebDriver's wire protocol for Chrome. It is a crucial component for testing web applications because it enables Selenium to communicate with Chrome browsers. Without the correct version of Chromedriver installed, you might face numerous errors, including the "Chromedriver Binary Not Found."

Why Does This Error Occur?

This error typically occurs due to a few common reasons:

• Chromedriver is not installed on your system.
• The Chromedriver binary is not on your system's PATH.
• There is a version mismatch between Chromedriver and the Chrome browser.
• Corrupted installation of Chromedriver.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" Error

Step 1: Check Your Chrome Version 🧐

Before you proceed, you must ensure that you have the correct version of Google Chrome installed. To check your version:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner.
3. Go to Help > About Google Chrome.
4. Note down the version number (e.g., 95.0.4638.54).

Step 2: Download the Compatible Chromedriver 📥

Now that you have the version of Chrome, you need to download the matching version of Chromedriver:

1. Visit the official Chromedriver page: Chromedriver Download.
2. Locate the version that corresponds to your installed version of Chrome.
3. Download the Chromedriver for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

Important Note: Always ensure you match the Chromedriver version with your installed Chrome browser version. If Chrome auto-updates, you may need to update Chromedriver as well.

Step 3: Extract and Place Chromedriver in Your System PATH 🗂️

After downloading Chromedriver, you will need to extract it and place it in a directory that is included in your system’s PATH environment variable.

1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
2. Move the chromedriver executable to a directory like /usr/local/bin/ (macOS/Linux) or C:\Program Files\ (Windows).

For Windows Users:

• To add to PATH:
  1. Search for "Environment Variables" in the Windows search bar.
  2. Click on "Edit the system environment variables."
  3. In the System Properties window, click on the Environment Variables button.
  4. Find the Path variable in the System variables section and select it.
  5. Click on Edit, and then New to add the location where you placed chromedriver.exe.
  6. Click OK to apply the changes.

For macOS/Linux Users:

• You can add Chromedriver to your PATH by running the following commands in the terminal:

sudo mv /path/to/extracted/chromedriver /usr/local/bin/
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/chromedriver

Step 4: Verify Chromedriver Installation ✅

To ensure that Chromedriver is correctly installed, you can verify the installation:

• Open a terminal or command prompt.
• Type the following command and hit enter:

chromedriver --version

This should return the version number of Chromedriver. If you see the version number, you’re all set!

Step 5: Run Your Selenium Script 🚀

Now that Chromedriver is installed and correctly set up, you can run your Selenium scripts without encountering the "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" error. Here's a simple Python script to test the setup:

from selenium import webdriver

# Create a new instance of the Chrome driver
driver = webdriver.Chrome()

# Open a website
driver.get('https://www.example.com')

# Close the browser
driver.quit()

Common Troubleshooting Tips 🔧

If you still encounter the "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" error after following the steps above, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:

• Check Chromedriver Version: Ensure that you are using the correct Chromedriver version that matches your Chrome version.
• Check PATH: Make sure that the directory where Chromedriver is located is included in the PATH environment variable.
• Permissions: Ensure that the Chromedriver file has the appropriate execute permissions (for macOS/Linux).

Important Note: Running an incompatible version of Chromedriver or not having sufficient permissions can still lead to issues, so double-check these aspects.

Conclusion

Following the steps in this guide should help you fix the "Chromedriver Binary Not Found" error effectively. By ensuring that you have the correct version of Chromedriver installed and properly configured in your system PATH, you can streamline your Selenium testing process. Happy coding! 💻✨