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How to Set a Website Screenshot MCP Server to Use the Asia/Kolkata Timezone

Set Playwright MCP's browser context to Asia/Kolkata, verify the page sees it, and troubleshoot timezone configuration issues.

By the ScreenshotNeo team4 October 20264 min read

For Playwright MCP, set browser.contextOptions.timezoneId to Asia/Kolkata in the server configuration file, then launch the server with --config. This changes the timezone that pages see in that browser context; it does not change the MCP server’s Node.js process timezone or a test runner’s timezone.

1. Configure Playwright MCP

Create a JSON config file such as playwright.config.json:

{
  "browser": {
    "contextOptions": {
      "timezoneId": "Asia/Kolkata"
    }
  }
}

Start the server with that file:

npx @playwright/mcp@latest --config playwright.config.json

For a client that starts MCP servers from a JSON entry, pass the same arguments. The exact location of this entry depends on the MCP client:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest",
        "--config",
        "playwright.config.json"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Save the config where the server process can read it, use a path valid from that process’s working directory (or provide an absolute path), then restart or reconnect the MCP server so it creates a context with the new option. Playwright MCP documents browser.contextOptions as Playwright browser context options, and its configuration precedence gives command-line arguments the highest priority. Playwright MCP configuration options

2. Verify the timezone from a page

After reconnecting, navigate to a page where the browser can evaluate JavaScript and inspect:

new Date().toString()
Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone

The second expression should return Asia/Kolkata. The first should render the current instant using that timezone. These checks verify the browser page’s timezone, not the server process’s timezone. Playwright BrowserType API

3. Understand what the setting changes

timezoneId is a browser context setting. It affects page-side date and time behavior, such as JavaScript local-time formatting. It does not set the operating-system timezone or change the timezone used by the Node.js process that runs the MCP server. Playwright documents TZ as the environment variable for changing a test runner’s timezone; that is a separate configuration concern. Playwright emulation guide

This configuration is specific to Playwright MCP. MCP is a protocol, and another screenshot server may expose a different setting name or configuration structure. Check that server’s documentation rather than assuming it accepts Playwright’s keys. Playwright MCP introduction

4. Configuration choices and edge cases

Choice or condition What to do
Timezone value Use the supported ICU timezone identifier Asia/Kolkata, with this exact spelling.
Existing launch arguments Inspect command-line arguments and environment settings if the configured value does not take effect. Command-line arguments have the highest precedence in Playwright MCP configuration.
Relative config path Resolve it from the server process’s working directory. Use an absolute path if the MCP client starts the process from a different directory.
Different MCP server Look up that server’s own context or browser configuration schema; Playwright’s option is not a universal MCP setting.
Reproducibility @latest is a moving package alias. Pin a package version for repeatable environments and check the documentation for that version.

Playwright accepts supported ICU timezone IDs. If the runtime or browser rejects the value, check the installed Playwright and browser versions and confirm support for the identifier. BrowserType API: timezoneId

5. Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
The page still reports another timezone The MCP server was not restarted, the config was not loaded, or another launch setting takes precedence. Reconnect the server, confirm the launched command includes --config and the intended path, then inspect command-line arguments and environment configuration.
The config file cannot be found The client launches the process with a different working directory than expected. Use an absolute config path or put the file at the path resolved from the server’s working directory.
The timezone identifier is rejected The installed runtime or browser does not recognize the identifier or has a version issue. Confirm the exact spelling Asia/Kolkata, then check the installed Playwright/browser version and its supported ICU timezone IDs.
Server-side logs still use the machine’s local time Browser context timezone emulation does not change the Node.js process timezone. Configure the process environment separately if server log timestamps need a different timezone. For a Playwright test runner, the documented setting is TZ.
A website displays a different time despite successful verification The site may format dates using its own account or application timezone rather than the browser’s local timezone. Check the site’s own timezone preferences and compare its output with the two page-side JavaScript diagnostics.

6. Performance, reliability, and cost

Timezone configuration is a browser context option; the cited Playwright documentation does not publish a performance benchmark or added per-capture cost for this setting. Keep the config under version control and pin the MCP package version when repeatable behavior matters. After changing configuration, reconnect and verify the page-side timezone before relying on captures. No published reliability or cost figures are needed to apply this setting.

Or skip the browser setup

If you need screenshots rather than a persistent Playwright browser context, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its MCP tools include take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf. A timezone option is not among the ScreenshotNeo facts provided here, so use Playwright MCP when the capture must emulate Asia/Kolkata.

One-call screenshot example (replace the key with your API key):

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month, no card required.

FAQ

Is Asia/Kolkata the same as setting the server machine’s timezone?

No. The Playwright context setting controls the timezone seen by pages in that browser context. The server process and test runner have separate timezone settings.

Does this configure every screenshot MCP server?

No. The documented key belongs to Playwright MCP. Other servers may use different options.

Does the example change an existing page immediately?

Apply the config when the server creates its browser context, then reconnect or restart the server and verify the page timezone.

Sources

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