When your screenshot shows a CAPTCHA instead of the actual page content, the website is using advanced bot protection that requires human verification. This guide explains what you can try and when to accept this limitation.
Why CAPTCHAs Appear
CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) appear when:
Cloudflare protection: Cloudflare's bot management system detects automated access
Advanced bot protection: Sites using enterprise-level security solutions
Rate limiting triggers: Too many requests from the same source
Behavioral analysis: Automated patterns detected in browsing behavior
What You Can Try
1. Add Delays
Sometimes adding a delay (5-10 seconds) can help, though this rarely works for CAPTCHAs:
Gives time for any JavaScript challenges to complete
Makes requests appear less automated
May allow some protection systems to whitelist the request
2. Use Custom Headers
Add browser-like headers to make requests appear more legitimate:
User-Agent from a real browser
Referer header
Accept headers
Note: This rarely bypasses CAPTCHAs, but worth trying.
3. Use Cookies from Browser Session
If you can access the site in a browser:
Open the site in your browser and complete any CAPTCHAs
Extract cookies from the browser
Add those cookies to your PeekShot request
This may work temporarily, but cookies expire and CAPTCHAs may reappear.
Realistic Limitations
Important: CAPTCHAs are specifically designed to prevent automated access. In most cases, they cannot be bypassed programmatically because:
They require human interaction (clicking, solving puzzles, etc.)
They use advanced detection methods
Bypassing them may violate website terms of service
They're a security feature, not a bug
If a site consistently shows CAPTCHAs, automated screenshots may not be possible.
Alternative Solutions
1. Contact Site Owner
If it's your own website or you have a relationship with the site owner:
Request whitelisting of PeekShot's IP addresses
Ask for API access if available
Discuss alternative access methods
2. Use a Different URL
Sometimes alternative URLs work better:
Try mobile versions of the site
Use direct page URLs instead of homepage
Check if there's an API or RSS feed available
3. Manual Capture
For one-off needs, manual screenshots may be the only option when CAPTCHAs are present.
4. HTML Mode
If you control the content, use HTML mode instead of URL mode to avoid bot protection entirely.
When to Accept This Limitation
You should accept that automated screenshots aren't possible when:
CAPTCHAs appear consistently on every attempt
The site explicitly prohibits automated access in terms of service
Workarounds don't resolve the issue
You don't have control over the website
Focus your automation efforts on sites that allow automated access or use HTML mode for content you control.
Related Issues
If you're experiencing related problems:
Cloudflare blocking: See Cloudflare or WAF Blocking Screenshots