---
title: "Install Unlighthouse"
description: "Install Unlighthouse for the Unlighthouse v1 beta."
canonical_url: "https://unlighthouse.dev/v1/guide/getting-started/installation"
last_updated: "2026-10-03T08:07:15.441Z"
---

Use Node.js 24.13.1 or newer and an installed Chrome browser.
Install the v1 beta in your project:

```sh
pnpm add -D unlighthouse@beta
pnpm exec unlighthouse --site https://example.com
```

For a one-time scan, run:

```sh
pnpm dlx unlighthouse@beta --site https://example.com
```

The CLI discovers routes, runs Lighthouse, and opens the dashboard.
The beta package also includes the CI runner and MCP executable.

## Project configuration

Create `unlighthouse.config.ts` in your project root:

```ts
import { defineUnlighthouseConfig } from 'unlighthouse/config'

export default defineUnlighthouseConfig({
  site: 'https://example.com',
  scanner: { samples: 3, perfConcurrency: 'serial', exclude: ['/admin/*'] },
})
```

Then run `pnpm exec unlighthouse` without a site flag.
Unlighthouse keeps the median audit when you request multiple samples.

## Discovery limits

The crawler reads links from server-rendered HTML.
For JavaScript-rendered links, supply a sitemap or explicit `urls`.
Use `scanner.maxRoutes` to bound the scan.

## CI and history

```sh
pnpm exec unlighthouse-ci --site https://example.com --reporter json
pnpm exec unlighthouse --history
```

The CI runner exits after the scan and report export.
`--history` opens the dashboard without starting a scan.

## Upgrade from 0.x

Read [Migrating to v1](/guide/guides/migrating-to-v1) before changing custom integrations.
Use the documentation version switcher to view the 0.x instructions.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.