---
title: Open a Live Web Session from a Link
description: Start a live browser session on a specific browser, version and OS with
  a URL already loaded. Post the link on a pull request or in a bug report.
source_url:
  html: https://testingbot.com/support/web-live/start-link
  md: https://testingbot.com/support/web-live/start-link.md
---

# Open a Live Web Session from a Link

You can link straight to a live session on a specific browser, version and operating system, with your URL already loaded. Use it in a pull request to open the preview deploy in the browser that needs checking, or in a bug report to reproduce on the exact browser it was reported on.

```bash
https://testingbot.com/members/manual/start?url=<url>&browserName=chrome&version=latest&platform=WIN11
```

## Parameters

`browserName`, `version` and `platform` take the same values as the capabilities of an automated test, so you can copy them from your Selenium or Playwright configuration or from [GET /v1/browsers](https://testingbot.com/support/api/devices#browsers).

| Parameter | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `url` | The page to open. URL-encode it. `https://` is added when the scheme is left off. |
| `browserName` | For example `chrome`, `firefox`, `microsoftedge` or `safari`. |
| `version` | A version such as `155` (any 155.x) or `>=150`, or `latest`, `latest-1`, `latest-2` and so on. Defaults to `latest`. |
| `platform` | The operating system, for example `WIN11`, `WIN10`, `TAHOE`, `SEQUOIA` or `LINUX`. |
| `browser` | Instead of the three above: the numeric `id` of a browser from [GET /v1/browsers](https://testingbot.com/support/api/devices#browsers). |

Examples:

```bash
https://testingbot.com/members/manual/start?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&browserName=safari&version=latest&platform=TAHOE
https://testingbot.com/members/manual/start?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&browserName=firefox&version=latest-2&platform=WIN10
```

## What happens on click

Opening the link never starts a session by itself. It shows a confirmation page with the URL and the browser. Click **Start session** to begin.

- If you are not logged in, you are asked to log in first and then return to the confirmation page.
- The session runs under the account of the person who clicks the link.
- If no browser matches the link, or the URL cannot be opened, the page says so and offers the browser picker instead.
- To test a local or staging URL, start [TestingBot Tunnel](https://testingbot.com/support/tunnel) before opening the link.

## Post a link on pull requests

If your CI deploys a preview of each pull request, comment a link that opens the preview in the browsers you care about. A GitHub Actions example:

```yaml
- name: Comment live test links
  run: |
    URL=$(jq -rn --arg u "$PREVIEW_URL" '$u|@uri')
    BASE="https://testingbot.com/members/manual/start?url=$URL"
    gh pr comment ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }} --body "Check this preview live:
    - [Safari on macOS Tahoe]($BASE&browserName=safari&version=latest&platform=TAHOE)
    - [Chrome on Windows 11]($BASE&browserName=chrome&version=latest&platform=WIN11)
    - [Firefox on Windows 10]($BASE&browserName=firefox&version=latest&platform=WIN10)"
  env:
    PREVIEW_URL: ${{ steps.deploy.outputs.preview_url }}
    GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
```

## Notes

- Use `latest` rather than a fixed version in links that stay around: browser versions are retired over time.
- Your plan's limits apply as usual, for example the number of parallel live sessions.
- To open a real device with one of your uploaded apps instead, see [Live App Testing: Start from a Link](https://testingbot.com/support/app-live/start-link).

## Looking for more help?

Have questions or need more information? Reach out via email or Slack.

[Email us](https://testingbot.com/contact/new) [Join our Slack](https://join.slack.com/t/testingb0t/shared_invite/zt-3bcw9xch-jk19~6XPs_xBrsAgAedkCw)