Primary screenshot (1280x800 or 640x400) is included
Why it matters
Chrome Web Store requires at least one screenshot before an extension can go live; the store upload form blocks submission without one. Screenshots at the specified 1280x800 or 640x400 dimensions are how the majority of users decide whether to install — a missing screenshot means a blank listing that converts at near-zero. Store search results show the primary screenshot thumbnail as the visual hook; without it, your listing is invisible compared to competitors. The chrome-cws-screenshots policy treats this as a hard submission requirement.
Severity rationale
High because zero screenshots block Chrome Web Store submission entirely and eliminate the primary visual conversion surface for potential installs.
Remediation
Capture your extension's main UI or popup at exactly 1280x800 pixels (preferred) or 640x400 pixels, save as PNG, and place it in a screenshots/ directory.
screenshots/
screenshot-1.png (1280x800)
screenshot-2.png (1280x800)
Show the extension in use — opened popup, options page, or injected UI on a real page. Avoid screenshots of a blank or loading state. On macOS, use Cmd+Shift+4 with a locked selection to capture at exact pixel dimensions, or use a browser devtools device emulation set to 1280x800.
DetectionPro
The detection method for this pattern is part of AuditBuffet Pro.
The full method (what to look for, pass and fail conditions, and how results get reported) ships inside the Chrome Web Store Readiness Audit. The pattern definition, severity rationale, and remediation remain openly licensed under CC-BY-4.0.
External references
- external · chrome-cws-screenshots — Chrome Web Store — Screenshots and Promotional Images Requirements
Taxons
History
- 2026-04-18·v1.0.0·Initial import from extension-store-readiness·automated