How to check Lighthouse scores on Chrome or Firefox
Tags: webdev, performance, beginners, programming
Published: 2020-11-24 14:48:55

![Lighthouse Scores](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606136238/Lighthouse-score_pzhivl.png)

I am starting a Lighthouse Series, where I go into details on how to improve a website's Lighthouse scores and realized some of my readers might need a guide on how to check the scores of a website hence this quick article.

Here is a list of articles in the Series. I will update the list until the series is complete.

<a href="https://www.lindaojo.com/blog/how-to-improve-lighthouse-score-search-engine-optimization-seo/" target="_blank"> How to Improve Lighthouse Score - Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
</a>

<h3>Install Chrome or Firefox Browser</h3>

Lighthouse is only available on Chrome and Firebox browsers. Install your preferred browser using the links below.

<a href="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjUy4GjxJbtAhUHh9UKHfLND4oYABABGgJ3cw&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD25Sah3cNDQ2L8LBW1V2hpjCusxPRz15l6CWD6NOhAoC8mqmQ_GI9VP84kxtSsk5A8p9hQZANhYd2ciVLKFM0&sig=AOD64_2byRhhrA7YAKNuj019WHRuEUdwmA&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjS0vqixJbtAhVK6uAKHYw-C4kQqyQoAHoECBwQEw&adurl=" target="_blank"> Install Chrome Browser </a>

<a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/" target="_blank"> Install Firefox Browser
</a>

<h3>Visit your website in an private or incognito window</h3>

Visit the website you plan to assess in a private or incognito window. Lighthouse scores should always be generated in an incognito browser because extensions and cached data can affect the auditing process. You can open a private window as shown below

Chrome: 
<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/4 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![incognito chrome](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127503/chrome_incognito_dlzzqn.png)

</div>

Firefox:
<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/4 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![incognito firefox](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127502/firefox_incognito_q6xwsy.png)

</div>

<h3>Open up Chrome DevTools or install Firefox lighthouse generator</h3>

Chrome users can open up devtools by inspecting the webpage using the menu that pops up on right clicking
<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/4 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![inspect image](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127503/google_inspect_rmtqs8.png)

</div>

Firefox users should 
<a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/"
   target="_blank"> install the Google Lighthouse Add-on
</a>

<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/3 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![Google lighthouse addon image](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127503/firefox_lighthouse_addon_k3dswq.png)

</div>

<h3>Generate Lighthouse Report</h3>

Chrome users should navigate to the menu bar and select Lighthouse tab
<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/3 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![Chrome devtools menu](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127503/chrome_lighthouse_menu_nh5ahj.png)

</div>

Click the "generate report" button to start auditing

Firefox users should navigate to the lighthouse icon in the top-right menu and click the "generate report" button as shown below

<div class="centered-image lg:w-2/3 md:w-2/3 sm:w-56">

![Firefox lighthouse icon](https://res.cloudinary.com/lindaojo/image/upload/v1606127503/firefox-lighthouse_icon_ji9qqr.png)

</div>

There you have it. You can now generate lighthouse scores for any webpage.