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All Kernel browsers ship with anti-detection optimizations by default — you don’t need stealth mode for this baseline. Enabling stealth mode adds two managed services on top:
  1. Default residential proxy — traffic routes through Kernel’s residential proxy pool.
  2. Automatic CAPTCHA solver — solves reCAPTCHAs, Cloudflare challenges, and similar tests automatically.
Both are opt-out so you can bring your own where it makes sense. To turn on stealth mode, set its flag when instantiating Kernel browsers: 
import Kernel from '@onkernel/sdk';

const kernel = new Kernel();

const kernelBrowser = await kernel.browsers.create({
  stealth: true,
});

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Bring your own proxy or CAPTCHA solver

Anti-detection is the platform default, so you can freely mix in your own networking or CAPTCHA tooling. Common patterns:
  • BYO proxy, keep CAPTCHA solver — launch a stealth browser with your own proxy via proxy_id. Replaces the residential default; CAPTCHA solver stays loaded.
  • BYO proxy, no CAPTCHA solver — launch a non-stealth browser with your own proxy_id. Full anti-detection config, no managed proxy or CAPTCHA extension.
  • Disable the default proxy at runtime — on a running stealth browser, set disable_default_proxy to route directly while keeping the CAPTCHA solver.
If you’re looking for proxy-level configuration with Kernel browsers, see Proxies.

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CAPTCHA Handling Behavior

Below are tips for working with Kernel’s Stealth Mode auto-CAPTCHA solver across different challenge types and automation frameworks.

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Anthropic Computer Use

Anthropic Computer Use stops when it encounters a CAPTCHA. Use Kernel’s auto-CAPTCHA solver by adding this to your prompt: "If you see a CAPTCHA or similar test, just wait for it to get solved automatically by the browser."

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Cloudflare Challenge

When encountering a Cloudflare challenge, our auto-CAPTCHA solver will attempt to handle it. Once the “Ready” message appears on the screen, continue with your intended browser actions (e.g., entering credentials and submitting a login attempt).
After the “Ready” message appears, don’t click the Cloudflare CAPTCHA checkbox — this can interfere with the solver.