Unable to fetch page with JavaScript despite success status

[ceilingfans]

Environment details

• Programming language: Python
• OS: macOS
• Language runtime version: 3.13.7
• Package version: google-genai 1.40.0

Steps to reproduce

1. Use UrlContext tool to fetch a page that requires JavaScript
2. Receive a UrlRetrievalStatus.URL_RETRIEVAL_STATUS_SUCCESS in the UrlMetadata

Sample Code

from google import genai
from google.genai.types import (
    Tool,
    GenerateContentConfig,
    UrlContext,
    GoogleSearch,
)
from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv

load_dotenv(find_dotenv())

client = genai.Client()
model_id = "gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025"

tools = []
tools.append(Tool(url_context=UrlContext()))
tools.append(Tool(google_search=GoogleSearch()))

response = client.models.generate_content(
    model=model_id,
    contents="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-59489\nBased on this article, what is the CVSS v3.1 base score? If you cannot access the article, respond with 'No Access'.",
    config=GenerateContentConfig(
        tools=tools,
        response_modalities=["TEXT"],
    ),
)

for each in response.candidates[0].content.parts:
    print(each.text)
# get URLs retrieved for context
print(response.candidates[0].url_context_metadata)

# Response:
# I cannot access the content of the specific article linked.
#
# No Access
# None

Suggestion

It would be good if the status was not success, maybe another status such as Blocked or JavaScript Required would be nice.

[janasangeetha]

Hey @ceilingfans
Thanks for reaching out!
Please try with response_mime_type="text/plain" as mentioned below:

config=GenerateContentConfig(
        tools=tools,
        response_mime_type="text/plain",
    )

[ceilingfans]

Hi @janasangeetha, I have tried with response_mime_type="text/plain" and it still gives the same result. Testing on AI Studio, I find that the responses and thinking show that the browse tool does not have capabilities to fetch pages which require JavaScript to be enabled.

I think it would be nice in the future, if the API could reflect this whenever it encounters pages requiring JavaScript or even better be able to fetch the content.

[janasangeetha]

Hey @ceilingfans
Please try changing the prompt. Kindly refer below snippet:

from google import genai
from google.genai.types import (
    Tool,
    GenerateContentConfig,
    UrlContext,
    GoogleSearch,
)
from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv

# load_dotenv(find_dotenv())

# client = genai.Client()



model_id = "gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025"

tools = []
tools.append(Tool(url_context=UrlContext()))
tools.append(Tool(google_search=GoogleSearch()))

response = client.models.generate_content(
    model=model_id,
    contents="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-59489\nBased on this article, what is the CVSS v3.1 base score?",
    config=GenerateContentConfig(
        tools=tools,
        response_mime_type="text/plain",
    ),
)

for each in response.candidates[0].content.parts:
    print(each.text)
# get URLs retrieved for context
print(response.candidates[0].url_context_metadata)

[ceilingfans]

Hi @janasangeetha, this would make the model search for another source to provide the required data, in my use case, I need the data to come specifically from this source.

[janasangeetha]

Hi @ceilingfans
My bad! I did not notice the response.
We'll be filing a feature request. We’ll keep you updated once we have more information.
Thank you!

[ceilingfans]

Thank you @janasangeetha