diff --git a/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js b/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
index 0b417d768..35115ab00 100644
--- a/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
+++ b/lib/helper/Puppeteer.js
@@ -634,9 +634,11 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
       return
     }
 
-    const els = await this._locate(locator)
-    assertElementExists(els, locator)
-    this.context = els[0]
+    const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+    if (!el) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element for within context')
+    }
+    this.context = el
 
     this.withinLocator = new Locator(locator)
   }
@@ -730,11 +732,13 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    * {{ react }}
    */
   async moveCursorTo(locator, offsetX = 0, offsetY = 0) {
-    const els = await this._locate(locator)
-    assertElementExists(els, locator)
+    const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+    if (!el) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element to move cursor to')
+    }
 
     // Use manual mouse.move instead of .hover() so the offset can be added to the coordinates
-    const { x, y } = await getClickablePoint(els[0])
+    const { x, y } = await getClickablePoint(el)
     await this.page.mouse.move(x + offsetX, y + offsetY)
     return this._waitForAction()
   }
@@ -744,9 +748,10 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    *
    */
   async focus(locator) {
-    const els = await this._locate(locator)
-    assertElementExists(els, locator, 'Element to focus')
-    const el = els[0]
+    const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+    if (!el) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element to focus')
+    }
 
     await el.click()
     await el.focus()
@@ -758,10 +763,12 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    *
    */
   async blur(locator) {
-    const els = await this._locate(locator)
-    assertElementExists(els, locator, 'Element to blur')
+    const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+    if (!el) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element to blur')
+    }
 
-    await blurElement(els[0], this.page)
+    await blurElement(el, this.page)
     return this._waitForAction()
   }
 
@@ -810,11 +817,12 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
     }
 
     if (locator) {
-      const els = await this._locate(locator)
-      assertElementExists(els, locator, 'Element')
-      const el = els[0]
+      const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+      if (!el) {
+        throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element to scroll into view')
+      }
       await el.evaluate(el => el.scrollIntoView())
-      const elementCoordinates = await getClickablePoint(els[0])
+      const elementCoordinates = await getClickablePoint(el)
       await this.executeScript((x, y) => window.scrollBy(x, y), elementCoordinates.x + offsetX, elementCoordinates.y + offsetY)
     } else {
       await this.executeScript((x, y) => window.scrollTo(x, y), offsetX, offsetY)
@@ -882,6 +890,21 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
     return findElements.call(this, context, locator)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get single element by different locator types, including strict locator
+   * Should be used in custom helpers:
+   *
+   * ```js
+   * const element = await this.helpers['Puppeteer']._locateElement({name: 'password'});
+   * ```
+   *
+   * {{ react }}
+   */
+  async _locateElement(locator) {
+    const context = await this.context
+    return findElement.call(this, context, locator)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Find a checkbox by providing human-readable text:
    * NOTE: Assumes the checkable element exists
@@ -893,7 +916,9 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
   async _locateCheckable(locator, providedContext = null) {
     const context = providedContext || (await this._getContext())
     const els = await findCheckable.call(this, locator, context)
-    assertElementExists(els[0], locator, 'Checkbox or radio')
+    if (!els || els.length === 0) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Checkbox or radio')
+    }
     return els[0]
   }
 
@@ -2124,10 +2149,12 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
    * {{> waitForClickable }}
    */
   async waitForClickable(locator, waitTimeout) {
-    const els = await this._locate(locator)
-    assertElementExists(els, locator)
+    const el = await this._locateElement(locator)
+    if (!el) {
+      throw new ElementNotFound(locator, 'Element to wait for clickable')
+    }
 
-    return this.waitForFunction(isElementClickable, [els[0]], waitTimeout).catch(async e => {
+    return this.waitForFunction(isElementClickable, [el], waitTimeout).catch(async e => {
       if (/Waiting failed/i.test(e.message) || /failed: timeout/i.test(e.message)) {
         throw new Error(`element ${new Locator(locator).toString()} still not clickable after ${waitTimeout || this.options.waitForTimeout / 1000} sec`)
       } else {
@@ -2701,9 +2728,18 @@ class Puppeteer extends Helper {
 
 module.exports = Puppeteer
 
+/**
+ * Find elements using Puppeteer's native element discovery methods
+ * Note: Unlike Playwright, Puppeteer's Locator API doesn't have .all() method for multiple elements
+ * @param {Object} matcher - Puppeteer context to search within
+ * @param {Object|string} locator - Locator specification
+ * @returns {Promise<Array>} Array of ElementHandle objects
+ */
 async function findElements(matcher, locator) {
   if (locator.react) return findReactElements.call(this, locator)
   locator = new Locator(locator, 'css')
+
+  // Use proven legacy approach - Puppeteer Locator API doesn't have .all() method
   if (!locator.isXPath()) return matcher.$$(locator.simplify())
   // puppeteer version < 19.4.0 is no longer supported. This one is backward support.
   if (puppeteer.default?.defaultBrowserRevision) {
@@ -2712,6 +2748,31 @@ async function findElements(matcher, locator) {
   return matcher.$x(locator.value)
 }
 
+/**
+ * Find a single element using Puppeteer's native element discovery methods
+ * Note: Puppeteer Locator API doesn't have .first() method like Playwright
+ * @param {Object} matcher - Puppeteer context to search within
+ * @param {Object|string} locator - Locator specification
+ * @returns {Promise<Object>} Single ElementHandle object
+ */
+async function findElement(matcher, locator) {
+  if (locator.react) return findReactElements.call(this, locator)
+  locator = new Locator(locator, 'css')
+
+  // Use proven legacy approach - Puppeteer Locator API doesn't have .first() method
+  if (!locator.isXPath()) {
+    const elements = await matcher.$$(locator.simplify())
+    return elements[0]
+  }
+  // puppeteer version < 19.4.0 is no longer supported. This one is backward support.
+  if (puppeteer.default?.defaultBrowserRevision) {
+    const elements = await matcher.$$(`xpath/${locator.value}`)
+    return elements[0]
+  }
+  const elements = await matcher.$x(locator.value)
+  return elements[0]
+}
+
 async function proceedClick(locator, context = null, options = {}) {
   let matcher = await this.context
   if (context) {
@@ -2857,15 +2918,19 @@ async function findFields(locator) {
 }
 
 async function proceedDragAndDrop(sourceLocator, destinationLocator) {
-  const src = await this._locate(sourceLocator)
-  assertElementExists(src, sourceLocator, 'Source Element')
+  const src = await this._locateElement(sourceLocator)
+  if (!src) {
+    throw new ElementNotFound(sourceLocator, 'Source Element')
+  }
 
-  const dst = await this._locate(destinationLocator)
-  assertElementExists(dst, destinationLocator, 'Destination Element')
+  const dst = await this._locateElement(destinationLocator)
+  if (!dst) {
+    throw new ElementNotFound(destinationLocator, 'Destination Element')
+  }
 
-  // Note: Using public api .getClickablePoint becaues the .BoundingBox does not take into account iframe offsets
-  const dragSource = await getClickablePoint(src[0])
-  const dragDestination = await getClickablePoint(dst[0])
+  // Note: Using public api .getClickablePoint because the .BoundingBox does not take into account iframe offsets
+  const dragSource = await getClickablePoint(src)
+  const dragDestination = await getClickablePoint(dst)
 
   // Drag start point
   await this.page.mouse.move(dragSource.x, dragSource.y, { steps: 5 })