Device commands

The client provides methods to configure the device and start a session, while the session provides methods for user interaction.

Client

startSession()

Starts a session with the requested app, device, operating system, and other launch options.

const session = await client.startSession()

Parameters

Name	Type	Description
config?	Record<string, any>	A JSON object describing the Configuration options for the device.

setConfig()

Update the configured app, device, operating system, or other launch options. See Configuration for acceptable values.

Note: This will end any active sessions.

await client.setConfig(config)

endSession()

Ends the active session or cancels any pending session requests.

await client.endSession()

Session

adbShellCommand

Executes an adb shell command on the device (Android only)

await session.adbShellCommand("am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d https://appetize.io/")

allowInteractions()

Enables or disables all interactions on the device.

await session.allowInteractions(false)

biometry()

Simulate a matching fingerprint (Android 8+ only)

await session.biometry({
    match: true/false
})

end()

Ends the session

await session.end()

getUI()

Experimental The data structure of the response is subject to change

Returns an array of elements describing the current UI on the device.

const ui = await session.getUI()

/*
[
  { type: 'app', appId: 'com.my.app', children: [...] },
  { type: 'app', appId: 'com.apple.springboard', children: [...] }
]
*/

heartbeat()

Sends a heartbeat to the server, resetting the inactivity timer of the session

await session.heartbeat()

keypress()

Sends a single key press to the device.

await session.keypress("a")

This can also be used to send hardware keys:

• HOME

• VOLUME_UP (Android)

• VOLUME_DOWN (Android)

• ANDROID_KEYCODE_MENU (Android)

openUrl()

Opens a deep-link or web URL

await session.openUrl("https://appetize.io")

launchApp(appId)

Launches the specified application using the provided appId.

If the app is already running, it will be brought to the foreground instead of being relaunched. If the app was originally launched with params or a launchUrl, these will also be passed with this method.

await session.launchApp(appId)

Parameters

Name	Type	Description
appId	string	Android: The app's package name / appId (e.g., com.example.app) or packageName/activityName. If no activity name is specified, it defaults to the main launch activity. iOS: The app's bundle identifier (e.g., com.example.app).

restartApp()

Restarts the app

await session.restartApp()

reinstallApp()

Reinstalls the app

await session.reinstallApp()

rotate()

Rotates the device 90 degrees left or right

await session.rotate('left')

await session.rotate('right')

screenshot()

Takes a screenshot of the device and returns the data as a buffer.

const { data, mimeType } = await session.screenshot()

Alternatively, it can return the data as a base64 encoded string

const { data, mimeType } = await session.screenshot('base64')

shake()

Shakes device (iOS only)

await session.shake()

toggleSoftKeyboard()

Toggles the soft keyboard (iOS only)

await session.toggleSoftKeyboard()

setLanguage()

Changes the current language.

await session.setLanguage("fr")

If your app does not automatically handle language/locale changes, you would need to explicitly call restartApp for this to take effect. Some apps might also cache data in the previously used language. In these cases use reinstallApp to clear any previous cached data.

This

type()

Types the given text

await session.type("hello")

Typing is limited to 1000 characters at a time to ensure optimal performance and prevent potential disruptions. For larger payloads, you can use multiple 'type' operations.

waitForAnimations(options)

Waits until the there are no ongoing animations on the screen by waiting for the image to stabilize for at least 1 second.

await session.waitForAnimations(options)

Name	Type	Description
options.imageThreshold?	number	The threshold for the amount of pixels (in %) that can change between frames before the image is considered to be stable. (default 0.001)
options.timeout?	number	The maximum amount of time (in ms) to wait for the image to stabilize. (default 10s)