Android and iOS automation

Mobile Devices as Agent Nodes

A field guide to Android and iOS automation tools and their documented setup requirements.

Original document: May 2026. Revised October 11, 2026.

Start with the selected tool

Host requirements and agent integrations depend on the selected tool.

Documented targets and setup requirements, reviewed October 11, 2026
Tool	Documented scope	Setup and target support
PhoneAgent	PhoneAgent is an experimental project with an Android bridge and an XCTest-based iOS bridge. Its README documents support for physical devices and simulators; reliability varies by app.	The README documents a macOS host. Follow the PhoneAgent requirements and setup.
agent-device	agent-device supports Android and iOS automation. Physical iOS setup requires the documented Xcode, pairing and signing steps; supported commands vary by target.	Read the installation guide and check command support for the target.
Mobilerun framework	The local framework documents Android and iOS support. Its iOS path uses mobilerun-ios and WebDriverAgent.	Local iOS prerequisites include macOS, Xcode and device signing, with Developer Mode and USB pairing. See the device setup guide.

Mobilerun also offers a hosted service, separately from running its local framework on your own machine and device. Its quickstart describes the cloud and framework paths.

The specific device-setup guide documents local iOS support. The broader quickstart still summarizes the framework in Android terms; use the target-specific guide for setup.

Inspect what the tool can see

Accessibility trees can provide element labels and structure. Their completeness varies by app, so screenshots and observed results still matter. Mobilerun’s device documentation notes incomplete trees in WebViews, games and custom-rendered interfaces.

For an evaluation, choose a read-only task in the app you intend to use. Check whether the tool identifies the intended element and whether the observed screen agrees with its report. Treat a supported platform as the start of testing, not proof that a particular app workflow succeeds.

This guide reviews documentation. It does not report a physical-device acceptance test.

Follow the selected tool’s setup guide

Use its current instructions for your host and target. Start with a read-only device exercise before attempting changes.

Setup checklist Read the selected tool’s setup guide. Confirm its host and device requirements. Complete the documented device pairing. Open Settings and read the device’s OS version.