Simulating Touch Events on Android Devices using ADB

Simulating Touch Events on Android Devices using ADB

30 November 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When it comes to automating UI tests on Android devices, sending touch events through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) can be a powerful tool. This guide will walk you through the process of using ADB to simulate touch events on a physical device, an essential step for developers and testers aiming to automate their workflows efficiently.

Using ADB to Simulate Touch Events

To simulate touch events on an Android device, you can use the input command-line tool provided by Android. This tool allows for the simulation of various input events, including taps. Here’s a straightforward way to simulate a tap event:

adb shell input tap x y

Replace x and y with the coordinates on the screen where you want to simulate the tap.

Determining the Coordinates for Touch Events

Before you can use the input tap command, you need to determine the exact coordinates on the device screen. This can be achieved by using the getevent command:

adb shell getevent -l

Upon pressing the desired location on the device, the output will display the X and Y coordinates in hexadecimal format, which you can convert to decimal for use with the input tap command.

Alternative Methods

If you prefer not to use the getevent command, you can enable “Show Touch Data” in Developer Options on your device to visually identify the coordinates directly.

Enhancing Automation with Repeato

While using ADB commands is effective, it can be complex and time-consuming to manage manually. This is where Repeato, a no-code test automation tool, can provide significant advantages. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for your Android apps efficiently. With its ability to execute ADB commands via script steps, you can seamlessly integrate touch event simulations into your test flows.

For more advanced configurations and testing techniques, visit our documentation section. You can also explore how Repeato can streamline your testing process on our Android testing tool page.

By leveraging tools like Repeato, you can enhance your automation capabilities, ensuring faster and more reliable testing processes.

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