Your Guide to Playwright Mobile Automation on Android Devices

In the world of mobile automation, Playwright has emerged as a powerful tool for end-to-end testing. Its robust cross-browser capabilities, support for modern web and mobile features, and straightforward interface make it a favorite among testers and developers. While Playwright is often used for desktop browser testing, it also shines in automating for mobile devices, including Android.

In this blog, we will cover the benefits of Playwright mobile automation, as well as guide you through setting up and using Playwright for mobile automation on Android devices, enabling your team to test applications seamlessly.

Related Reading: The Future Is Now: Mobile & Web Application Testing With AI

What Is Playwright Mobile Automation?

Playwright mobile automation refers to using the Playwright framework to automate testing of mobile web applications. This allows teams to perform cross-browser testing on mobile web apps across platforms. 

The Importance of Playwright Mobile Automation

Mobile web usage has surpassed desktop browsing, making mobile testing an essential part of web development. While Playwright is typically associated with web testing, Playwright mobile automation is gaining steam for its ability to simulate mobile browsers, among other reasons.

The following benefits of Playwright make it an ideal choice for mobile automation:

Simulate Mobile Browsers

Use Playwright's device emulation to mimic mobile browsers and devices.

Interact with Real Devices

Automate web interactions on actual Android devices via remote debugging.

Cross-Browser Testing

Test your app across Chromium-based browsers like Chrome and Edge, which dominate the mobile browsing market.

Efficient Debugging

Leverage Playwright's extensive debugging tools for faster issue resolution.

Related Reading: Your Playwright Tutorial: Get Started With Playwright Testing

How to Use Playwright Mobile Automation on Android Devices

Playwright is a particularly effective tool for automated testing using Android devices. Playwright allows teams to leverage its built-in device emulation capabilities, which in turn allows you to simulate Android phone and tablet behaviors. These capabilities include the ability to configure screen sizes and other device features within your tests—effectively testing your web application on different Android devices without the need for physical devices on hand.

The following steps outline how to get started with Playwright mobile automation for Android:

Step 1: Install Playwright

To get started, install Playwright via npm:

bash
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npm init playwright@latest

This command sets up a Playwright project with all necessary configurations.

Step 2: Configure a Real Android Device

To run Playwright tests on an actual Android device, follow these steps:

1. Enable USB Debugging: On your Android device, enable Developer Options and turn on USB debugging.
2. Connect Your Device: Use a USB cable to connect your Android device to your development machine.
3. Verify Connection: Use the following command to ensure your device is connected:

bash
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adb devices

Step 3: Launch Chromium on Android

Playwright supports automating Chromium-based browsers on Android devices. To connect Playwright to your Android device:

1. Launch Chrome on the device.
2. Use the adb command to forward the debugging port:

bash
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adb forward tcp:9222 localabstract:chrome_devtools_remote

Step 4: Write Your Test Script

With Playwright configured, you can write a test to interact with your Android device:

javascript
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const { chromium } = require('playwright');

(async () => {
  // Connect to the Android device
  const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP('http://localhost:9222');

  // Open a new page
  const context = await browser.newContext();
  const page = await context.newPage();

  // Navigate to a website
  await page.goto('https://example.com');

  // Perform actions
  console.log(await page.title());
  await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png' });

  // Close the browser
  await browser.close();
})();

Related Reading: Playwright vs. Cypress: Which Cross-Browser Testing Solution Is Right for You?

 

Bottom Line

Playwright mobile automation helps teams more efficiently perform mobile web automation on Android devices. By leveraging its powerful features, you can ensure your applications deliver a seamless experience for mobile users.

Perfecto’s integration with Playwright allows you to release high-quality apps with ease while experiencing the following benefits:

• Boosted test coverage.
• Parallel testing for faster test executions.
• Stable and scalable test automation.
• Unified testing.
• Advanced automation.
• Full toolchain integration.
• Shift left testing.
• And more!

Experience the industry’s leading web and mobile app testing platform first-hand by signing up for a free 14-day trial of Perfecto today. 

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