Dev.to
7/9/2026

How to Automate Apps With No API?
Short summary
The post explains how vision-capable LLMs combined with OS accessibility trees can automate mobile apps that lack public APIs, replacing brittle selector-based UI automation frameworks like Appium and Selenium. It introduces Mobilerun, an open-source framework that drives real Android and iOS devices using LLM planners, with use cases spanning end-to-end testing, creator account management, data extraction, and customer support via WhatsApp or Telegram. Running on real devices with SIMs avoids emulator detection that breaks automation in banking, healthcare, and social apps.
- •AI agents with vision + a11y trees can drive mobile UIs robustly where no API exists
- •Mobilerun is an open-source, LLM-agnostic framework for automating real iOS/Android devices
- •Use cases include E2E testing, multi-account workflows, data extraction, and customer support automation
Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.
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