app_text

This tool on every surface: CLI · MCP · Python · JavaScript · Go · Java · .NET

Read text from the screen. With no target, returns everything readable in top-to-bottom order; with a ref or locator, returns that element's text.

Read-only: readOnlyHint is true.

Arguments

Name	Type	Required	What it is
device	string		Device serial to target, e.g. "emulator-5554". Omit when only one device is running.
driver	string: uiautomator2, uiautomator, wda		Driver to use: "uiautomator2" (default for Android; fast, installs a server APK on first use), "uiautomator" (Android, installs nothing, slower, cannot type), or "wda" (WebDriverAgent: iOS simulators and iPhones).
target	string		Optional ref ("@e3") or locator ("testid=title").

Examples

Each is the arguments of a tools/call request; the first is shown whole.

Read everything on screen

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "app_text",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}

On an Android 15 emulator the answer's text was:

Profile picture, double tap to open Google Account
Settings
Search settings
Network & internet
Mobile, Wi‑Fi, hotspot
Connected devices
Bluetooth, pairing
Apps
Assistant, recent apps, default apps
Notifications
Notification history, conversations
Battery
100%
Storage
51% used - 7.85 GB free
Sound & vibration
Volume, haptics, Do Not Disturb

mobium text on an Android 15 emulator

Read one element's text

{
  "target": "testid=title"
}