Kobiton for Claude Code

Kobiton for Claude Code connects Claude Code to the Kobiton mobile testing platform. You can manage devices, upload apps, run automation tests, and review results using natural language commands without switching between the terminal, the Kobiton portal, and local test scripts.

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  • For the best experience, use Claude Code instead of Claude.ai. MCP integration in Claude.ai may be unreliable.

Get started

Open a workspace folder

Before using Claude Code, open a command-line tool on your machine:

  • macOS: Terminal

  • Windows: PowerShell or Command Prompt

Create a folder:

mkdir kobiton-project

You can create this folder anywhere, for example in your Documents directory.

Next, start Claude Code from that location:

cd kobiton-project
claude

Claude Code uses this folder as its workspace.

This folder is optional. It is highly recommended for Standalone or Cloud with custom domain customers to store environment-specific information.

Install the plugin

Once Claude Code starts in your Terminal, run the following commands one at a time in that window:

/plugin marketplace add kobiton/automate

then

/plugin install automate@kobiton

Both steps are required and must be run separately.

Authentication

Kobiton MCP supports:

  • OAuth authentication (recommended)

  • API key authentication

OAuth authentication is the default authentication method for Claude Code.

Retrieve your MCP server URL

Use the API base URL for your environment:

  1. Sign in to the Kobiton Portal.

  2. Select the Help icon, then choose API.

    Help widget open in the Kobiton Portal

  3. The API documentation home page opens. Copy the Base URL (Rest) value.

    The API documentation home page with Base URL visible

Add /mcp at the end of the retrieved API base URL. This will be the MCP server URL. See below for examples:

Environment API base URL MCP server URL

Kobiton Cloud (default)

https://api.kobiton.com

https://api.kobiton.com/mcp

Cloud with custom domain

https://api-custom-domain.kobiton.com

https://api-custom-domain.kobiton.com/mcp

Standalone

https://custom-domain.kobiton.local:3000

https://custom-domain.kobiton.local:3000/mcp

If you are using the default Kobiton Cloud URL (https://api.kobiton.com/mcp), you can skip the .mcp.json setup and proceed to OAuth authentication or API key authentication.

If you are using a custom environment, follow the steps in Custom environment configuration before authenticating.

Custom environment configuration

If your Kobiton MCP server is hosted at a URL other than https://api.kobiton.com/mcp, you first need to retrieve your custom MCP server URL.

Once you have obtained the custom URL, create a .mcp.json file in your project folder:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kobiton": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api-custom-domain.kobiton.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Replace https://api-custom-domain.kobiton.com/mcp with the actual URL of your Kobiton MCP server.

After creating the file, continue with either OAuth or API key authentication.

OAuth authentication (recommended)

If you are using the default Kobiton Cloud URL (https://api.kobiton.com/mcp), no .mcp.json file is required. The plugin connects automatically.

If you are using a custom environment, make sure you have created the .mcp.json file as described in Custom environment configuration.

Start Claude Code, then run /mcp to list the MCP servers:

claude
/mcp

For Standalone and Cloud with custom domain environment, select kobiton under Project MCPs and authenticate.

For default Cloud environment, select plugin:automate:kobiton under Built-in MCPs and authenticate.

Sign in using:

  • Kobiton credentials

  • Google (not available for Standalone)

  • GitHub (not available for Standalone)

Claude Code stores OAuth tokens automatically for future sessions.

API key authentication

Use API key authentication for:

  • CI/CD pipelines

  • headless environments

  • systems without browser access

Generate an API key in Kobiton Portal > Settings > API Keys. Then set:

export KOBITON_AUTH="Basic $(echo -n 'username:api-key' | base64)"

For API key authentication, the .mcp.json file is required regardless of which environment you use.

For the default Kobiton Cloud URL, create a new .mcp.json file in your project folder with the following content:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kobiton": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.kobiton.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "${KOBITON_AUTH}"
      }
    }
  }
}

For a custom environment, update the .mcp.json file with the content above, then replace the url value with your custom MCP server URL.

OAuth and API key authentication cannot be used together in the same .mcp.json configuration.

OAuth uses browser-based authentication and token management, while API key authentication uses explicit authorization headers. Configure only one authentication method at a time.

Run a command

After authentication, enter commands in Claude Code using natural language.

Show available Android devices
Show results for session 12345
Upload app.apk and run tests/smoke_test.js

Common workflows

The Claude Code plugin supports common mobile testing workflows, including device management, app uploads, test execution, and session review.

Device management

  • View available devices

  • Check device status

  • Reserve and release devices

App management

  • Upload Android and iOS apps

  • View uploaded apps

  • Get app details

Test execution

The run-automation-suite workflow guides you through the full test lifecycle:

  • Upload or select an app

  • Select a device

  • Parse capabilities from your script

  • Run the test

  • Return results and artifacts

Supported languages:

Language Extension Command

Node.js

.js

node <script> <udid>

Python

.py

python <script> <udid>

.NET

.cs / .csproj

dotnet test

Java

.java

mvn test or java -cp …​

Session management

  • View active and past sessions

  • Get logs, screenshots, and videos

  • Stop running sessions

Example prompts

Device management

Show available Android devices
Check if Galaxy S23 is available
Reserve Pixel 6 for 60 minutes

App management

Show uploaded Android apps
Upload resources/apps/GS.apk

Test execution

Run tests/smoke_test.js on a Pixel device

Session management

Show running sessions
Get details for session 12345
Download logs from last failed session

For a complete reference of available Claude Code plugins, commands, agents, and skills, see the plugin and tools reference.

Troubleshooting

Claude keeps asking to open a folder

Open or create a folder in Claude Code before running plugin commands.

Browser does not open for login

Ensure a default browser is set and you are not in a restricted environment.

Device not found

The device may be unavailable. Filter for available devices.

Upload timeout

Large files or slow connections can cause timeouts. Retry the upload.

Session stuck

Terminate the session and run it again.

Authentication not recognized

Reload your shell and restart Claude Code.

Cannot connect to custom MCP server

If you are using a custom environment, verify that:

  • A .mcp.json file exists in your project folder.

  • The url value in .mcp.json matches your Kobiton MCP server URL exactly.

  • The MCP server is reachable from your machine.

If you are using the default Kobiton Cloud URL, remove any .mcp.json file from your project folder and restart Claude Code.

Additional resources