Prepare Android device for hosting Learn how to prepare an Android device to be utilized with Kobiton. Different models of devices and versions of Android may have different layouts for settings and options. Refer to the device’s manual if you cannot find the options mentioned in this document. In this guide, screenshots from Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and Xiaomi Redmi devices are used as examples. Before you start You’ll need the following: A supported Android device model. Additional requirements for Xiaomi models: A logged in MI account. You can create a MI account on Xiaomi’s account page. A SIM card inserted. It does not need to be a working SIM card. Factory reset the device (optional) This step is highly recommended for devices that were hosted by Legacy Kobiton or Legacy Gigafox. This action will remove all data on the device. Back up the device before proceeding. Refer to the device model’s manual for instructions to factory reset the device. Enable USB debugging (required) This step is required for Kobiton software to control the device. From the Home screen, swipe up to show all apps. Open Settings. Follow the appropriate steps depending on whether the device is made by Xiaomi or not. Most devices Xiaomi devices Scroll down and select About phone. For some models, such as Google Pixel, this option is under System. Select Software information. → → Tap 7 times on Build number. A popup message will appear when you are close to enabling the mode. If you have a lock screen set, you’ll be asked to enter your security credentials. The Developer mode is now activated. → Navigate back to the Settings main screen. Tap the newly available Developer options item. For some models such as Google Pixel, this option is under System. Scroll down to the USB debugging option and turn it on. You can use the search function to quickly locate it. Tap OK in the popup to confirm. → → Select About Phone. Locate MIUI Version and tap 7 times on it. → The message You’re now a developer! displays. The Developer mode is now activated. Find and open Developer options in Settings, then enable Install via USB and USB Debugging (security setting). Depending on the Xiaomi model, you must either have a SIM card inserted or logged into a MI account to enable USB Debugging (security setting). In Developer options, disable MIUI Optimization. If you can’t find the MIUI Optimization option, tap to Reset to default value field 4 times. → → Disable passcode (required) Setting a passcode on a device prevents Kobiton software from controlling it. To use passcode on the device, contact Kobiton support to enable passcode mode for your organization. In the Settings app, select Lock screen. Select Screen lock type. Select None. Enter the device’s passcode or lock pattern if required. → → Download Google Chrome (required for specific feature) This step is required if you want to run web automation on the device. Download and install Google Chrome from the Google Play Store onto the device. Disable Google Play Protect Google Play Protect will attempt to scan the Kobiton agent app and preventing it from controlling the device. If Play Protect cannot be disabled, then select Don’t send for the deviceControl app in the Play Protect popup after plugging the device into the host machine. Open the Google Play Store app. At the top right, tap the profile icon. Tap Play Protect and click the Settings icon. Turn Scan apps with Play Protect on or off. Refer to Google’s support article about Play Protect for more information. Prevent screen from sleeping (optional) Disabling screen sleep improves the experience of testers by not having to wake the device screen after a certain amount of time. Skip this step if you want to save battery life. In the Settings app, scroll down and select Developer options. For some models, such as Google Pixel, this option is under System. Find the Stay awake option and turn it on. → Turn off auto-update for system software (optional) This step is highly recommended as a software update makes the device unavailable for use until the update is complete. Many organizations want to test a variety of mobile operating systems. Turning off the auto-update for software updates allows organizations to have control over the operating system upgrades. In the Settings app, tap Software update. Turn off Auto download over Wi-Fi. → Turn off auto-update for apps (optional) App automatic updates may prevent an app from being used until the update is complete. Open the Play Store. Tap the 3-dot icon and select Settings. Expand Network preferences, then tap Auto-update apps. Select Don’t auto-update apps in the popup. Tap DONE to save the changes. → → Turn off adaptive brightness (optional) Turning off automatic brightness allows Kobiton software to keep the device screen brightness at the minimum, thus saving battery life. In the Settings app, select Display. Turn off Adaptive brightness. → Disable text correction/prediction for keyboard (optional) This step is highly recommended if you want to use Scriptless Automation on the device. Text correction/prediction can prevent Scriptless test run from running. Samsung Galaxy devices In the Settings app, select General management. Tap Samsung Keyboard settings. Turn off Predictive text. → → Google Pixel devices In the Settings app, select System. Select Languages & input. Select On-screen keyboard. → → Tap Gboard. Tap Text correction. Turn off Auto-correction. → → The device is now prepared. Follow this guide to add the Android device to Kobiton.