Kobiton 4.25 Release Notes

Kobiton plugin for Claude Code

Kobiton now integrates directly with Claude Code, enabling AI-driven mobile test automation on real devices without leaving the AI workspace.

With the Kobiton plugin, developers and testers can use natural language to upload apps, manage devices, execute Appium tests, and review results - all within Claude. This keeps test creation, execution, and validation in a single continuous workflow.

Key capabilities

  • Upload and install mobile apps directly from Claude

  • Run Appium-based automation tests on real iOS and Android devices

  • Manage devices and sessions without switching tools

  • View logs, screenshots, and execution results in real time

  • Use natural language to trigger and control testing workflows

By bringing real-device testing into Claude, teams can reduce context switching, accelerate validation, and enable AI agents to act on real-time test outcomes.

Availability

Kobiton for Claude Code is available to users with active Kobiton subscription and Claude Code subscriptions.

Get started with Kobiton’s Claude Code plugin

Appium AI: Natural language locators (Beta)

You can now locate UI elements in Appium tests using natural language instead of traditional selectors.

By allowing driver.findElement(…​) to accept descriptive (natural) text, this feature improves test resilience in scenarios where selectors are brittle, unavailable, or frequently changing.

Highlights

  • Natural language element location within existing Appium workflows

  • Reduced dependency on XPath and accessibility-based selectors

  • Support for native and web applications with traditional locators

Availability

This feature is available in Beta for Private and Local (or Hybrid) devices. Access is limited. Please get in touch with your Account Manager to request enablement.

Scriptless Automation: Pop-up Handler

You can now handle dynamic or inconsistent pop-ups during Scriptless Automation test runs without writing any scripts.

By introducing the Pop-up Handler into the Blocker Remediation flow, this feature allows you to manage optional or unexpected screens that may appear in either baseline or revisit sessions, improving test stability and execution success.

Highlights

  • Handle unexpected or optional pop-ups directly within Blocker Remediation

  • Specify whether the pop-up appears in Baseline or Revisit sessions

  • Mark pop-ups as Optional and define the UI element to dismiss them

  • Applies to future test runs with the same app

Availability

This feature is available for users with an AI subscription.

Build and run more resilient Scriptless tests with smarter, pop-up handling.

Remove unplugged devices from Kobiton Portal

Unplugged or decommissioned devices remain visible as offline in the Device List and Device Management page until they are removed. This allows admins to confirm whether a device was intentionally taken offline or disconnected due to an issue.

Previously, admins could remove these devices using the Hide Devices by UDID API. Kobiton now provides a Tidy Up option directly in the Device Management page to simplify this process.

The Tidy Up feature allows admins to review and remove unplugged devices from view, helping keep device lists accurate and easier to manage.

Key capabilities

  • Review and selectively hide devices based on how long they have been offline

  • Search and sort devices to quickly identify stale or unused devices

  • Identify recently offline devices using visual indicators to avoid accidental removal

If a device is plugged back in, it will automatically reappear in the Kobiton Portal.

deviceConnect Console updates

For those who host devices, we’ve made a few updates to the deviceConnect Console on the Mac mini.

Authentication update for new deviceConnect installations

For first-time login to a new deviceConnect installation, API key authentication is now required instead of a password. After the initial login, users can authenticate using either an API key or a password.

Cleanup policy configuration simplified in deviceConnect

Cleanup is now enabled by default in deviceConnect. The HealthService.EnableCleanup=true setting is no longer required in dc.ini, reducing the need for manual configuration.

This setting controls whether devices follow the Cleanup policy definitions assigned at the organization and team levels in the Kobiton Portal.

If necessary, cleanup can be disabled for all devices on a machine by setting:

HealthService.EnableCleanup=false

Device slot information visibility improvements

Device slot information for a device is now more visible in the deviceConnect Console based on user-configured views.

  • Slot details are automatically displayed in the USB Location field.

  • A Slot # column is also available, but values must be entered manually.

To display USB Location by default, clear the deviceConnect Console site data in your browser.

More bug fixes and improvements:

API enhancements

  • Added support for retrieving signed application URLs for device-specific workflows

  • Fixed an issue where removed device tags could still appear in API responses

Accessibility Screen Reader improvements

  • Fixed issue where Android TalkBack did not properly navigate or read certain UI elements

  • Fixed issue where Android TalkBack focus borders did not appear or clear correctly

  • Improved iOS VoiceOver keyboard behavior, preventing unintended keyboard dismissal during navigation

Kobiton CLI improvements

Enhanced CLI capabilities and reliability for managing device interactions and automation workflows:

  • Resolved issues where environment variables were not applied during app launch

  • Improved automatic permission handling on iOS and Android devices

  • Fixed issues with file push and retrieval behavior on devices

General platform improvements

  • Fixed an issue where manual sessions were not properly terminated when device connection errors occurred

  • Improved performance for app installation on iOS devices

  • Fixed an issue where the home button did not correctly display recent apps during manual sessions on iOS

  • Fixed an issue where iOS app installation could fail under certain proxy configurations

  • Resolved an issue where native elements could fail to load in Inspector under certain device orientations (e.g., landscape)

  • Improved error messaging when session requests do not include device-identifying capabilities; the system now provides clearer guidance when required device selection criteria (such as device name, UDID, or device tags) are missing

  • Improved audit logging for user role assignments and team updates

  • Fixed an issue where offline Bluetooth modules could incorrectly display a “Healthy” status