Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Android CLI Helper agent skill (android-cli)

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The android-cli skill gives an AI coding agent working instructions for Google's official android command-line tool. This guide explains what a skill is, how to install this one, how to ask for its help in plain language, and what to check before letting an agent touch a device. After reading it you will be able to set up the skill, run a few typical tasks and know its safety limits.

Android CLI Helperandroid/skills · Apache-2.0 Download the skill

Quick start

1Download the skill. Download the ZIP from the skill page and unzip it.
2Place the folder. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or .claude/skills/ in a project, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
3Check prerequisites. Make sure adb is available and a device or emulator is connected, and that you have internet access.
4Install the android CLI. Run the install command for your platform from SKILL.md if the android tool is not in your path.
5Make a plain request. Ask the agent for a task, such as creating a project or listing devices.
6Review results. Check the screenshot or layout output the agent produces before it takes further action.

What an agent skill is and what this one does

An agent skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent instructions for a specific task. When the skill is installed, the agent reads these instructions when a request matches them.

This skill covers the android CLI. With it the agent can create new Android app projects from templates, install and update Android SDK components, install APKs and launch apps on devices or emulators, read the on-screen UI as JSON, take screenshots, and tap or type on a device using adb. It also covers looking up Android documentation and discovering official Android skills.

Install the android-cli skill

Download the ZIP from the skill page on this site and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
Project: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills (upload)

Install the android CLI itself

The skill tells the agent to install the android tool if it is not already in the path. The install command depends on your operating system and CPU. The skill's SKILL.md lists one command per platform, and these are the Linux x86-64 and Mac Arm versions shown in the source.

Linux x86-64 and Mac Arm both use a curl command that downloads an install script and pipes it to bash. Windows downloads install.cmd to the temp folder and runs it. Check the SKILL.md file for the exact line for your platform before running anything.

Linux x86-64: install.sh from dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_x86_64/
Linux ARM64: install.sh from dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_arm64/
Mac Arm: install.sh from dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/darwin_arm64/
Mac Intel: install.sh from dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/darwin_x86_64/
Windows: install.cmd from dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/windows_x86_64/

curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_x86_64/install.sh | bash

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need to type commands yourself. Describe the goal in plain language, for example asking the agent to create an empty Android app called My App, or to take a screenshot of the phone connected to your computer. The agent will load the skill when the request matches its description.

When more than one device is connected, the agent needs a device serial. It can list serials with adb devices and pass them using --device=<serial>. With one device, the layout and screen commands select it automatically.

Create a new empty Android app called My App in ./my-app.
Install platforms/android-34 with the android SDK tool.
Show me the UI on the emulator and tap the Login button.
Take a screenshot of the connected phone and describe it.

Commands the skill uses

For SDK packages, the skill uses android sdk install, update, remove and list. For projects, it uses android create with a template name. For devices, it relies on android layout for a JSON view of the UI and android screen capture for a PNG.

Input uses adb shell input. The skill tells the agent to read the layout first, check element states such as FOCUSED before typing, and wait a few seconds if content is still loading.

android sdk install platforms/android-34
android create empty-activity --name="My App" --output=./my-app
android layout
android screen capture -o screen.png
adb shell input tap 152 23

Safety notes: scripts and network access

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. The install step downloads the CLI from dl.google.com, and SDK commands download packages, so you need internet access. Read any install command before running it, and only use the skill on machines where you accept those downloads.

The agent can tap, type and install apps on any connected device. Do not point it at production or personal phones without care. Use an emulator or a test device for trial runs, and watch what the agent does on a real device.

Requires the android CLI, adb, and a connected device or emulator.
Downloads the CLI and SDK packages over the internet.
Can install APKs and send input to any connected device.

Tips for better results

Ask for one step at a time when testing a flow. The agent works best when it can read the layout, act, then read again.

If layout misses an element, ask for an annotated screenshot. The skill describes android screen capture --annotate and android screen resolve for finding labelled regions.

Give the device serial if more than one device is connected.
Use an emulator for first runs.
Ask the agent to describe the screenshot before it acts on it.

What people use it for

Scaffolding a new Android app from an empty-activity template.
Installing or updating specific SDK platform packages from the terminal.
Running a manual-style UI check on an emulator and recording screenshots.
Testing a login or form flow by reading the layout and typing into focused fields.
Looking up official Android documentation from inside the agent session.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the android-cli skill?

Download the ZIP from the skill page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

What do I need before using it?

You need the android CLI, adb (Android Debug Bridge) for device input, a connected device or Android emulator for device tasks, and internet access to download the CLI and SDK packages. The skill assumes you understand these tools.

Is the android-cli skill free?

The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0. The SKILL.md file refers to a LICENSE.txt for full terms, so check that file for the details.

Can the agent damage my phone?

The agent can tap, type and install apps on any connected device. Use an emulator or a test device, and avoid pointing it at personal or production phones without supervision.

Why does the agent say it cannot find the device?

When more than one device is connected, a serial is required. Run adb devices to list serials and pass --device=<serial> to the command.

How is this different from other ways of driving Android?

This skill is built around Google's official android CLI and its layout and screen commands, with adb for input. Other tools may use different approaches, so compare them against your own workflow before choosing.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you are an Android developer or tester who wants an agent to scaffold projects, manage SDK packages, or drive an emulator or test phone from the terminal. Pick something else if you have no Android tooling set up, or if you need a tool that works on production devices without any risk of unwanted taps or installs.

Download the skill