For developers · Checked 6 October 2026

Android CLI: give your agent Android skills and a real device to test on

Short answer: install the Android CLI, run android init to set up your agent, add skills with android skills add, and reserve a physical phone with android device remote create. Device Streaming connects the remote device to adb, so the agent can deploy builds, read logs and take screenshots without a phone on your desk.

The commands you will use most

From the Android CLI command reference on developer.android.com, read 6 October 2026.

Command	What it does
android init	Configures your agent and installs the android-cli skill
android skills list	Shows the Android skills you can add
android skills add <skill> --project=.	Adds one skill to a project; --all adds every skill, --agent picks the agent
android skills update --all	Updates the skills you installed
android device remote models	Lists the physical devices you can reserve, as codename/api
android device remote create tokay/34	Reserves a device and, by default, connects it to adb
android device remote extend --duration=30 <id>	Adds minutes to a reservation that has not ended
android update	Updates the Android CLI itself

What the Android CLI is

The Android CLI is Google’s command-line tool for working on Android apps with AI agents. It covers SDK setup, project scaffolding, virtual devices, screen and UI inspection, a connection to Android Studio and testing with Journeys. Install it from the Android CLI page on developer.android.com, then run android init. If your SDK lives somewhere unusual, pass --sdk=<path>. Keep it current with android update.

Add Android skills to your agent

Skills are packaged instructions an agent loads when a task matches them. Google ships more than 20, including a Play policy audit, Intent security, CameraX migration, Wear Compose M3, Media3 Cast, a testing strategy and an R8 audit. Run android skills list to see them, then add one per project, for example android skills add wear-compose-m3 --project=., or add them all with --all. To target a specific agent, pass --agent, as in android skills add --agent=gemini edge-to-edge. The skills work in Android Studio, Antigravity, Claude and Codex. Inside the IDE, Android Studio Quail 4 bundles curated skills too, see Gemma 4 and Android skills in Android Studio.

Reserve a real device with Device Streaming

Android Device Streaming, powered by Firebase, gives you physical phones hosted in Google data centers and Android Partner Device Labs, including recent Pixel models and devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, vivo and Transsion. Run android device remote projects to see which Google Cloud projects you can use, android device remote models to list devices as codename/api, then android device remote create tokay/34 --project=my-project. The command prints a reservation ID and its end time, waits until the device is ready and connects it to adb over SSL. Pass --connect=false to reserve now and connect later with android device remote connect <reservation-id>. Need more time? android device remote extend --duration=30 <id>. When you finish, Google wipes your data and factory resets the device.

What it costs

Google says Device Streaming is available to try at no cost with Firebase projects on the Spark plan, and usage beyond the monthly no-cost minutes may incur billing. The exact minutes and rates are on Google’s «Pricing for Android Device Streaming» page; check it before you let an agent keep devices reserved for long runs.

Other agent workflows on Android

If you would rather run Claude or Codex inside Android Studio, see Bring Your Own Agent in Android Studio. For a device on your own network instead of a remote one, see ADB Wi-Fi 2.0.

Where Censuus fits

Testing on real devices helps your app work for the people who find it; being found is a separate job. Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw, and adding your app is free on the List my app form. Placement comes from traffic and sponsorship: apps climb on the visits they draw, and a sponsor can pay to rise higher.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Android skills with the Android CLI?

Run android skills list to see what is available, then android skills add <skill> --project=. for one skill, or android skills add --all for every skill. Update them later with android skills update --all.

Which agents can use Android skills?

Google lists Android Studio, Antigravity, Claude and Codex. Use the --agent option of android skills add to target a specific agent.

How do I connect to a remote device from the command line?

Run android device remote create <codename>/<api>, for example tokay/34. By default it waits for the reservation and connects the device to adb. With --connect=false, connect later using android device remote connect <reservation-id>.

Is Android Device Streaming free?

Google offers no-cost monthly minutes with Firebase projects on the Spark plan; usage beyond them may incur billing. See Google’s pricing page for current minutes and rates.

What happens to my data after a streaming session?

Google wipes your data and factory resets the device before another developer can use it.

Guides for app developers

Put your app in the ranking

Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw and by sponsorship, no bots. Listing is free; sponsorship raises placement.

Submit your app See sponsorship Indie app landscape: apps and visits by category