agent-device

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app-switcher

Open the device app switcher to inspect or change the foreground app. Use it to move focus between apps on a connected device.

Instructions

Open the device app switcher to inspect or change foreground apps. This changes the visible system UI and may move focus away from the current app. Times out after 90s.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`udid`	No	Apple device or simulator UDID; the selector that pins one device when several share a name.
`debug`	No	Enable debug diagnostics.
`runId`	No	Lease run identifier.
`device`	No	Device name selector (a UDID belongs in udid, a serial in serial).
`serial`	No	Android, HarmonyOS, or Vega VVD serial selector.
`target`	No	Alias for deviceTarget on commands without a UI target field. Interaction commands reserve target for the UI element.
`tenant`	No	Remote tenant identifier.
`leaseId`	No	Existing lease identifier.
`session`	No	Agent-device session name.
`noRecord`	No	Do not record this action.
`platform`	No	Platform selector used to resolve a device.
`includeCost`	No	Include per-command agent-cost (cost.wallClockMs, …) in structuredContent. Defaults to off; the default response shape is unchanged.
`deviceTarget`	No	Device target form. Maps to the CLI --target flag.
`responseLevel`	No	Response verbosity: token-cheap digest / default (today) / full. Defaults to default; the default response shape is unchanged.
`mcpOutputFormat`	No	MCP text content format. Defaults to optimized agent-friendly text; use json for JSON text. Structured content is always returned separately.
`androidDeviceAllowlist`	No	Android serial allowlist used for device resolution.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`action`	Yes
`message`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.21.0Sep 9, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / device / description

Previous value: -"Device name selector."New value: +"Device name selector (a UDID belongs in udid, a serial in serial)."

changedInput schema / properties / serial / description

Previous value: -"Android device or Vega VVD serial selector."New value: +"Android, HarmonyOS, or Vega VVD serial selector."

changedInput schema / properties / udid / description

Previous value: -"iOS device UDID selector."New value: +"Apple device or simulator UDID; the selector that pins one device when several share a name."

Changed8 schema fields changedv0.20.10Aug 26, 2026

removedInput schema / properties / cwd

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Working directory for command execution.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / daemonAuthToken

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Remote daemon auth token.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / daemonBaseUrl

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Remote daemon base URL.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / iosSimulatorDeviceSet

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "iOS simulator device-set path used for device resolution.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestDerivedDataPath

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Derived data path for external iOS XCTest runner execution.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestEnvDir

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Writable directory for iOS XCTest runner env overlays.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestrunFile

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Externally built iOS XCTest runner .xctestrun artifact path.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / stateDir

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Agent-device state directory.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

Changed1 schema field changedv0.20.9Aug 19, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "apple",
-  "android",
-  "vega",
-  "linux",
-  "web",
-  "ios",
-  "macos"
-]New value: +[
+  "apple",
+  "android",
+  "harmonyos",
+  "vega",
+  "linux",
+  "web",
+  "ios",
+  "macos"
+]

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.20.2Jul 30, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / noRecord

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Do not record this action.",
+  "type": "boolean"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "apple",
-  "android",
-  "linux",
-  "web",
-  "ios",
-  "macos"
-]New value: +[
+  "apple",
+  "android",
+  "vega",
+  "linux",
+  "web",
+  "ios",
+  "macos"
+]

changedInput schema / properties / serial / description

Previous value: -"Android serial selector."New value: +"Android device or Vega VVD serial selector."

Changed4 schema fields changedv0.17.11Jul 6, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / includeCost

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Include per-command agent-cost (cost.wallClockMs, …) in structuredContent. Defaults to off; the default response shape is unchanged.",
+  "type": "boolean"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "ios",
-  "macos",
-  "android",
-  "linux",
-  "web",
-  "apple"
-]New value: +[
+  "apple",
+  "android",
+  "linux",
+  "web",
+  "ios",
+  "macos"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / responseLevel

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Response verbosity: token-cheap digest / default (today) / full. Defaults to default; the default response shape is unchanged.",
+  "enum": [
+    "digest",
+    "default",
+    "full"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "action": {
+      "const": "app-switcher",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "message": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "action",
+    "message"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed1 schema field changedv0.17.7Jun 23, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "ios",
-  "macos",
-  "android",
-  "linux",
-  "apple"
-]New value: +[
+  "ios",
+  "macos",
+  "android",
+  "linux",
+  "web",
+  "apple"
+]

Changed5 schema fields changedv0.17.6Jun 18, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestDerivedDataPath

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Derived data path for external iOS XCTest runner execution.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestEnvDir

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Writable directory for iOS XCTest runner env overlays.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestrunFile

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Externally built iOS XCTest runner .xctestrun artifact path.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / mcpOutputFormat

Added value: +{
+  "description": "MCP text content format. Defaults to optimized agent-friendly text; use json for JSON text. Structured content is always returned separately.",
+  "enum": [
+    "optimized",
+    "json"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "ios",
-  "android",
-  "macos",
-  "linux",
-  "apple"
-]New value: +[
+  "ios",
+  "macos",
+  "android",
+  "linux",
+  "apple"
+]

First observedv0.16.9Jun 3, 2026

TDQS

A3.8/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the disclosure burden. It honestly warns that the tool 'changes the visible system UI,' 'may move focus away from the current app,' and 'times out after 90s.' These are the key behavioral side effects an agent should know before invoking the tool.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is compact and front-loaded: purpose first, then the key side effect, then the timeout. Every sentence provides necessary information and there is no filler or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists, so return-value details are not needed in the description. The description gives the essential behavioral context: it changes system UI, may move focus, and times out. It is sufficient for a safe call, though it could also have pointed to sibling alternatives.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema description coverage is 100%, so all 16 parameters are already documented in the input schema. The description adds no parameter-level detail, and the baseline of 3 is appropriate because the schema does the semantic heavy lifting.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly identifies the action and resource: 'Open the device app switcher.' It also states the purpose ('inspect or change foreground apps'), which makes the tool's intent understandable. It does not explicitly distinguish itself from sibling tools like apps, open, or focus, so it misses top marks.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The intended use is implied by 'to inspect or change foreground apps,' but there is no explicit guidance about when to use this tool versus siblings such as focus, open, or apps. An agent must infer the appropriate context rather than being told directly.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Deploy Server

app-switcher

Instructions

Input Schema

Output Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

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