agent-device

Official

Overview Schema Source Related Servers Discussions Admin

apps

List installed apps on a selected device, optionally filtering to user-installed apps. Use this to discover available applications for automation or inspection.

Instructions

List the apps installed on the selected device. Include system or OEM apps only when they are needed as automation targets. 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.
`platform`	No	Platform selector used to resolve a device.
`appsFilter`	No	Restrict the listing to user-installed apps, or include system and OEM apps.
`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
`apps`	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"
+]

Changed1 schema field changedv0.20.6Aug 7, 2026
- addedInput schema / properties / appsFilter / description
```
Added value: +"Restrict the listing to user-installed apps, or include system and OEM apps."
```

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.20.2Jul 30, 2026

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."

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "apps": {
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "apps"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed3 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"
+}

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

Behavior3/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description carries the behavioral burden; it does disclose a 90s timeout, which is useful operational context. However, it does not state side effects, default filtering behavior, or failure modes beyond the timeout, and the system/OEM sentence reads more like policy than behavior.

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?

Two sentences, front-loaded with the action, then a scoping rule and timeout. There is no filler; every clause earns its place.

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?

Given the output schema and 100% parameter coverage, the description does not need to explain return values or selector semantics. It includes the non-obvious operational constraint (90s timeout) and the policy on system/OEM apps, which is sufficient for a low-complexity listing tool.

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?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema fully documents all 16 parameters; the description does not need to repeat parameter details. It adds only the system/OEM condition, which overlaps with the appsFilter parameter rather than extending its meaning.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description opens with a specific verb and resource: 'List the apps installed on the selected device.' This clearly distinguishes the tool from siblings like install, appstate, and snapshot. The system/OEM qualification adds scope without obscuring the core purpose.

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?

It gives a conditional usage hint—include system/OEM apps only when they are needed as automation targets—but does not name alternative tools or state when not to use this one. The guidance is implied rather than explicit, so an agent must infer that apps is for enumeration before automation.

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

Deploy Server

apps

Instructions

Input Schema

Output Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

Other Tools