Test on Android 14 TV Devices
With Live Device Interaction, you can test your app functionality on Android 14 TV devices, including the following scenarios:
- Sideload and test APKs to observe app behavior during installation and uninstallation
- Install, launch, and exit
- Navigate to in-app sign-in and sign-up screens
- Browse content from Appstore
- Make in-app purchases on live downloaded apps
- Navigate and control the app using the virtual remote
You can also take screenshots, record videos, download logs, and send Android Debug Bridge (ADB) commands.
- Access devices
- Developer agreement
- Connect remotely to devices
- Navigation
- Guidelines
- Live Device Interaction FAQ
Access devices
Appstore Quality Central's Live Device Interaction lets you remotely access a virtual device farm to help you assess real-world scenarios.
To access Android 14 TV devices in Appstore Quality Central
- Go to the Developer Console dashboard and sign in.
- From the top navigation bar, select Apps & Services > Appstore Quality Central.
- In the Test your apps on Android 14 TV devices section, click Get Started.
Make sure to click Get Started from the Android 14 TV devices section of the Appstore Quality Central home screen and not the Live Device Interaction tab at the top of the screen. If you're part of the Live Device Interaction developer preview, directly selecting the Live Device Interaction tab launches the standard experience, which doesn't include Android 14 TV devices.
Developer agreement
After you click Get Started, Appstore Quality Central presents the Developer Agreement and Device Handling Guidelines. Read the on-screen agreement and when ready, click Agree and Continue. After you provide your consent, you can access unreleased versions of hardware and/or software (the "Prototypes"). The Prototypes are confidential, made available to you on a "beta" basis, and are Restricted Program Materials under our Program Materials License Agreement. You, your company, and your personnel must also abide by the Additional Restrictions listed in the Developer Agreement and Device Handling Guidelines.
Connect remotely to devices
When you access Android 14 TV devices, you'll see a Devices tab and a Details tab.
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On the Devices tab, you can see the available devices that you can interact with remotely.
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On the Details tab, you can see the details of the available devices, such as model and OS version. You can also see the number of usable devices and the number of devices that are busy (in-use).
To connect to a particular device
- On the Devices tab, click the image of the device to start a remote session. Alternatively, on the Details tab, select Use on the device you want to interact with.
- After you connect to the device, sign in with your Amazon account.
When connected to a device, you can choose to perform any of the following actions:
- On the Remote tab, access a virtual remote to navigate the Fire TV.
- On the Dashboard tab, in the App Upload section, upload an app binary from your local device.
- On the Dashboard tab, in the Shell section, enter ADB commands.
- On the Screen tab, take screenshots and videos. Make sure to download any screenshots and videos before closing the session.
- On the Logs tab, generate logs for debugging or validations.
- Navigate to Amazon Appstore and download any live app.
Navigation
When you access a remote device, you can use a virtual remote, your keyboard, or a keyboard touchpad to navigate. For a Fire TV, use the virtual remote for the best experience.
The following image displays the keyboard-to-Fire TV remote mapping.
Text description
- D-pad navigation: Use the LEFT, RIGHT, UP, and DOWN arrow keys on the keyboard.
- Home button: Use the Home button icon on the virtual remote in the Remote tab.
- Center D-pad button: Use the ENTER key on the keyboard.
- Back button: Use the Back button icon on the virtual remote in the Remote tab.
- For video streaming controls, click the video screen to activate the seek bar. Then, use the RIGHT arrow key to fast-forward, LEFT to rewind, and SPACEBAR to play or pause.
Guidelines
Use the following guidelines for the best experience with Live Device Interaction.
Do
- Have stable internet with good speed and bandwidth (greater than 100 Mbps).
- Sign in to your Amazon account before using the Fire TV.
- Save any device PIN that was enabled during device registration.
- Save your logs, recordings, and other generated data before closing the remote session or window.
Don't
- Leave the device idle for more than 15 minutes. Leaving the device idle can cause device disconnections.
- Change the screen quality, refresh rates, or perform multiple concurrent clicks. These actions can cause lag.
Live Device Interaction FAQ
The following are frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Live Device Interaction.
General usage
- Q: How can I run ADB commands?
- In the device remote session, select the Dashboard tab and go to the Shell section to pass commands. For example, to reset screen size, enter the command:
wm size reset
. - Q: Do I need to register the remote device to my account?
- Yes, for the best experience, register the device after you reserve it. If you don't register the device, some features might work suboptimally.
- Q: Do my artifacts save automatically?
- No, you must manually save and download the screenshots, videos, and logs before closing the session. If you close the session, or the session times out, unsaved artifacts are lost.
- Q: How do I sideload and test an unpublished APK?
- Go to the Dashboard tab. In the App Upload section, you can upload the APK file from your local device to test it.
- Q: Is there a time limit for accessing a device?
- You have up to 60 minutes to access and interact with a device. During this time, make sure you capture and save all relevant artifacts, including screenshots, videos, and logs. When the 60-minute session expires, the device disconnects automatically. If you require additional access after the session ends, you must start a new session.
- Q: How do I close my session?
- To close an ongoing remote session, select the Stop Using button (the x on top of the device view) or close the window to exit.
Available features
- Q: What types of tests can I run on a virtual device?
- Some tests you can run are the following:
- Download app
- Install app from out-of-box experience (OOBE) content wizard
- Install app from Amazon Appstore
- Make subscription or other in-app purchases on live downloaded apps
You can also perform the following actions:
- Navigate and control app through a virtual remote
- Sideload APKs to observe app behavior during installation and uninstallation
- Access device logs to debug app
- Record the screen or capture screenshots for documentation and analysis
- Q: Which Wi-Fi networks are currently available in Live Device Interaction?
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The Wi-Fi network is automatically configured. If you encounter any issues, you can manually connect by selecting VirtWifi from the Dashboard tab.
- Q: Are there any testing limitations to using devices through Live Device Interaction in place of physical devices?
- Yes, currently the following features aren't fully supported:
- Audio functionality
- In-App Purchasing (IAP) testing on sideloaded apps – you can test only on the live or Live App Testing (LAT) version of downloaded apps
- Physical remote and external peripherals, such as a game controller or headphones
- Video playback on DRM-protected apps – if you attempt playback, the video won't be visible, however video playback is supported for non-DRM protected apps.
- Casting content to your app with phone or laptop
- Bluetooth
- Camera
Troubleshooting
- Q: What happens if I encounter a session expired or time-out screen?
- If your session expires, times out, or your connection is lost, try refreshing your browser to resolve the issue. If the issue persists, contact Amazon developer support for help.
- Q: What if I need additional support?
- If your devices are disconnected, you are unable to progress, or you have any other issues, contact Amazon developer support for help. In your request, provide a description of the issue, the device release model, and the timestamp.
Last updated: Jan 28, 2025