Have you ever tried running Selendroid tests online and felt unsure whether the failures were coming from the app or the test setup?
I ran into this problem while working with legacy Android apps. Tests used to fail quite often, execution was slow, and debugging took more time than writing the tests themselves. After a closer look, it was clear that Selendroid wasn’t the issue, it was the tools that we used to run these tests.
In 2026, running Selendroid tests successfully depends on choosing platforms that still support older Android frameworks while offering stable environments, faster execution, and reliable results.
Overview
What is Selendroid testing?
Selendroid testing refers to automating native and hybrid Android apps on older Android versions (4.0-4.4). It works by embedding a test server inside the app, making it suitable for validating legacy Android behavior that modern frameworks no longer support.
List of the Top 7 Tools to Run Selendroid Tests
- Selendroid Standalone Server: Runs Selendroid tests locally using the original embedded server approach for legacy Android apps.
- Selenium Grid (legacy/custom setup): Executes Selendroid tests across distributed nodes with manually configured Android devices or emulators.
- Jenkins: Automates Selendroid test execution within CI pipelines using connected devices or emulators.
- GitLab CI (with custom runners): Runs Selendroid tests through self-hosted runners configured for older Android environments.
- OpenSTF (private device cloud): Provides a self-managed Android device lab for remotely running Selendroid tests.
- Genymotion Desktop (on remote VMs): Uses cloud-hosted Genymotion emulators to execute Selendroid-based automation.
- Android Studio AVD / Android Emulator (on remote servers): Runs Selendroid tests on server-hosted Android emulators configured for legacy API levels.
In this blog, I’ll walk through the top tools to run Selendroid tests in 2026 and explain which ones help teams keep legacy Android testing efficient and dependable.
Why Use a Tool to Run Selendroid Tests Online?
Running Selendroid tests locally might seem manageable at first. But as Android versions, devices, and CI pipelines evolve, local setups quickly become fragile.
Selendroid is tightly coupled with older Android versions (4.0-4.4). In 2026, maintaining physical devices or emulators for these APIs is increasingly difficult. Local machines no longer support old SDKs cleanly, emulators behave inconsistently, and even minor OS updates can break test execution.
Using a tool to run Selendroid tests online solves these problems by abstracting infrastructure complexity. Instead of managing outdated devices, SDKs, and drivers yourself, online tools provide stable execution environments that are already configured for legacy Android testing.
Other key advantages include:
- Reduced flaky tests caused by emulator instability or USB-connected devices
- Faster feedback loops by running tests remotely and in parallel
- Better CI/CD integration, especially for teams running mixed legacy and modern test suites
- Scalability without investing time in maintaining deprecated Android environments
In practice, what passes on a local emulator often fails under real-world conditions. Online execution tools help close that gap by offering consistent environments that reflect how legacy apps still behave in production.
Top Tools to Run Selendroid Tests Online in 2026
Running Selendroid tests online typically means executing them on remote servers, private infrastructure, or CI-managed environments rather than on local machines.
Below are the most commonly used tools teams rely on to run Selendroid tests online today:
1. Selendroid Standalone Server
Purpose of Selendroid Standalone Server: Executes Selendroid tests against legacy Android applications.
The Selendroid Standalone Server is the core component responsible for executing Selendroid tests. It uses an embedded server approach to communicate with legacy Android applications and exposes a WebDriver-compatible interface for automation.
Key capabilities include:
- Direct interaction with legacy Android UI components
- Compatibility with older Android API levels
- WebDriver-based automation without modifying test logic
The standalone server is typically deployed on remote servers, CI agents, or Selenium Grid nodes where devices or emulators are available.
2. Selenium Grid (Legacy or Custom Setup)
Purpose of Selenium Grid: Distributes Selendroid tests across multiple remote nodes
Selenium Grid enables Selendroid tests to be executed across multiple remote machines in parallel. Each Grid node is manually configured with the Selendroid server and access to one or more Android devices or emulators.
Key benefits include:
- Parallel execution of Selendroid test suites
- Centralized control over distributed test runs
- Support for multiple Android versions and configurations
In 2026, Selenium Grid setups for Selendroid are usually custom-built and maintained in private infrastructure.
3. Jenkins
Purpose of Jenkins: Automates Selendroid test execution in CI pipelines
Jenkins is commonly used to automate the execution of Selendroid tests as part of continuous integration workflows. It handles triggering test runs, starting or stopping emulators, connecting to devices, and collecting test results.
Key uses include:
- Automated test runs on every build or commit
- Integration with Selenium Grid and device farms
- Centralized test reporting and logging
Jenkins typically runs Selendroid tests on remote servers, emulators, or connected devices.
Read More: Difference between Jenkins vs Gitlab CI
4. GitLab CI (with Custom Runners)
Purpose of GitLab CI: Runs Selendroid tests using CI pipelines tightly integrated with source control
GitLab CI provides similar automation capabilities to Jenkins but relies on custom self-hosted runners for Selendroid testing. These runners are configured with legacy Android SDKs, older build tools, and access to devices or emulators.
Key advantages include:
- Full control over Android SDK and build tool versions
- Seamless integration with Git repositories
- Secure, reproducible test environments
Custom runners are commonly deployed on cloud VMs or on-prem servers with access to devices or emulators.
5. OpenSTF (Private Device Cloud)
Purpose of OpenSTF: Provides remote access to real Android devices for Selendroid testing
OpenSTF is used to create a self-managed cloud of real Android devices that can be accessed remotely. Devices are connected to a central server and made available over the network for automation and manual testing.
Key capabilities include:
- Remote execution on real Android hardware
- Centralized device management and sharing
- Live device monitoring and control
OpenSTF is frequently used in regulated or security-conscious environments where public device clouds are not an option.
6. Genymotion Desktop (on Remote VMs)
Purpose of Genymotion Desktop: Provides fast Android emulators hosted online.
Genymotion Desktop is often deployed on remote virtual machines to provide fast and lightweight Android emulators for Selendroid test execution. It supports older Android versions and offers better performance than many stock emulators.
Compared to stock emulators, it offers:
- Faster startup times
- Better performance for CI workloads
- Support for older Android versions required by Selendroid
These remote Genymotion instances are commonly integrated into CI pipelines or Selenium Grid nodes.
7. Android Studio AVD / Android Emulator (on Remote Servers)
Purpose of Android Studio AVD / Android Emulator: Provides official Android emulators for legacy API testing
The Android Emulator remains a reliable option for running Selendroid tests, particularly when testing applications that require older Android API levels. Hosting AVDs on remote servers allows teams to centralize emulator management and run tests online through CI pipelines or Grid setups. Although slower than some third-party emulators, the Android Emulator provides official tooling support and long-term stability for legacy Android testing.
Key characteristics include:
- High compatibility with legacy Android APIs
- Official Android tooling and long-term support
- Centralized emulator management
Although slower than some third-party emulators, remote AVDs remain a stable and reliable choice for Selendroid automation.
Each of these tools play a specific role in enabling Selendroid tests to run online in 2026. Together, they allow teams to maintain, scale, and automate legacy Android testing without relying on local machines.
How to Choose the Best Tool to Run Selendroid Tests Online?
Selecting the right tool to run Selendroid tests online in 2026 depends on how well it supports legacy Android requirements while fitting into modern testing workflows.
1. Availability of Real Android 4.4 Devices
Selendroid is built for Android 4.0-4.4, and emulator-only testing often misses real-world issues. A reliable tool should provide access to real Android 4.4 devices to ensure accurate UI behavior, WebView rendering, and timing validation.
2. Support for Appium-Selendroid Execution Mode
Most teams run Selendroid through Appium to avoid maintaining separate automation stacks. The tool should natively support Appium’s Selendroid mode so legacy tests can run alongside modern Appium or Espresso tests without additional configuration.
3. Ease of Infrastructure Maintenance
Maintaining local or Docker-based Android 4.x environments is time-consuming and fragile. Tools that manage deprecated SDKs, system images, and devices centrally reduce operational overhead and improve long-term test stability.
4. CI/CD Integration Capabilities
The tool should integrate smoothly with existing CI systems such as Jenkins or GitLab CI. Selendroid tests that require special runners or manual triggers tend to slow pipelines and are often skipped.
5. Long-Term Reliability and Support
Legacy Android testing is already difficult, and the tool should not make it harder. A good solution continues to work as host operating systems and build tools evolve, ensuring Selendroid tests remain reliable over time.
Why is BrowserStack the Best Platform for Running Legacy Android Tests?
Selendroid test failures often stem from unstable running environments like failing physical hardware or inaccurate emulators, turning routine testing into an infrastructure challenge.
BrowserStack App Automate solves this by providing a massive, maintenance-free real device cloud with real Android devices, replacing unstable local grids.It lets teams run legacy tests on actual user hardware, ensuring accuracy and stability without operational burden.
Here is why BrowserStack stands as a practical solution to all the challenges faced during Selendroid Testing:
1. Infrastructure Maintenance for Legacy Android Versions
Maintaining a local grid of Android 4.0 or 4.4 devices in 2026 is no longer operationally viable. Devices fail frequently, replacements are difficult to source, and modern operating systems often break compatibility with older Android SDKs and drivers.
The solution: BrowserStack App Automate removes infrastructure overhead through its Massive Real Device Cloud, giving instant access to thousands of real Android devices, including legacy models. Teams can run Selendroid tests without managing hardware, SDK versions, or device connectivity.
2. Flaky Selendroid Tests Caused by Emulators
Emulators are a major source of instability for Selendroid. Differences in Android 4.x WebView behavior, UI rendering, and timing frequently cause tests to pass locally and fail later in CI, making failures unreliable.
The solution: App Automate replaces emulators with real Android devices and stabilizes execution using its Agentic AI Platform. The Self-Healing Agent automatically fixes broken locators at runtime, reducing false failures that are common in legacy UI automation.
3. Modifying Legacy Test Suites
Legacy Selendroid test suites are often fragile. Teams hesitate to change configurations or refactor code because even small updates can break execution.
The solution: App Automate offers Effortless SDK Integration, allowing teams to run existing Selendroid tests with zero code changes. The SDK automatically manages device connections, local binaries, and parallelization, making it safe to move legacy tests to the cloud without touching the test logic.
4. Slow Feedback and Less Test Coverage
Selendroid test suites are typically slow when executed sequentially on limited local hardware, which delays feedback and reduces test coverage in CI.
The solution: App Automate supports Scalable Parallel Execution, enabling Selendroid tests to run simultaneously across multiple real devices and OS versions. This reduces execution time from hours to minutes and makes legacy Android automation practical in modern pipelines.
5. Manual Log Analysis in Legacy Android Testing
Legacy Android automation produces noisy failures, and manually inspecting logs to identify root causes is time-consuming.
The solution: App Automate provides AI-Driven Test Failure Analysis, automatically analyzing logs, videos, and stack traces to classify failures as product bugs or system flakiness. This helps teams act on failures with confidence instead of guessing.
6. Fragmented Test Visibility Due to Separate Selendroid Test Suites
Selendroid tests often run separately from modern Appium or Espresso suites, which fragments test visibility and reporting.
The solution: App Automate’s Broad Framework Support allows Selendroid tests, commonly executed via Appium’s Selendroid mode, to run alongside Appium and Espresso tests. All results appear in a unified dashboard, keeping legacy automation part of the same quality signal.
Try BrowserStack App Automate Now
Best Practices for Running Selendroid Tests Online
Running Selendroid tests online in 2026 is about minimizing risk and maintenance while keeping legacy coverage reliable.
- Prefer Real Devices Over Emulators: Selendroid depends on Android 4.x WebView and UI behavior that emulators often misrepresent, leading to flaky results.
- Keep Legacy Tests Isolated but Visible: Isolate legacy tests at the code level, but surface results in the same CI and reporting workflow as modern tests.
- Run Selendroid via Appium: Appium’s Selendroid mode lets teams reuse existing pipelines and tooling instead of maintaining a separate execution stack.
- Focus on critical user flows: Limit Selendroid coverage to high-impact scenarios to reduce execution time and maintenance effort.
- Use Parallel Execution Selectively: Use parallel execution for critical tests to speed up feedback without overloading limited legacy devices.
- Watch flakiness patterns over time: Track intermittent failures and stabilize or retire unreliable tests before they undermine confidence.
- Treat Selendroid as a Transitional Layer: Use cloud platforms, such as BrowserStack to keep legacy tests stable while gradually migrating to modern Android frameworks.
Conclusion
Selendroid may be a legacy framework, but legacy Android apps are still very real in 2026. The challenge today is not whether Selendroid works, but whether you can run it reliably, at scale, and without maintaining outdated infrastructure.
As we’ve seen, local grids and emulator-based setups struggle with stability, maintenance, and visibility. BrowserStack offers a practical path forward by running Selendroid tests on real devices, integrating them into CI pipelines, and keeping legacy automation aligned with modern testing workflows.
Choosing the right tool ensures Selendroid tests remain valuable instead of becoming technical debt.
Featured Article
