Multi-App Workflows

Chain automation actions across multiple Android apps to create complex workflows with PhoneClaw

Overview

PhoneClaw’s most powerful feature is the ability to automate workflows that span multiple apps. You can extract data from one app, process it, and input it into another — all automatically.

Multi-app workflows are what make PhoneClaw unique. Unlike app-specific automation tools, PhoneClaw uses Android’s Accessibility API to interact with any app on your device.

How Multi-App Workflows Work

1. App Switching: Navigate between apps programmatically
2. Data Extraction: Use magicScraper to read content from one app
3. Data Transfer: Store extracted data in variables
4. Input to New App: Use magicClicker to navigate and input data
5. Verification: Confirm actions completed successfully

Building Your First Multi-App Workflow

Common Multi-App Patterns

Data Extraction and Transfer

Extract information from one app and use it in another:

// Extract verification code from email
magicClicker("Gmail app")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Latest email")
delay(1500)

const verificationCode = magicScraper("What is the 6-digit verification code?")
speakText("Code is: " + verificationCode)

// Navigate to app that needs the code
magicClicker("Home button")
delay(1000)

magicClicker("Instagram app")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Verification code field")
delay(500)
// Type: verificationCode

magicClicker("Verify button")
delay(2000)

speakText("Verification completed")

Content Aggregation

Collect data from multiple sources:

const aggregateContent = async () => {
  const sources = []
  
  // Collect from Twitter
  magicClicker("Twitter app")
  delay(2000)
  const tweet = magicScraper("What is the top trending topic?")
  sources.push({ platform: "Twitter", content: tweet })
  
  // Collect from Reddit
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(1000)
  magicClicker("Reddit app")
  delay(2000)
  const post = magicScraper("What is the top post title?")
  sources.push({ platform: "Reddit", content: post })
  
  // Collect from News app
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(1000)
  magicClicker("News app")
  delay(2000)
  const headline = magicScraper("What is the main headline?")
  sources.push({ platform: "News", content: headline })
  
  // Compile summary
  let summary = "Daily digest:\n"
  sources.forEach(source => {
    summary += `${source.platform}: ${source.content}\n`
  })
  
  speakText("Aggregation complete")
  return summary
}

Conditional Routing

Route to different apps based on conditions:

// Check notification type and route accordingly
magicClicker("Notifications")
delay(1500)

const notificationType = magicScraper("What app is the notification from?")

if (notificationType.includes("Instagram")) {
  speakText("Opening Instagram")
  magicClicker("Instagram notification")
  delay(2000)
  // Handle Instagram notification
  
} else if (notificationType.includes("Email")) {
  speakText("Opening Gmail")
  magicClicker("Gmail notification")
  delay(2000)
  // Handle email
  
} else if (notificationType.includes("Message")) {
  speakText("Opening Messages")
  magicClicker("Message notification")
  delay(2000)
  // Handle text message
  
} else {
  speakText("Unknown notification type")
}

Loop Across Apps

Repeat actions in multiple apps:

const apps = [
  { name: "Twitter", action: "Like first post" },
  { name: "Instagram", action: "Like first post" },
  { name: "Facebook", action: "React to first post" }
]

for (const app of apps) {
  speakText(`Opening ${app.name}`)
  
  // Open app
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(1000)
  magicClicker(`${app.name} app icon`)
  delay(3000)
  
  // Perform action
  magicClicker("Like or heart icon")
  delay(1500)
  
  speakText(`Completed ${app.action} in ${app.name}`)
}

speakText("All apps processed")

Real-World Multi-App Examples

Instagram Account Creation with Email 2FA

Automated account creation shown in PhoneClaw demos:

speakText("Creating Instagram account with email verification")

// Step 1: Start account creation
magicClicker("Create new account button")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Email field")
delay(500)
// Type email address

magicClicker("Next button")
delay(3000)

speakText("Waiting for verification email")

// Step 2: Switch to Gmail to get code
magicClicker("Home button")
delay(1000)

magicClicker("Gmail app")
delay(3000)

speakText("Checking email")

magicClicker("Refresh emails")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Instagram verification email")
delay(1500)

// Step 3: Extract verification code
const code = magicScraper("What is the 6-digit Instagram verification code?")
speakText(`Code received: ${code}`)

// Step 4: Switch back to Instagram
magicClicker("Home button")
delay(1000)

magicClicker("Instagram app")
delay(2000)

// Step 5: Enter code
magicClicker("Verification code field")
delay(500)
// Type: code

magicClicker("Verify button")
delay(3000)

// Step 6: Complete profile
magicClicker("Username field")
delay(500)
// Type username

magicClicker("Next button")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Complete setup button")
delay(3000)

speakText("Instagram account created successfully")

TikTok Video Upload with Music

Automated video posting from PhoneClaw demos:

speakText("Uploading TikTok video with music")

// Step 1: Open TikTok
magicClicker("TikTok app icon")
delay(3000)

// Step 2: Start upload
magicClicker("Plus icon to create")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Upload from gallery")
delay(1500)

// Step 3: Select video from gallery
magicClicker("First video in gallery")
delay(1000)

magicClicker("Next button")
delay(3000)

// Step 4: Add music
magicClicker("Add sound or music button")
delay(2000)

magicClicker("Search for songs")
delay(500)
// Type: "Popular Song Name"

magicClicker("First song result")
delay(1500)

magicClicker("Use this sound button")
delay(2000)

// Step 5: Add caption
magicClicker("Add caption field")
delay(500)
// Type: "Check this out! #fyp"

// Step 6: Post
magicClicker("Post button")
delay(5000)

const posted = magicScraper("Was the video posted successfully?")
if (posted.toLowerCase().includes("yes")) {
  speakText("TikTok video uploaded successfully")
} else {
  speakText("Upload may have failed")
}

Captcha Solving Workflow

Vision-based captcha solving:

speakText("Solving captcha")

// Step 1: Identify captcha type
const captchaType = magicScraper("What type of captcha is shown?")
speakText(`Detected: ${captchaType}`)

if (captchaType.includes("text")) {
  // Text-based captcha
  const captchaText = magicScraper("What text characters are shown in the captcha?")
  speakText(`Captcha text: ${captchaText}`)
  
  magicClicker("Captcha input field")
  delay(500)
  // Type: captchaText
  
} else if (captchaType.includes("image")) {
  // Image selection captcha
  const instruction = magicScraper("What object should be selected in the captcha?")
  speakText(`Looking for: ${instruction}`)
  
  // Click matching images
  magicClicker(`Image containing ${instruction}`)
  delay(500)
  magicClicker(`Another image with ${instruction}`)
  delay(500)
}

magicClicker("Submit or verify button")
delay(2000)

const success = magicScraper("Did the captcha verification succeed?")
if (success.toLowerCase().includes("yes")) {
  speakText("Captcha solved successfully")
} else {
  speakText("Captcha verification failed")
}

Advanced Techniques

State Management

Track workflow state across apps:

const workflowState = {
  currentApp: null,
  extractedData: {},
  completedSteps: [],
  errors: []
}

const updateState = (step, data) => {
  workflowState.completedSteps.push(step)
  if (data) {
    workflowState.extractedData[step] = data
  }
  speakText(`Completed: ${step}`)
}

try {
  // Step 1
  magicClicker("Open Twitter")
  delay(2000)
  workflowState.currentApp = "Twitter"
  updateState("openTwitter")
  
  // Step 2
  const tweet = magicScraper("Get tweet text")
  updateState("extractTweet", tweet)
  
  // Step 3
  magicClicker("Open Instagram")
  delay(2000)
  workflowState.currentApp = "Instagram"
  updateState("openInstagram")
  
  // Continue workflow...
  
} catch (error) {
  workflowState.errors.push({
    step: workflowState.completedSteps.length,
    app: workflowState.currentApp,
    error: error.message
  })
  speakText("Workflow error occurred")
}

App Launch Helpers

Create reusable functions for common operations:

const openApp = (appName) => {
  speakText(`Opening ${appName}`)
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(1000)
  magicClicker(`${appName} app icon`)
  delay(3000)
  
  // Verify app opened
  const opened = magicScraper(`Is ${appName} currently open?`)
  if (!opened.toLowerCase().includes("yes")) {
    throw new Error(`Failed to open ${appName}`)
  }
}

const closeApp = () => {
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(500)
}

const switchToApp = (fromApp, toApp) => {
  speakText(`Switching from ${fromApp} to ${toApp}`)
  closeApp()
  openApp(toApp)
}

// Usage
openApp("Twitter")
// Do Twitter things
switchToApp("Twitter", "Instagram")
// Do Instagram things
closeApp()

Parallel Data Collection

Collect data from multiple apps efficiently:

const collectFromApp = (appName, query) => {
  try {
    magicClicker("Home button")
    delay(1000)
    magicClicker(`${appName} app`)
    delay(2500)
    
    const data = magicScraper(query)
    return { app: appName, data, success: true }
  } catch (error) {
    return { app: appName, data: null, success: false, error }
  }
}

const apps = [
  { name: "Twitter", query: "What is trending?" },
  { name: "Reddit", query: "What is the top post?" },
  { name: "News", query: "What is the main headline?" }
]

const results = []
for (const app of apps) {
  const result = collectFromApp(app.name, app.query)
  results.push(result)
  speakText(`Collected from ${app.name}`)
}

// Compile results
const successful = results.filter(r => r.success)
speakText(`Collected data from ${successful.length} apps`)

Timing and Synchronization

App Launch Delays

Different apps require different launch times:

const appTimings = {
  "Gmail": 3000,      // Heavy app, needs more time
  "Instagram": 3500,  // Complex UI, slower load
  "Twitter": 2500,    // Medium weight
  "Messages": 1500,   // Lightweight
  "Settings": 1000    // System app, fast
}

const openAppWithTiming = (appName) => {
  magicClicker("Home button")
  delay(1000)
  magicClicker(`${appName} app`)
  
  const timing = appTimings[appName] || 2000
  delay(timing)
  
  speakText(`${appName} should be ready`)
}

Wait for Element

Poll until an element appears:

const waitForElement = (description, maxAttempts = 10) => {
  for (let i = 0; i < maxAttempts; i++) {
    const found = magicScraper(`Is ${description} visible?`)
    if (found.toLowerCase().includes("yes")) {
      return true
    }
    delay(1000)
  }
  return false
}

// Usage
magicClicker("Submit form")
delay(1000)

if (waitForElement("success message")) {
  speakText("Form submitted successfully")
} else {
  speakText("Timeout waiting for confirmation")
}

Best Practices

Always Add Delays

❌ Too Fast

magicClicker("App 1")
magicClicker("App 2")
magicClicker("Button")

Validate Each Step

// Bad: Assume everything worked
magicClicker("Login")
magicClicker("Submit")

// Good: Verify each step
magicClicker("Login")
delay(2000)
const isLoginScreen = magicScraper("Is this the login screen?")
if (isLoginScreen.includes("yes")) {
  magicClicker("Submit")
} else {
  throw new Error("Login screen not found")
}

Use Descriptive Variables

❌ Unclear

const x = magicScraper("text?")
const y = magicScraper("code?")

Handle App Not Found

const safeOpenApp = (appName) => {
  try {
    magicClicker("Home button")
    delay(1000)
    
    magicClicker(`${appName} app icon`)
    delay(3000)
    
    const opened = magicScraper(`Is ${appName} open?`)
    if (!opened.toLowerCase().includes("yes")) {
      throw new Error("App didn't open")
    }
    
    return true
  } catch (error) {
    speakText(`Failed to open ${appName}: ${error.message}`)
    return false
  }
}

Troubleshooting

App Switch Fails

• Increase delay after home button press
• Use app drawer instead of home screen icons
• Verify app name matches icon text exactly
• Try describing icon color/position

Data Not Extracted

• Make query more specific
• Wait longer for content to load
• Check if element is scrolled out of view
• Verify text is visible (not hidden behind overlay)

Actions Out of Sync

• Increase all delays by 500-1000ms
• Add validation checks between steps
• Test on slower device first
• Use waitForElement pattern

Memory Issues

• Close apps when no longer needed
• Avoid keeping too many apps in memory
• Clear app cache before long workflows
• Restart device periodically for long-running schedules

Next Steps

ClawScript API Reference

Complete function documentation

Schedule Workflows

Run multi-app workflows on a schedule

Voice Generation

Generate multi-app workflows with voice