# Can we attach XCUITest or UIAutomator session with Appium Inspector?

**URL:** <https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [May 26, 2025, 12:45pm UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782 "2025-05-26T12:45:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mega6453](https://discuss.appium.io/user_avatar/discuss.appium.io/mega6453/32/14164_2.png) [@mega6453](https://discuss.appium.io/u/mega6453)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 12:45pm UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782/1 "2025-05-26T12:45:03Z")

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In Appium Inspector we have option to attach appium session. The question is , is it possible to attach XCUITest/WDA or UiAutomator session with appium inspector?

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**Author:** ![wreed](https://discuss.appium.io/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@wreed](https://discuss.appium.io/u/wreed)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782/2 "2025-05-26T15:19:53Z")

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Appium Inspector represents a “Client” in Appium architecture, while XCUITest/Uiautomator2 are “Drivers” used by the client to attach to the Appium server. So yes, you can use XCUITest/Uiautomator2 drivers in the Inspector client to attach to Appium server and run a session.

You should probably run through this tutorial for a practical guide:

> **[Appium Inspector Tutorial - AutomationTestingHub](https://www.automationtestinghub.com/appium-inspector-tutorial/)**
>
> In this Appium Desktop Tutorial, learn how to start Appium Inspector by providing server details and desired capabilities

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mega6453](https://discuss.appium.io/user_avatar/discuss.appium.io/mega6453/32/14164_2.png) [@mega6453](https://discuss.appium.io/u/mega6453)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 5:36am UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782/3 "2025-05-29T05:36:07Z")

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Thanks for the reply. May be my question was not clear.  
If there’s an appium session created, then I’m able to attach that session in the appium inspector.  
My question is, when appium session created for a device, internally it creates a WDA(iOS)/UIAutomator(Android) session. Can we attach this session in the appium inspector? Because I see only the list of appium sessions in the attach session dropdown. Even If I enter the WDA/UiAutomator session , it does not allow to attach. So, is there anyway for this?

For some reason, I don’t want to create appium session and I just want to use the WDA/UIAutomator session and see the page source.  
Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wreed](https://discuss.appium.io/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@wreed](https://discuss.appium.io/u/wreed)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/can-we-attach-xcuitest-or-uiautomator-session-with-appium-inspector/45782/4 "2025-05-29T15:20:36Z")

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> [@mega6453](#):
>
> I don’t want to create appium session and I just want to use the WDA/UIAutomator

If you don’t start the Appium server, Inspector is not going to work for you. Maybe you want to use UiAutomatorViewer?

> **[UIAutomatorViewer Tutorial: Inspector for Android Testing](https://www.guru99.com/uiautomatorviewer-tutorial.html)**
>
> Identifying Android application (AUT) objects using Uiautomatorviewer to write automation scripts To automate any android application using Appium, user needs to identify the objects in AUT (Applicati