# Is it necessary to use "start\_activity"?

**URL:** <https://discuss.appium.io/t/is-it-necessary-to-use-start-activity/29729>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [February 20, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/is-it-necessary-to-use-start-activity/29729 "2020-02-20T09:53:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fgh](https://discuss.appium.io/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@fgh](https://discuss.appium.io/u/fgh)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://discuss.appium.io/t/is-it-necessary-to-use-start-activity/29729/1 "2020-02-20T09:53:12Z")

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Hi,

I am using Python 3.7 with appium. After I defined my desired capabilities, I noticed the application is open when I call:  
`driver = webdriver.Remote('http://localhost:4723/wd/hub', desired_caps)`

and then y automation test start without issues.

So I was wondering why to use:  
driver.start\_activity(“com.app.android”, “com.app.mainactivity.MainActivity”)  
?

Because when I write the 2 lines:  
driver = webdriver.Remote(‘[http://localhost:4723/wd/hub](http://localhost:4723/wd/hub)’, desired\_caps)  
driver.start\_activity(“com.instagram.android”, “com.instagram.mainactivity.MainActivity”)

I can see Appium launching 2 times the app. So I make the conclusion that it is useless to write a line of code with “start\_activity”.

Can someone explain me the difference and in which scenario I should use “start\_activity” as the declaration of driver with the line:  
`driver = webdriver.Remote('http://localhost:4723/wd/hub', desired_caps)`  
is enough to start the application and run the test.

Thanks for helping me to understand better appium.