Hey there! Let's break down how to implement cross-app auto-scrolling for your Android auto-clicker—this is totally doable once you map out the right Android APIs and approaches. Here’s a structured guide based on common Android development practices for cross-app interactions:

Cross-app UI manipulation relies on critical system permissions, so start here:

• Accessibility Permission: This is the non-root, user-friendly way to interact with other apps. You’ll need to guide users to enable this permission in their system settings (your app can’t request it directly via code). This permission lets your app listen to UI events and send actions to other apps.
• Optional ROOT Access: If you want to support more flexible gesture-based scrolling (for apps that don’t play nice with accessibility), you’ll need root access to inject low-level input events.

1. AccessibilityService (Non-Root, Recommended) #

This is the standard Android way to build cross-app automation tools. Here’s how to use it for scrolling:

• Create an AccessibilityService Subclass: Extend AccessibilityService and override key methods like onAccessibilityEvent() and onInterrupt().
• Configure the Service: Add a configuration XML file (under res/xml/) to declare which events your service listens to (e.g., window state changes, view scrolls) and which apps to target (use android:packageNames="*" to support all apps).
• Detect Scrollable Views: When an accessibility event triggers (like switching to a new app), use AccessibilityNodeInfo to traverse the current window’s UI hierarchy. Look for nodes that support scroll actions—you can check this with node.isScrollable() or by verifying if it responds to ACTION_SCROLL_FORWARD/ACTION_SCROLL_BACKWARD.
• Trigger Scroll Actions: Once you’ve found a scrollable node, call node.performAction(AccessibilityNodeInfo.ACTION_SCROLL_FORWARD) (or backward) to trigger a scroll. For precise scrolling (e.g., scroll to a specific position), use ACTION_SCROLL_TO_POSITION if the node supports it.
• Integrate Timing: Reuse your existing auto-clicker’s scheduling logic (like Handler + Runnable or Coroutine) to trigger scroll actions at set intervals. Make sure to bind the scheduler to the service’s Looper to avoid thread issues.

2. ROOT-Based Input Injection (For Edge Cases) #

If accessibility doesn’t work for certain apps (e.g., custom scroll views), root access lets you simulate touch gestures directly:

• Inject Swipe Gestures: Use the input shell command (via Runtime.getRuntime().exec()) to simulate swipes. For example:

  input swipe 500 1500 500 500 1000
  

  This swipes from (500,1500) to (500,500) over 1000ms, triggering an upward scroll.
• Handle Coordinates: Let users select a scrollable area on the screen (like your existing XY click setup) to define the swipe start/end points. Store these coordinates and use them in the swipe command.

• Track Window Changes: In your AccessibilityService, listen for TYPE_WINDOW_STATE_CHANGED events to detect when the user switches apps. When this happens, re-scan the new window’s UI hierarchy to find scrollable views.
• Dynamic Configuration: Let users toggle auto-scrolling per app, or set different scroll parameters (direction, interval, distance) for specific apps. Save these preferences to SharedPreferences so your service can apply the right settings for each app.

• Non-Standard Scroll Views: Some apps use custom scrollable components that accessibility can’t detect. For these, offer the root-based swipe option as a fallback.
• Android Version Adapting: Android 12+ has stricter accessibility permission flows, so make sure your onboarding clearly guides users through enabling the permission. For older versions, adjust your service configuration accordingly.
• Background Stability: AccessibilityService is a system-level service, so it won’t get killed by Android’s background restrictions. Still, avoid heavy processing in the service to prevent ANRs.

Start with the AccessibilityService approach first—it’s more user-friendly and doesn’t require root. Test with a variety of apps to work out edge cases, and integrate your existing timing logic to make the auto-scroll feel seamless with your clicker features!

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Vinopraji