aster

What This Skill Does

Aster acts as a bridge between your AI and your Android ecosystem using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It enables your AI to interact directly with mobile devices as if it were a physical user, bypassing the need for manual inputs. By leveraging the official Android Accessibility Service API, it performs operations such as screen navigation, text input, gesture simulation, and media management. Whether you want to automate repetitive mobile tasks, manage your device remotely, or grant your AI its own dedicated phone for autonomous actions, Aster provides a secure, privacy-first interface to execute these commands without requiring root access or complex hacks.

Installation

To integrate Aster, you must first install the bridge server and the mobile application. Run npm install -g aster-mcp to install the server, followed by aster start to initialize the local bridge. Next, install the Aster Android APK on your target device from the official GitHub repository and connect it to your server address. Finally, update your .mcp.json file by adding the Aster server configuration to your MCP server list. Once the connection is established and the device is approved via the web dashboard, your AI will be able to discover and interact with the device capabilities.

Use Cases

Aster is ideal for users who need to bridge their digital assistant with their physical mobile environment. Common use cases include: automated UI testing of mobile applications, remote management of home media centers or smart home hubs that require Android-based control, creating a personal AI concierge that can send SMS or make calls based on complex logic, and managing files or device settings on an older spare Android phone converted into an AI hardware node. It is also perfect for developers building autonomous agents that need to cross-reference data between desktop applications and mobile messaging platforms.

Example Prompts

1. "Look at the screen, find the recent text message from my bank, and tell me the confirmation code."
2. "Open the Spotify app, search for a jazz playlist, and play it on the speakerphone at 50% volume."
3. "Check the current battery level on my spare phone and if it's below 20%, send me a notification to plug it in."

Tips & Limitations

To ensure the best performance, keep your Android device awake or set the display timeout to a higher threshold. Aster relies on the Accessibility Service, so ensure the permissions are correctly granted in your phone's system settings. Because it interacts with the UI, it is most effective when the device is unlocked. For privacy, Aster is entirely self-hosted and does not use third-party relay servers, meaning your device must be on the same local network, or accessible via an optional Tailscale mesh VPN setup.