# FAQ Find answers to common Maestro questions: parameters, assertions, YAML gotchas, cloud behavior, and how to organize your tests.
How can I use the same flow when my apps have different app IDs? Use an [external parameter](/maestro-flows/flow-control-and-logic/parameters-and-constants.md) for `appId` and pass it when you run Maestro. For example, pass `APP_ID` when testing with the Maestro CLI: ```bash maestro test -e APP_ID=your.app.id file.yaml ``` In your Flow, refer to it with `${APP_ID}`: ```yaml appId: ${APP_ID} --- - launchApp ```
How do I assert on a string that contains a dollar sign? Maestro treats `$` as the start of a variable. Escape the dollar so it is treated as literal text: ```yaml - assertVisible: \$150 in Cash ```
How do I compare two values? To assert on values that appear on different screens, store each value in a variable with [`copyTextFrom`](/reference/commands-available/copytextfrom.md) and [`evalScript`](/reference/commands-available/evalscript.md), then compare in a `runFlow` with a `when` condition: ```yaml # Navigate to first value, then: - copyTextFrom: id: 'listView1' - evalScript: ${output.firstPrice = maestro.copiedText} # Navigate to second value, then: - copyTextFrom: id: 'detailView' - evalScript: ${output.secondPrice = maestro.copiedText} # Compare: - runFlow: when: true: ${output.firstPrice === output.secondPrice} commands: - evalScript: ${console.log('Prices match! Both are ' + output.secondPrice)} ```
How do I generate a random number? Maestro offers built-in support for random numbers, so you don't need to write external scripts. You can use the [`inputRandomNumber`](/reference/commands-available/inputtext.md#random-text-input-commands) command if you need to type the number directly into a field: ```yaml - inputRandomNumber: length: 8 ``` Another option is to use Faker. Use this option if you need to store the number in a variable or use it within a specific range, use the built-in [`faker`](/maestro-flows/javascript/generate-synthetic-data.md) library via `evalScript`: ```yaml - evalScript: ${output.thisNumber = faker.expression("#{number.numberBetween '1' '10'}")} ```
Why does YES get translated to true, and NO to false? If you use `tapOn: YES` or `tapOn: NO`, Maestro may interpret them as booleans and attempt to find the text `"true"` or `"false"` instead: ```yaml appId: com.example --- - launchApp - tapOn: YES ``` You may see an error like: ```bash ║ > Flow: flow ║ ║ ❌ Tap on "true" ║ Element not found: Text matching regex: true Element with Text matching regex: true not found. Check the UI hierarchy in debug artifacts to verify if the element exists. ``` This behavior comes from YAML itself. The [YAML specification](https://yaml.org/type/bool.html) allows booleans to be written as `true`/`false`, `yes`/`no`, `on`/`off`, or `Y`/`N` (in various casings). As a result, unquoted `YES` and `NO` are parsed as booleans. To work around this, force the value to be treated as literal text by quoting it, or use a regular expression: ```yaml - tapOn: "YES" - tapOn: ^No # Text that begins with "No" ```
Why are my tests slower in Maestro's cloud environment? The cloud environment prioritizes reliability and repeatability: each device is wiped and recreated between tests so one run cannot affect another. While this adds about 45 seconds between tests compared with running locally, it ensures a clean state for every execution. To reduce total run time: * Add more parallel runners. * Restructure tests into fewer, longer flows, without sacrificing reliability or useful failure information.
How do I connect WSL2 to the Android Simulator running on Windows? When attempting to bridge the connection between WSL2 and Windows using `adb -a -P 5037 nodaemon server`, you may encounter `smart_sockets` errors. This typically indicates that port 5037 is already in use or a background ADB process is conflicting with your setup. **Host environment cleanup (Windows)** Before re-initializing the connection, you must isolate the environment on your Windows host. 1. Open Task Manager and end all `adb.exe` processes, or run the following in PowerShell:
```powershell stop-process -name adb -force ``` 2. Close Android Studio to prevent it from automatically restarting the ADB server with default settings. Keep the Android Emulator active. 3. If `adb devices` shows the emulator as `offline` at this stage, proceed anyway; the status usually resolves once the bridge is established. **Network and firewall configuration** WSL2 runs on a virtualized network. Your Windows firewall must be configured to allow this external traffic. * **Inbound Rule**: Create a rule in Windows Defender Firewall to allow TCP traffic on port 5037. * **Corporate Policies**: If using a managed work machine, ensure your administrator has not blocked local network socket binding. **Initialize the global ADB daemon** Open a PowerShell terminal and run the following command. Keep this window open, as closing it will terminate the connection bridge: ```powershell adb -a -P 5037 nodaemon server ``` **WSL2 client configuration** Configure your WSL2 instance to look for the ADB server on your Windows host rather than its own local environment. 1. Kill the local server: ```bash adb kill-server ``` 2. Find your Windows IPv4 address and export it to the environment: ```bash export ADB_SERVER_SOCKET=tcp::5037 ``` 3. Verify the link: ```bash adb devices ``` The output should now list the emulator instance running on the Windows host. {% hint style="info" %} **Maestro integration note** Maestro requires a stable ADB connection to orchestrate tests. If the Windows ADB daemon does not recognize the emulator before you start a Maestro Flow, the test will fail. Always verify that `adb devices` returns a valid device ID in your WSL2 terminal before running Maestro commands. {% endhint %} **Still having issues?** If you are not using WSL2 and are seeing different errors, join the `#maestro-questions` channel in the Maestro [Slack community](https://slack.maestro.dev).
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