[Bug]: Appium iOS Driver Returns Unexpected Context Values During Automation

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

I am experiencing an issue with the Appium iOS Driver where the contexts returned during webview automation are incorrect. Despite the Appium server logs showing valid context values, my automation scripts are receiving unexpected strings, specifically "System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.Object]" instead of the expected webview context IDs.

And in server logs

[61112fad][XCUITestDriver@edc5] Responding to client with driver.getContexts() result: [{"id":"NATIVE_APP"},{"id":"WEBVIEW_18156.1","title":"Floor Plan","url":"https://devapp.nfsonline.net/AutomationFP/?AppUserId=0eb8c8cb-5a70-4bca-8739-74881854ee90&Source=mobile&Functionality=floorplan&Platform=flutter","bundleId":"com.nfs.mobile"}]

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl

[Dor-bl]

@SarmadSaleeem can you please share the appium version you are using? Both server and the client.
Also the xcuitest driver version might help.

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl
Appium Server: 2.11.5
XCuitTest: 5.16.1
Appium Client: 4.4.5

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

I am testing on ios 16.0 simulator.

[Dor-bl]

@SarmadSaleeem we no longer support appium client 4.x.y

Please update to version 5.x.y and try again

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl I updated to latest version and fixed all the code issues. Now When I try to run I get this error

"'automationName' can't be blank"

Capability using
appiumOptions.AddAdditionalAppiumOption("AutomationName", "xcuitest");

Server log:
[Appium] Could not parse W3C capabilities: 'automationName' can't be blank

[Dor-bl]

Appium options already has the automationName property.
Just use it directly

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl Still getting the same issue. Not able to get the WebView.

var context = driver.Context;
MyLogger.Info($"current view is {driver.Context}");
ReadOnlyCollection < string > allContexts = driver.Contexts;

context is returning "Native app"
contexts returning list of these strings
[0] "System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.Object]"

[1] "System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.Object]"

[Dor-bl]

So it might be a bug, I'll try to have a look at some point in the next few days

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl

This is what I am getting in IOS appium inspector

And this in Android appium inspector

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

@Dor-bl I updated my IOS simulator to 16.4

Now On appium inspector I am getting all the contexts

but in code still having the same issue.

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

The issue is solved now. I was using some additional capabilities. Now I removed all of them and left with only the required ones. Now I am able to get the correct values. Maybe some capability was causing the issue.

Thank you so much @Dor-bl for your assistance.

[Dor-bl]

Good to hear.
If you could pinpoint the capability that cause this issue, it will be great for future users.

[Sarmad-Saleem-SS]

Ok I will try to figure out which capability was causing the issue. Then will update here.