Control Real iPhones from OpenClaw Agents — Hands-On with AvaBerry43's Setup

An OpenClaw community member (AvaBerry43) has built a system that gives AI agents direct control over real iPhones via an API. The project lets agents interact with iOS natively — no emulators or simulators. The developer has a stash of 70 real iPhones and is offering access to other developers who want to experiment.

Key Features Being Tested

• Drafting iMessages with approval — agent composes messages, user approves before sending.
• Running iOS Shortcuts — agents can trigger any Shortcut automation.
• Using apps without APIs — agents interact with app UIs directly.
• Mobile app QA/testing — automated testing on real devices.

How It Works

The system provides an API endpoint that agents can call to control the phone. For example, an agent could open an app, tap buttons, or run a Shortcut. The developer reports it works "really well TBH. Much better than expected."

Accessing the Phones

The 70 phones are available for others to use. Interested developers can request access through the link provided in the original post (see source below).

Why This Matters for OpenClaw

Mobile automation has been a gap for AI coding agents. This setup gives agents the ability to test real iOS apps, automate workflows involving iMessage or Shortcuts, and interact with any iOS app programmatically — even those without official APIs.

Potential Use Cases

• Automated mobile QA pipelines using agents.
• Generational UI testing — agents create test scenarios, execute them on phone, and report bugs.
• iOS shortcut automation with natural language commands.
• Scripting approval flows for iMessage-based notifications or actions.