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Mika

The creator: @wangzan101Original post

An open-source Android agent that operates apps and the web on a hidden background screen, with no root required.

Full build guide

Mika
No photo in the source; GitHub repository card, served from HardwareLab.

By @wangzan101

View original on GitHub View original on X
Posted
GitHub stars
7.9K (GitHub)

What you need

Difficulty
Beginner
License
Apache-2.0 (source)

Parts

  • Android 12+ phone for app control (Android 14+ recommended), Android 11+ phone for chat, web and files
AI model or service
Bring-your-own cloud or local model, On-device agent runtime, Android wireless debugging

Overview

Mika is an open-source Android assistant by @wangzan101. Give it a task and it can open apps, tap, type, scroll and browse the web on a separate background screen while you keep using the phone. The creator says phone control needs a one-time wireless-debugging pairing, but no root access.

How it works

The Android app runs the agent loop and phone-control helper on the device. It reads the screen, chooses actions with a model you configure, and operates apps on a separate virtual display; conversations, memories and run data stay on the phone, while screen content is sent only to the chosen model provider.

Why it's interesting

Mika puts phone automation beside your normal phone use: the creator's Android app works on a separate background screen while you keep using the main display. Its README describes opening apps, tapping, typing and scrolling without an integration for each app, plus a built-in browser for web tasks. Setup starts with installing the APK and choosing a model provider; operating phone apps also needs a one-time wireless-debugging pairing. Chat, web and file features work on Android 11 or later, while app control needs Android 12 or later, with Android 14 recommended for independent focus on the background screen. The distinction between the runtime and the model matters: conversations, memories and run records stay on the phone, but screen content goes to the model provider you configure. The creator also documents handing logins, verification codes and payments back to you, and stopping when protected screens cannot be captured.

Source: github.com/wangzan101/Mika#readme

Hardware

  • Android 12+ phone for app control (Android 14+ recommended)
  • Android 11+ phone for chat, web and files

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