WinAppDriver is not working without Developer mode. Is there any alternative way?

[dillibabu123]

We setup WinAppDriver by enabling the Developer mode and did continue R&D on that according to my company requirement and it seems like where we can achieve to automate my windows application and execute scripts.

Challenge_1: Is there any way to run WinAppDriver without enabling Developer mode?
Which seems like a security risk to my IT team.

Challenge_2: Without enabling Developer mode can we run WinAppDriver scripts in Remote machines OR CI with Azure Pipelines OR SeleniumGrid?

We are using most of the Microsoft products like Visual Studio and Azure DevOps.

[anunay1]

You can use azure pipeline

[VinayKumar06]

We are also looking for alternative way without enabling developer mode. If not now, if there any plan to provide one.

[dillibabu123]

You can use azure pipeline

Thanks for your response.

Azure pipeline will be good only for triggering the executions but to develop the automated test cases then one should enable the "Developer Mode" local to their machines right, so to avoid this is there any other solution?

[anunay1]

I don't know any other solution. Neither am I aware of any plans to provide an alternate solution.

[VinayKumar06]

I could record without enabling the developer mode. But to run tests, we need it. How winappdriver uses developer mode. Could you please elaborate. If it's only for giving special privileges, can it be done by setting registries in windows system.

[anunay1]

How did you record the script using WAD. Were you able to play the recording back

[anunay1]

You can enable developer mode using powershell script when run in admin mode check issue #165

[douniwan5788]

UI Automation doesn't need eveloper mode, why WinAppDriver force this?

[yonashamailov]

Hi , I also have the same issue: developer mode to run (&debug) WinAppDriver is a big showstopper for us in the company win10 machines(it changes the image). Is there any plan to cancel this requirement in WinAppDriver ?