Automation Spy is a dedicated software developer utility tool used to inspect the Microsoft UI Automation (UIA) hierarchy of visual elements on Windows operating systems. It serves as a diagnostic, testing, and reverse-engineering tool for software testers, accessibility developers, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) engineers.
The application is hosted via its Automation Spy Homepage and its open source code is accessible on GitHub. Core Features & Capabilities
Tree Navigation: Users can map out and traverse the complex, multi-layered Microsoft UI Automation tree structure. This reveals how parent-child elements (like buttons inside a panel inside a window) are organized.
Hover and Select: It provides a mouse pointer tool that allows you to click or hover directly over a running application window to instantly locate and highlight that specific element within the UIA tree.
Property Inspection: The tool reads out crucial accessibility properties such as AutomationId, Name, class names, bounding rectangles, control types, and visibility states.
Control Pattern Testing: You can directly test actions on target interface controls. For example, you can invoke a button click event or toggle a checkbox directly from the spy utility to verify responsiveness.
Event Monitoring: It features an engine to catch and display UI Automation events (e.g., focus changes, window openings, or layout updates) raised by a specific application or element in real time. Why Developers Use It UI Automation – Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn
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