# Appium directory is invalid: Cannot find appium executable **URL:** \ **Category:** Mobile Testing\ **Tags:** mobile-testing, katalon-studio\ **Created:** [January 8, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772 "2018-01-08T22:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bob\_Small](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@Bob\_Small](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Bob_Small)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/1 "2018-01-08T22:21:51Z")
I am getting an error message: Unable to start application on this device: Appium directory is invalid: Cannot find appium executable. When i try to start a new recording. I am able to run devices using Andriod SDK Manager, as well as run appium server. However Katalon seems to have trouble starting the Appium.exe. Please advise. I am on Windows 7 64 bit, Katalon Version: 5.0.1 Build 1 Window-\>Katalon Studio Preferences → Katalon-\>Mobile Settings: Appium Directory C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Local\Programs\appium-desktop Appium Log Level Info ---
**Author:** ![Zarashima](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/zarashima/32/928_2.png) [@Zarashima](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Zarashima)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/2 "2018-01-09T02:48:43Z")
C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Local\Programs\appium-desktop This is not the correct Appium directory, it should be like this: C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Roaming\npm\node\_modules\appium. You should change it to that directory instead. ---
**Author:** ![Willis\_Williandy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/willis_williandy/32/16104_2.png) [@Willis\_Williandy](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Willis_Williandy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/3 "2018-02-12T03:55:14Z")
Hi, I have a same problem here with error message ‘Unable to start application on this device: Appium directory is invalid: Cannot find appium executable’ I tried to change my preferences directory to the location of appium.exe, but it still didn’t work for me Actually I also have some problem to install appium with command ‘npm install -g appium’ and its shown message such as ‘ENOENT: no such file or directory’ which is caused the installation failed. So i decided to install appium desktop application from appium setup (not from cmd). Is it a problem because I used appium desktop setup, so it must be from ‘npm install -g appium’ command? Or there is something else here? I need your help to solved my problem. Thanks 🙂 For your info, I am using windows 10 64 bit, katalon version 5.3, node v8.9.4, and npm 5.6.0 ---
**Author:** ![Ramesh\_Duraisamy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Ramesh\_Duraisamy](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Ramesh_Duraisamy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:05am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/4 "2018-02-14T07:05:13Z")
I too have the same issue . ---
**Author:** ![Inaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7993a0/32.png) [@Inaki](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Inaki)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/5 "2018-02-15T07:47:55Z")
Hi, I´m faceing the same problem since 1 week ago. > Error message ‘Unable to start application on this device: Appium directory is invalid: Cannot find appium executable’ I´m working with: - Win10 - Node 6.11.0 (instaled from .msi) - npm 3.10.10. - katalon 5.3.0 - About Appium i have tried with 1.7.2 and 1.7.1 with same result. Please, let us know at least if this is a bug you are going to fix or any other solution. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Abdelghany\_Elsayed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Abdelghany\_Elsayed](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Abdelghany_Elsayed)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/6 "2018-02-28T12:14:37Z")
me too facing same issue. ---
**Author:** ![Robin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Robin](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Robin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/7 "2018-02-28T13:15:56Z")
Hi, try to update i just checked my setup and it works fine with: - nodejs v8.9.4 - npm v5.6.0 - katalon v5.3.0.1 - appium v1.7.2 Additionally you can install appium-doctor to verify you’re configuration: npm install -g appium-doctor appium-doctor ![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/wz/d9vysnmywy5f.jpg) [appium-doctor.JPG](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/wz/d9vysnmywy5f.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Inaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7993a0/32.png) [@Inaki](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Inaki)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/8 "2018-03-02T09:06:28Z")
Hello, I have instaled following versions: - nodejs v9.5.0 - npm v5.6.0 - katalon v5.3.0.1 - appium v1.7.2 I have installed appium-doctor with success result. But still it´s not working for me. Someone else has tried? Just to know if i´m unique . Someone from Katalon can give us any answer about this? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![balu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@balu](https://forum.katalon.com/u/balu)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/9 "2018-03-22T15:07:44Z")
Hello, Am using Macbook pro and have set the Directory path as “/Applications/Appium.app/Contents/MacOS” but when i tried to run Mobile Spy am getting error as unable to find the Appium executable. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Klein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@David\_Klein](https://forum.katalon.com/u/David_Klein)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/10 "2018-03-29T23:49:18Z")
I am having the same issue when running my Katalon test suite from the command line. When running from Katalon Studio itself, it works fine. Windows 10 Pro PC NodeJS v8.11.0 ([https://nodejs.org/en/download/](https://nodejs.org/en/download/)) npm v5.60 Katalon 64-5.3.1 Appium 1.7.2 Additional steps I’ve done since seeing the problem: - Intermixed with re-following instructions here [https://docs.katalon.com/display/KD/Mobile+on+Windows](https://docs.katalon.com/display/KD/Mobile+on+Windows) - Install Python 2.7.14 ([https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-2714/](https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-2714/)) - Install windows-build-tools as Admin from Powershell (_npm install --global --production windows-build-tools_) - Go to C:\Users\myprofile\AppData\Roaming and change properties for all files/folder away from ‘Read Only’ (so that appium install has write access) - Open command prompt as adminstrator before using npm to install Appium - installed appium-doctor with npm and resolved all issues Yet the problem remains. ---
**Author:** ![Vadim\_Zharov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Vadim\_Zharov](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Vadim_Zharov)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/11 "2018-05-14T13:23:21Z")
> Vinh Nguyen said: > > C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Local\Programs\appium-desktop > > This is not the correct Appium directory, it should be like this: C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Roaming\npm\node\_modules\appium. > > You should change it to that directory instead. Hello! I have the same problem as described above - the way that you write is incorrect for my system: “C:\Users\ vadim.zharove\AppData\Roaoming\npm”, and then there are no subfolders ![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/gf/kcd3ae48nzgt.png "Image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/gf/kcd3ae48nzgt.png") but there is such a way: “C:\Windows\System32\node\_modules\appium” ![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/2f/wp0x9eu8jngw.png "Image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/2f/wp0x9eu8jngw.png") but then the error is: ![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/6h/7pk7f5r77aek.png "Image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/6h/7pk7f5r77aek.png") my way to “appium” differs from yours, is it correct or not? will I continue to look for solutions to new mistakes? [appium.PNG](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/6h/7pk7f5r77aek.png) [1empty.PNG](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/gf/kcd3ae48nzgt.png) [1full.PNG](https://s3.amazonaws.com/katalon-forum/editor/2f/wp0x9eu8jngw.png) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Klein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@David\_Klein](https://forum.katalon.com/u/David_Klein)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/12 "2018-05-16T17:14:28Z")
I got it working by tearing my computer down. Reinstalled Mac OS, installed JDK and Python then followed the Katalon installation procedures … along with my steps above (including opening permissions of node-modules folders) … Before re-installing all my other productivity software (Office, Android Studio, IntelliJ, Xcode, etc). Made for a long couple of days, but I have Katalon running on Mac and PCs ---
**Author:** ![sanket\_gharat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@sanket\_gharat](https://forum.katalon.com/u/sanket_gharat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/13 "2018-06-21T12:59:53Z")
> Vinh Nguyen said: > > C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Local\Programs\appium-desktop > > This is not the correct Appium directory, it should be like this: C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Roaming\npm\node\_modules\appium. > > You should change it to that directory instead. i am getting path up to **C:\Users\bsmall\AppData\Roaming\npm** only. how to get node\_modules\appium sub folders. is there command to go further. thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Leavesley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mark\_Leavesley](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Mark_Leavesley)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2018, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/14 "2018-08-01T08:40:08Z")
This worked for me: “C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node\_modules\appium” ---
**Author:** ![Jason2](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/jason2/32/1674_2.png) [@Jason2](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Jason2)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/15 "2018-08-14T20:01:28Z")
I was finally able to get this running. I installed the latest NPM from the CMD line. ```auto npm install -g appiumThis built the correct NPM\Node_Modules dir.Hope this helps! ``` ---
**Author:** ![gaohaidi114](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@gaohaidi114](https://forum.katalon.com/u/gaohaidi114)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/16 "2019-01-07T03:43:49Z")
> [@Mark\_Leavesley](#): > > “C:\Users\AppData\Local\Programs\Appium\resources\app\node\_modules\appium” it works for me to set katalon studio preferences as “C:\Program Files (x86)\Appium\resources\app\node\_modules\appium” ,and maybe it because that i setup appium maually. ---
**Author:** ![1223582594](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9fc29f/32.png) [@1223582594](https://forum.katalon.com/u/1223582594)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/17 "2019-02-25T03:57:49Z")
Hello, I have encountered the same problem, I want to know if you solved it. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Trevarthen](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/chris_trevarthen/32/358_2.png) [@Chris\_Trevarthen](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Chris_Trevarthen)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/18 "2019-02-25T15:35:52Z")
Hi @1223582594, Could you share the error you’re seeing? Is it with the Appium directory not being found or a problem with adb.exe? Thanks, Chris ---
**Author:** ![rkarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rkarim](https://forum.katalon.com/u/rkarim)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/19 "2019-08-14T16:00:32Z")
Hey Chris, I am having the same problem where my appium executable file it not being recognized with the following path: /Users/rkarim1/.nvm/versions/node/v10.12.0/lib/node\_modules/appium/build/lib Can you please help I can not run my existing script at all. ---
**Author:** ![moamen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@moamen](https://forum.katalon.com/u/moamen)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772/20 "2019-09-24T16:51:45Z")
I’m using mac and I’m facing same issue, any solution found for this ? 🙂 [Next page](https://forum.katalon.com/t/appium-directory-is-invalid-cannot-find-appium-executable/8772.md?page=2)