Skype URI through adb, can't turn video on by default

Question

I am trying to start a video call on Skype using their URI API, but the video is turned off when the call starts.

They give a clear example how to use it:

skype:skype.test.user.1?call&video=true

I am using adb to send the command, so I am using the command:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "skype:someuser?call&video=true"

This successfully initiates the call, but with video off. I have tried adding the extra parameter using the Android adb extra parameters:

--es extra_key extra_string_value

So my full command is

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW --es "video" "true" -d skype:someuser?call

but this doesn't make the trick.

If the arguments the Skype app expects are not documented you can try to decompile the app e.g. using Jadx and check the activity class that handles the requests if it accesses the extra arguments or parses the query URL. — Robert, Dec 29 '22 at 08:53
@Robert, I tried this and succesfully decompiled the apk, but i had no luck finding the code that processes the arguments :( — glicerico, Dec 31 '22 at 02:31

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 31 '22 at 19:33

Figured out the solution thanks to this related answer. The solution is simply to escape the ampersand (&) character inside the quotes!

So, the final command that worked for me is:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "skype:someuser?call\&video=true"

1 Answers1