Standard mobile testing tools fail for React Native TV apps due to D-pad navigation. This guide shows how to build custom helpers for React Native Testing Library that emit hardware key events and how to configure Appium for end-to-end testing on tvOS and Android TV.

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Standard mobile testing tools like Maestro and Detox don't work for React Native TV apps due to D-pad navigation. This guide covers two testing layers: JS-level tests using React Native Testing Library with custom tvRemote helpers that emit hardware key events (handling platform differences between tvOS and Android TV), and E2E tests using Appium with WebdriverIO for both native TV platforms (Android TV via UiAutomator2, Apple TV via XCUITest) and web-based TV platforms (webOS, Tizen). It also covers running tests on device farms like AWS Device Farm, BrowserStack, and Sauce Labs, including configuration examples for each.

From Unit to E2E: A Guide to Testing React Native TV in 2026