What’s the Latest Version of Appium

The Latest Versions of Appium:

Latest Version of Appium – Everything You Need to Know

Keeping Appium updated ensures you get the best performance, compatibility, and new features for mobile test automation. If you're wondering what the latest version of Appium is and how to update it, you're in the right place.

What’s the Latest Version of Appium?

As of July 2026, the latest stable version of Appium is 3.5.2. It is part of the Appium 3 line, which first became generally available in August 2025. The Appium team regularly releases updates to improve automation capabilities, add new drivers, and enhance overall stability.

What's New in Appium 3 vs. Appium 2?

Appium 3 is the latest major release and focuses on modernizing the server rather than changing how you write tests. If you are moving up from Appium 2, these are the changes that matter most:

• Node.js 20.19.0 or higher is required: Appium 3 drops support for older, end-of-life Node.js versions. The supported range is Node.js 20.19.0, 22.12.0, or 24.0.0 and above, along with npm 10 or newer.
• Upgraded to Express 5: The server's internal Express dependency moves from v4 to v5. Standard usage is unaffected, but teams that embed Appium or write custom middleware, drivers, or plugins should confirm Express 5 compatibility.
• Legacy cleanup: Long-deprecated commands, options, and outdated Node versions have been removed, giving Appium 3 a leaner, more maintainable base.
• Same decoupled architecture: The independent driver and plugin model introduced in Appium 2 continues, so drivers such as UiAutomator2 and XCUITest are still installed and updated separately from the core server.

For most users the migration is straightforward – update your Node.js runtime to a supported version and reinstall Appium. Test scripts written against a client library generally continue to work without changes.

Understanding Appium Server vs. Appium Client Versions

A common point of confusion is that the Appium server version and the Appium client library version are two different things, and they do not have to match. The server version – for example 3.5.2 – is the automation server you install with npm. The client version is the language-specific library you use inside your test scripts.

• Appium Server: The core server (currently 3.5.2), installed with npm install -g appium@latest. It receives commands and drives the device through installed drivers.
• Appium Clients: Language bindings such as the Appium Java Client, Appium Python Client, and WebdriverIO. Each is versioned and released on its own schedule.

Because they are independent, you can upgrade the server without changing your client library, or update a client to pick up new language features while staying on the same server. For the smoothest experience, keep both reasonably current and check each client's release notes for the Appium server versions it supports.

How to Check Your Appium Version?

Not sure which Appium version you’re running? Follow these steps to check:

• Open a terminal or command prompt.
• Run the following command: appium -v
• It will display the installed Appium version.

How to Download or Update Appium?

To ensure you're using the latest Appium version, follow these steps:

• For Node.js Users (via NPM): npm install -g appium@latest
• For Mac Users (via Homebrew): brew install appium
• For Source Installation: Download it from the official Appium GitHub repository.

Prerequisite: Appium 3 requires Node.js 20.19.0 or higher (supported versions: Node.js 20.19.0, 22.12.0, or 24.0.0 and above) and npm 10 or newer. Check your versions with node -v and npm -v before installing, and upgrade Node.js first if either is below the minimum.

Decoupled Driver Management in Modern Appium

Since Appium 2, drivers are no longer bundled inside the server. In Appium 2 and 3, platform drivers such as UiAutomator2 (Android) and XCUITest (iOS) are installed and versioned independently, so you can update a driver without upgrading the whole server, and vice versa.

Manage drivers from the command line:

• List installed drivers and available updates: appium driver list --updates
• Update a specific driver: appium driver update uiautomator2
• Install a new driver: appium driver install xcuitest

Running appium driver list --updates shows which of your installed drivers have newer versions available, making it easy to keep UiAutomator2, XCUITest, and other drivers current without reinstalling Appium itself.

Why Should You Keep Appium Updated?

Keeping Appium up to date provides:

• Better Device & Platform Support: Ensures compatibility with the latest iOS and Android versions.
• Performance Enhancements: Faster and more reliable automation execution.
• New Features & Fixes: Access to the latest Appium drivers, plugins, and bug fixes.

Appium Version Support and End-of-Life (EOL) Timelines

Knowing which Appium versions are still supported helps you plan upgrades before an unsupported release causes problems:

• Appium 1.x – End of life. The Appium 1 line is fully deprecated and no longer maintained. It uses the older bundled-driver architecture and does not receive fixes or security updates, so any team still on 1.x should migrate.
• Appium 2.x – Maintained during the transition. Appium 2 introduced the decoupled driver and plugin model and remains in use while teams move to Appium 3. It still receives updates, but new development is focused on the 3.x line.
• Appium 3.x – Current. Appium 3 (latest 3.5.2) is where active development happens. Running the current major version is the best way to get ongoing fixes, driver compatibility, and support for the newest Android and iOS releases.

The safest path is to keep your server on a supported major version and update drivers regularly with appium driver list --updates.

What’s Next for Appium Updates?

The Appium team continuously works on improvements and new features, releasing updates periodically. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest version details.