Flaky tests are a nightmare. One moment, they pass. Next, they fail for no reason. Same test. If you work in mobile app testing, you know the pain. A test fails, so you check the logs. Everything looks fine. You rerun it. This time, it passes. Maybe the system just had a hiccup? You move on. But the same test fails again later. Is there a real bug? Is the test broken? Or is it just flaky?
Flakiness doesn’t just slow down testing. It erodes trust in automation, clogs release pipelines, and makes engineers second-guess results. Yet, many teams rely on a simple (and flawed) solution—just rerun the test. But retries do not fix flaky tests.
What Makes a Test Flaky?
A flaky test is unreliable. It passes sometimes, fails other times, and never tells you the reason.
Some common culprits include:
- Unstable test environments – Network drops, slow backend responses, or device limitations.
- Timing issues – Test steps that run before the UI is ready, causing unpredictable failures.
- Data inconsistencies – A test that relies on dynamic data may behave differently each time it runs.
- Infrastructure problems – Limited device availability or cloud-based execution delays.
The result? Chaos. Engineers waste hours chasing false failures. CI/CD pipelines slow to a crawl. Teams start ignoring test results, assuming failures are just “one of those things.” And then, one day, an actual bug slips through.
That is why detecting flaky tests matters. Because when teams stop trusting tests, product quality suffers.
Why Are Simple Retries a Bad Idea?
At first glance, retrying a failed test seems reasonable. If a test fails once but passes on retry, why worry? The problem is, this approach does not solve anything.
Here is what happens when teams rely on retries:
- False confidence – A test that “passes on retry” is still unreliable. The issue is just hidden.
- Wasted time – Running the same test multiple times eats up resources without providing new insights.
- Missed defects – If a real bug is intermittent, retries may trick teams into thinking everything is fine.
It is like putting tape over a warning light in your car. The issue is still there. You are just choosing to ignore it.
Instead of retrying, teams need to get serious about flaky test detection. That starts with data.
How to Detect Flaky Tests?
Flaky tests leave clues. The key is knowing where to look.
1. Track Flake Rate Over Time
A test that fails once might not be flaky. A test that fails unpredictably over multiple runs? That is a red flag. Track test results across different runs to spot inconsistencies.
2. Compare Failures Across Devices
If a test fails on one device but passes on another, the issue may be hardware- or OS-specific. Running tests on a variety of devices helps identify environmental dependencies.
3. Log Everything
Logs, screenshots, video recordings—these are your best friends when diagnosing flakiness. A test failure is much easier to understand when you can see exactly what happened.
4. Group Failures by Type
Not all failures are equal. Are tests failing due to timeouts? Network issues? UI elements not loading? Categorizing failures helps pinpoint patterns.
5. Isolate and Rerun in a Controlled Environment
If a test is flaky, running it in a stable, controlled environment can reveal whether the issue is related to external factors or the test itself.
Once you detect flaky tests, the real work begins—fixing them.
Fixing Flaky Tests for Good
A flaky test will not fix itself. You have to take action.
1. Stabilize Test Scripts
- Use explicit waits instead of fixed delays. Flaky tests often fail because they move too fast.
- Simplify test logic. The more complex a test is, the more ways it can break.
- Avoid hardcoded data that changes between runs.
2. Improve the Test Environment
- Run tests in a stable network to eliminate external interference.
- If using cloud devices, ensure they are not overloaded or running conflicting processes.
- Reset app state between tests to avoid data inconsistencies.
3. Strengthen Test Data Management
- Use static test data when possible.
- If dynamic data is required, ensure it is predictable.
- Clean up test data after each run to prevent conflicts.
4. Prioritize High-Impact Fixes
Not all flaky tests are worth fixing immediately. Focus on the ones that fail frequently or impact critical workflows.
Building a Stronger Mobile App Testing Strategy
Flaky test detection is just one part of reliable mobile app testing strategies. If you want to minimize flakiness long-term, your entire testing approach needs to be solid.
1. Use a Test Pyramid Approach
Not all tests should be UI tests. Unit and integration tests are faster, more reliable, and less prone to flakiness.
2. Run Tests on Real Devices
Emulators are helpful. However, they do not always reflect real-world conditions. Running tests on physical devices helps catch hardware-specific issues.
3. Automate Test Failure Analysis
Instead of manually reviewing failures, set up alerts and dashboards that flag flaky tests automatically.
4. Version Control Test Code
Tracking test changes helps teams identify when and why a test can become flaky.
5. Continuously Monitor Test Stability
Flaky tests can creep back in over time. Regularly reviewing test results helps catch new issues before they escalate.
The True Cost of Ignoring Flaky Tests
Flaky tests are more than an annoyance. They have real consequences.
- Missed Bugs – If teams assume test failures are meaningless, real issues go undetected.
- Slower Releases – Rerunning tests, debugging false failures, and manually verifying results wastes time.
- Developer Burnout – Engineers should not spend their days second-guessing tests. Flaky tests kill productivity and morale.
Ignoring flaky tests is not an option. Fixing them takes effort, but the payoff is worth it. Reliable tests lead to faster releases, more confident teams, and better apps.
Final Thoughts
Flaky tests will always be a challenge in mobile app testing. But they do not have to be a constant battle. With the right detection methods and a proactive approach, teams can reduce flakiness, improve automation trust, and release higher-quality apps.
Retries will not save you. Understanding, tracking, and fixing flaky tests will. The sooner teams move beyond simple retries, the sooner they can focus on what really matters—building great mobile experiences.
