name: open-url
description: Open URLs and launch apps on Android. Use for opening links in a browser, launching specific apps, or viewing files.
Open URLs and Launch Apps
Open a URL in default browser
termux-open-url https://example.com
Open a URL with am start (more control)
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://example.com"
Open a file with default handler
termux-open /path/to/file.pdf
termux-open --content-type image/png /path/to/image.png
Launch an app by package name
# Using monkey (simplest, launches main activity)
/system/bin/monkey -p com.twitter.android -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1
# Using am start (specify exact activity)
am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings
Common app packages
| App |
Package |
| Chrome |
com.android.chrome |
| Settings |
com.android.settings |
| Files |
com.google.android.documentsui |
| YouTube |
com.google.android.youtube |
| X/Twitter |
com.twitter.android |
| Tasker |
net.dinglisch.android.taskerm |
Launch app with specific intent
# Open a specific URL in Chrome
am start -n com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main -d "https://example.com"
# Share text to another app
am start -a android.intent.action.SEND -t "text/plain" --es android.intent.extra.TEXT "Hello"
# Open dialer with number
am start -a android.intent.action.DIAL -d "tel:5551234567"
# Open map location
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "geo:0,0?q=coffee+shops"
List installed packages
pm list packages | grep keyword
Notes
termux-open-url is the simplest option for URLs
termux-open handles files with MIME type detection
am start gives full control over intents and activities
monkey (/system/bin/monkey) is a quick way to launch an app's main activity
- All commands work without root