Disable iOS simulator developer menu from opening

[jinsley8]

When my tests start, the iOS simulator developer menu opens. Is there any way to stop this?

[Fishbowler]

If this is a React Native application, perform a Release rather than a Debug build of your application.

[jinsley8]

Yes, Expo app, using maestro CLI.

my tests start with:

- launchApp:
    clearState: true

The splash screen loads then clears to the iOS simulator developer menu

[Fishbowler]

Can you provide a screenshot?

[jinsley8]

I'm using Expo dev client and development build with iOS simulator and maestro CLI.

When app launches and clears state, the dev menu pops up and maestro cannot detect and close it.

I tried to add a tap to a specific part of the screen which works sometimes but not consistently.

appId: com.app.app-bundle

---
# Clear state and set permissions
- launchApp:
    clearState: true
    permissions:
      location: always
      notifications: allow

# Dev menu is native SwiftUI in a separate UIWindow — invisible to Maestro text matching.
# Wait 15s for JS bundle to load and dev menu to render, then dismiss via coordinates.
- swipe:
    direction: DOWN
    duration: 15000
# Layer 1: Tap "Continue" on the onboarding welcome sheet (~center of blue button)
- tapOn:
    point: '50%,83%'
# Layer 2: Tap X button to close the dev tools panel behind it
- tapOn:
    point: '93%,52%'

[Fishbowler]

This isn't part of the iOS Simulator - this is expo tooling that's in your app. Perform a Release rather than a Debug build of your application, and it'll stop bothering you. As a bonus, your tests will also be more representative of what your users see.

[jinsley8]

Thanks for your help