diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e-matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e-matrix.yml
index 7024c55a..eee25c70 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e-matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e-matrix.yml
@@ -98,14 +98,28 @@ jobs:
       - name: Select iOS simulator
         id: boot-simulator
         run: |
-          SIMULATOR_NAME="$(xcrun simctl list devices available | awk -F '[()]' '/iPhone/ {print $1; exit}' | xargs)"
-          if [ -z "$SIMULATOR_NAME" ]; then
+          SIMULATOR_UDID="$(xcrun simctl list devices available -j | node -e '
+            const fs = require("fs");
+            const input = fs.readFileSync(0, "utf8");
+            const data = JSON.parse(input);
+            const runtimes = Object.values(data.devices);
+            for (const devices of runtimes) {
+              for (const device of devices) {
+                if (device.isAvailable && typeof device.name === "string" && device.name.startsWith("iPhone")) {
+                  process.stdout.write(device.udid);
+                  process.exit(0);
+                }
+              }
+            }
+            process.exit(1);
+          ')"
+          if [ -z "$SIMULATOR_UDID" ]; then
             echo "No available iPhone simulator found."
             exit 1
           fi
-          xcrun simctl boot "$SIMULATOR_NAME" || true
-          xcrun simctl bootstatus "$SIMULATOR_NAME" -b
-          echo "simulator=$SIMULATOR_NAME" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          xcrun simctl boot "$SIMULATOR_UDID" || true
+          xcrun simctl bootstatus "$SIMULATOR_UDID" -b
+          echo "simulator_udid=$SIMULATOR_UDID" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Reset Xcode module cache
         run: rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/ModuleCache.noindex
@@ -117,9 +131,9 @@ jobs:
           E2E_RETRY_DELAY_SEC: "30"
         run: |
           if [ "${{ startsWith(matrix.app, 'Expo') }}" = "true" ]; then
-            npm run e2e -- --app "${{ matrix.app }}" --platform ios --simulator "${{ steps.boot-simulator.outputs.simulator }}" --framework expo --retry-count "$E2E_RETRY_COUNT" --retry-delay-sec "$E2E_RETRY_DELAY_SEC"
+            npm run e2e -- --app "${{ matrix.app }}" --platform ios --simulator "${{ steps.boot-simulator.outputs.simulator_udid }}" --framework expo --retry-count "$E2E_RETRY_COUNT" --retry-delay-sec "$E2E_RETRY_DELAY_SEC"
           else
-            npm run e2e -- --app "${{ matrix.app }}" --platform ios --simulator "${{ steps.boot-simulator.outputs.simulator }}" --retry-count "$E2E_RETRY_COUNT" --retry-delay-sec "$E2E_RETRY_DELAY_SEC"
+            npm run e2e -- --app "${{ matrix.app }}" --platform ios --simulator "${{ steps.boot-simulator.outputs.simulator_udid }}" --retry-count "$E2E_RETRY_COUNT" --retry-delay-sec "$E2E_RETRY_DELAY_SEC"
           fi
 
   e2e-android:
diff --git a/e2e/flows/01-app-launch.yaml b/e2e/flows/01-app-launch.yaml
index 8ca6a7cf..ec4e8b0d 100644
--- a/e2e/flows/01-app-launch.yaml
+++ b/e2e/flows/01-app-launch.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
 appId: ${APP_ID}
 ---
 - launchApp
+- runFlow:
+    when:
+      platform: Android
+    file: shared/android-dismiss-overlays.yaml
+- runFlow:
+    when:
+      platform: iOS
+    file: shared/ios-dismiss-overlays.yaml
 - assertVisible: "React Native.*"
 - assertVisible: "Check for updates"
 - assertVisible: "Clear updates"
-- assertVisible: "Restart app"
\ No newline at end of file
+- assertVisible: "Restart app"
diff --git a/e2e/flows/02-restart-no-crash.yaml b/e2e/flows/02-restart-no-crash.yaml
index 4d760768..49b5e349 100644
--- a/e2e/flows/02-restart-no-crash.yaml
+++ b/e2e/flows/02-restart-no-crash.yaml
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ appId: ${APP_ID}
 - waitForAnimationToEnd:
     timeout: 5000
 - assertVisible: "React Native.*"
-- assertVisible: "Check for updates"
\ No newline at end of file
+- assertVisible: "Check for updates"
diff --git a/e2e/flows/shared/android-dismiss-overlays.yaml b/e2e/flows/shared/android-dismiss-overlays.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4559e5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/flows/shared/android-dismiss-overlays.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+appId: ${APP_ID}
+---
+# Dismiss common Android system prompts that can cover the app right after launch in CI.
+- tapOn:
+    text: "(?i)^(allow|ok|continue|got it|while using the app|only this time|allow all the time)$"
+    optional: true
+- tapOn:
+    text: "(?i)^(allow|ok|continue|got it|while using the app|only this time|allow all the time)$"
+    optional: true
+- tapOn:
+    text: "(?i)^wait$"
+    optional: true
diff --git a/e2e/flows/shared/ios-dismiss-overlays.yaml b/e2e/flows/shared/ios-dismiss-overlays.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..932021bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/flows/shared/ios-dismiss-overlays.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+appId: ${APP_ID}
+---
+# Dismiss common iOS system prompts that can cover the app right after launch in CI.
+- tapOn:
+    text: "(?i)^(allow|ok|continue|not now|allow once|allow while using app|allow paste)$"
+    optional: true
+- tapOn:
+    text: "(?i)^(allow|ok|continue|not now|allow once|allow while using app|allow paste)$"
+    optional: true
diff --git a/e2e/helpers/build-app.ts b/e2e/helpers/build-app.ts
index c0fbb84c..4de080f1 100644
--- a/e2e/helpers/build-app.ts
+++ b/e2e/helpers/build-app.ts
@@ -59,11 +59,12 @@ async function buildIos(appPath: string, simulator?: string): Promise<void> {
   await executeCommand("npm", ["run", "setup:pods"], appPath);
 
   const sim = simulator ?? getBootedSimulator()?.name ?? DEFAULT_SIMULATOR;
+  const targetSimulator = resolveSimulator(sim);
   const args = [
     "react-native", "run-ios",
     "--mode", "Release",
     "--no-packager",
-    "--simulator", sim,
+    "--udid", targetSimulator.udid,
   ];
   console.log(`[command] npx ${args.join(" ")} (cwd: ${appPath})`);
   return executeCommand("npx", args, appPath);