diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 42bb2010d..74ce28da4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ Capability | Description
 |`appium:useSimpleBuildTest`| Build with `build` and run test with `test` in xcodebuild for all Xcode version if this is `true`, or build with `build-for-testing` and run tests with `test-without-building` for over Xcode 8 if this is `false`. Defaults to `false`. | `true` or `false` |
 |`appium:wdaEventloopIdleDelay`|Delays the invocation of `-[XCUIApplicationProcess setEventLoopHasIdled:]` by the number of seconds specified with this capability. This can help quiescence apps that fail to do so for no obvious reason (and creating a session fails for that reason). This increases the time for session creation because `-[XCUIApplicationProcess setEventLoopHasIdled:]` is called multiple times. If you enable this capability start with at least `3` seconds and try increasing it, if creating the session still fails. Defaults to `0`. |e.g. `5`|
 |`appium:processArguments`|Process arguments and environment which will be sent to the `WebDriverAgent` server.|`{ args: ["a", "b", "c"] , env: { "a": "b", "c": "d" } }` or `'{"args": ["a", "b", "c"], "env": { "a": "b", "c": "d" }}'`|
-|`appium:autoLaunch`|When set to `false`, prevents the application under test from being launched automatically as a part of the new session startup process. The launch become the responsibility of the user. Defaults to `true`.|`true` or `false`|
 |`appium:allowProvisioningDeviceRegistration`|Allow `xcodebuild` to register your destination device on the developer portal if necessary. Requires a developer account to have been added in Xcode's Accounts preference pane. Defaults to `false`.|`true` or `false`|
 |`appium:resultBundlePath`| Specify the path to the result bundle path as `xcodebuild` argument for `WebDriverAgent` build under a security flag (Please check _Opt-in Features_ section below). `WebDriverAgent` process must start/stop every time to pick up changed value of this property. Specifying `useNewWDA` to `true` may help there. Please read `man xcodebuild` for more details. | e.g. `/path/to/resultbundle` |
 |`appium:resultBundleVersion`| Specify the version of result bundle as `xcodebuild` argument for `WebDriverAgent` build. The default value depends on your Xcode version. Please read `man xcodebuild` for more details. | e.g. `/path/to/resultbundle` |
diff --git a/lib/driver.js b/lib/driver.js
index 29e194c78..a42bc2450 100644
--- a/lib/driver.js
+++ b/lib/driver.js
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ class XCUITestDriver extends BaseDriver {
     }
 
     const wdaCaps = {
-      bundleId: this.opts.autoLaunch === false ? undefined : bundleId,
+      bundleId,
       arguments: args,
       environment: env,
       eventloopIdleDelaySec: this.opts.wdaEventloopIdleDelay ?? 0,
diff --git a/test/functional/helpers/session.js b/test/functional/helpers/session.js
index fcda0fc81..3cf23261e 100644
--- a/test/functional/helpers/session.js
+++ b/test/functional/helpers/session.js
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ async function initWDA (caps) {
     // easiest way to initialize WDA is to go through a test startup
     // otherwise every change to the system would require a change here
     const desiredCaps = Object.assign({
-      autoLaunch: false,
       wdaLocalPort: WDA_PORT,
     }, caps);
     await driver.init(desiredCaps);
diff --git a/test/functional/tv/tvos-e2e-specs.js b/test/functional/tv/tvos-e2e-specs.js
index 0b1cbe7d7..1e22e52e3 100644
--- a/test/functional/tv/tvos-e2e-specs.js
+++ b/test/functional/tv/tvos-e2e-specs.js
@@ -47,15 +47,7 @@ describe('tvOS', function () {
   });
 
   it('should launch com.apple.TVSettings', async function () {
-    baseCaps.autoLaunch = true;
     const driver = await initSession(baseCaps);
     (await driver.elementByAccessibilityId('General')).should.exist;
   });
-
-  it('should launch com.apple.TVSettings with autoLaunch false', async function () {
-    baseCaps.autoLaunch = false;
-    const driver = await initSession(baseCaps);
-    await driver.execute('mobile: activateApp', {bundleId: 'com.apple.TVSettings'});
-    (await driver.elementByAccessibilityId('General')).should.exist;
-  });
 });