diff --git a/.xcoderc b/.xcoderc
index c32b0ec5ab..dfa88c8ebb 100644
--- a/.xcoderc
+++ b/.xcoderc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-16.1
+26.1
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/06.device.test.js b/detox/test/e2e/06.device.test.js
index d10a7bfb54..03f9ee3cd5 100644
--- a/detox/test/e2e/06.device.test.js
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/06.device.test.js
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ describe('Device', () => {
   });
 
   it('launchApp({newInstance: true}) + sendToHome() + launchApp() - should bring up previous instance', async () => {
-    await device.launchApp({newInstance: true});
+    await device.launchApp({newInstance: true });
     await element(by.text('Sanity')).tap();
     await element(by.text('Say Hello')).tap();
     await device.sendToHome();
@@ -71,9 +71,6 @@ describe('Device', () => {
     };
 
     await device.launchApp({newInstance: true, languageAndLocale});
-    // iOS toast is hiding the element
-    await waitFor(element(by.text('Language'))).toBeVisible().withTimeout(1000);
-
     await element(by.text('Language')).tap();
     await expect(element(by.text(`Current locale: ${languageAndLocale.locale}`))).toBeVisible();
     await expect(element(by.text(`Current language: ${languageAndLocale.language}`))).toBeVisible();
@@ -84,8 +81,7 @@ describe('Device', () => {
     };
 
     await device.launchApp({newInstance: true, languageAndLocale});
-    await waitFor(element(by.text('Language'))).toBeVisible().withTimeout(1000);
-
+    
     await element(by.text('Language')).tap();
     await expect(element(by.text(`Current locale: ${languageAndLocale.locale}`))).toBeVisible();
     await expect(element(by.text(`Current language: ${languageAndLocale.language}`))).toBeVisible();
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/13.permissions.test.js b/detox/test/e2e/13.permissions.test.js
index f2b443e21c..f7162d2f67 100644
--- a/detox/test/e2e/13.permissions.test.js
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/13.permissions.test.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const { RESULTS } = require('react-native-permissions');
+const { isIOS18OrHigher } = require('./utils/deviceInfo');
 
 const BASIC_PERMISSIONS_TO_CHECK = [
   'userTracking',
@@ -183,7 +184,8 @@ describe(':ios: Permissions', () => {
         await device.launchApp({ permissions, delete: true });
         await element(by.text('Permissions')).tap();
 
-        await expect(faceid).toHaveText(RESULTS.BLOCKED);
+        // iOS 18+ changed behavior: FaceID permissions set to NO now return DENIED instead of BLOCKED
+        await expect(faceid).toHaveText(isIOS18OrHigher() ? RESULTS.DENIED : RESULTS.BLOCKED);
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/19.crash-handling.test.js b/detox/test/e2e/19.crash-handling.test.js
index 844099001b..afb93b9572 100644
--- a/detox/test/e2e/19.crash-handling.test.js
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/19.crash-handling.test.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe('Crash Handling', () => {
 
   it('Should recover from app crash', async () => {
     await device.launchApp({ newInstance: false });
-    await expect(element(by.text('Sanity'))).toBeVisible();
+    await waitFor(element(by.text('Sanity'))).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   /**
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/20.background-foreground.transitions.test.js b/detox/test/e2e/20.background-foreground.transitions.test.js
index 8ffa037114..05c3c7ed4e 100644
--- a/detox/test/e2e/20.background-foreground.transitions.test.js
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/20.background-foreground.transitions.test.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 describe(":ios: Background-Foreground Transitions", () => {
 	it("Backgrounding and foregrounding an app should wait for transition to finish", async () => {
-		await device.launchApp({newInstance: true});
+		await device.launchApp({newInstance: true, launchArgs: { demoShowActiveNotification: true }});
 		await device.sendToHome();
 		await expect(element(by.text("Background"))).toExist();
-		await device.launchApp({newInstance: false});
+		await device.launchApp({newInstance: false, launchArgs: { demoShowActiveNotification: true }});
 		await expect(element(by.text("Active"))).toExist();
 	});
 });
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/assets/cross-origin-frame.clear-text.ios.new-arch.png b/detox/test/e2e/assets/cross-origin-frame.clear-text.ios.new-arch.png
index 690d24648c..1916139c48 100644
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diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/assets/cross-origin-frame.clear-text.ios.png b/detox/test/e2e/assets/cross-origin-frame.clear-text.ios.png
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diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.new-arch.png b/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.new-arch.png
index 15faacb276..7b50e9577c 100644
Binary files a/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.new-arch.png and b/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.new-arch.png differ
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.png b/detox/test/e2e/assets/tap-on-cross-origin-frame-element.ios.png
index 15faacb276..7b50e9577c 100644
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diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/detox.config.js b/detox/test/e2e/detox.config.js
index 8864e58000..a436b1441a 100644
--- a/detox/test/e2e/detox.config.js
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/detox.config.js
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ const config = {
       type: 'ios.simulator',
       headless: Boolean(process.env.CI),
       device: {
-        type: 'iPhone 16 Pro Max',
-        os: '18.5'
+        type: 'iPhone 17 Pro',
+        os: '26.1'
       },
     },
 
diff --git a/detox/test/e2e/utils/deviceInfo.js b/detox/test/e2e/utils/deviceInfo.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..de6ac903a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/detox/test/e2e/utils/deviceInfo.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * Utility to get device OS version information
+ */
+
+let cachedIOSVersion = null;
+
+/**
+ * Gets the iOS major version number
+ * @returns {Promise<number|null>} The iOS major version (e.g., 17, 18, 26) or null if not iOS
+ */
+async function getIOSMajorVersion() {
+  if (cachedIOSVersion !== null) {
+    return cachedIOSVersion;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const { device: deviceHandle } = require('detox');
+    if (deviceHandle && deviceHandle.getPlatform && deviceHandle.getPlatform() !== 'ios') {
+      cachedIOSVersion = null;
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    if (deviceHandle && deviceHandle._device && deviceHandle._device.deviceConfig) {
+      const osVersion = deviceHandle._device.deviceConfig.device?.os;
+      if (osVersion) {
+        const majorVersion = parseInt(osVersion.split('.')[0], 10);
+        cachedIOSVersion = majorVersion;
+        return majorVersion;
+      }
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Could not determine iOS version, assuming iOS 18+');
+  }
+
+  cachedIOSVersion = 18;
+  return cachedIOSVersion;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks if iOS version is 18 or higher
+ * @returns {Promise<boolean>}
+ */
+async function isIOS18OrHigher() {
+  const majorVersion = await getIOSMajorVersion();
+  if (majorVersion === null) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return majorVersion >= 18;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  getIOSMajorVersion,
+  isIOS18OrHigher,
+};
+
+
diff --git a/detox/test/ios/AppDelegate.m b/detox/test/ios/AppDelegate.m
index 91877fd992..da23faaff5 100644
--- a/detox/test/ios/AppDelegate.m
+++ b/detox/test/ios/AppDelegate.m
@@ -30,13 +30,18 @@ - (NSURL *) bundleURL {
 @end
 #endif
 
-@interface AppDelegate () <UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate>
+@interface AppDelegate () <UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate> {
+    BOOL demoShowActiveNotification;
+}
 @end
 
 @implementation AppDelegate
 
 - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions
 {
+    demoShowActiveNotification = [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] boolForKey:@"demoShowActiveNotification"];
+    [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] setBool:NO forKey:@"demoShowActiveNotification"];
+    
 #if REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_MAJOR == 0 && REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_MINOR >= 79
     self.reactNativeDelegate = [ReactNativeDelegate new];
     self.reactNativeFactory = [[RCTReactNativeFactory alloc] initWithDelegate:self.reactNativeDelegate];
@@ -121,7 +126,9 @@ - (void)handleChangeScreen:(NSNotification *)notification {
 }
 
 - (void)applicationDidBecomeActive:(NSNotification *)notification {
-    [self showOverlayMessageWithMessage:@"Active"];
+    if (demoShowActiveNotification) {
+        [self showOverlayMessageWithMessage:@"Active"];
+    }
 }
 
 - (void)applicationWillResignActive:(NSNotification *)notification {