diff --git a/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/AppPredictionsUITests.java b/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/AppPredictionsUITests.java
index d9fcf4d97a..d0956d1f6d 100644
--- a/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/AppPredictionsUITests.java
+++ b/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/AppPredictionsUITests.java
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public class AppPredictionsUITests extends AbstractQuickStepTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testPredictionExistsInAllApps() {
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         mLauncher.pressHome().switchToAllApps();
 
         // Dispatch an update
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public class AppPredictionsUITests extends AbstractQuickStepTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testPredictionsDeferredUntilHome() {
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         sendPredictionUpdate(mSampleApp1, mSampleApp2);
         mLauncher.pressHome().switchToAllApps();
         waitForLauncherCondition("Predictions were not updated in loading state",
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ public class AppPredictionsUITests extends AbstractQuickStepTest {
 
     @Test
     public void testPredictionsDisabled() {
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         sendPredictionUpdate();
         mLauncher.pressHome().switchToAllApps();
 
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/DefaultLayoutProviderTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/DefaultLayoutProviderTest.java
index 58c74cef16..a76b4a4886 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/DefaultLayoutProviderTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/DefaultLayoutProviderTest.java
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public class DefaultLayoutProviderTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
         writeLayout(new LauncherLayoutBuilder().atHotseat(0).putApp(SETTINGS_APP, SETTINGS_APP));
 
         // Launch the home activity
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         waitForModelLoaded();
 
         mLauncher.getWorkspace().getHotseatAppIcon(getSettingsApp().getLabel().toString());
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public class DefaultLayoutProviderTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
                         info.getComponent().getClassName(), 2, 2));
 
         // Launch the home activity
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         waitForModelLoaded();
 
         // Verify widget present
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public class DefaultLayoutProviderTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
                 .build());
 
         // Launch the home activity
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         waitForModelLoaded();
 
         mLauncher.getWorkspace().getHotseatFolder("Folder: Copy");
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/WorkTabTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/WorkTabTest.java
index c93c20a616..79c2d071d5 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/WorkTabTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/WorkTabTest.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class WorkTabTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
 
     @Test
     public void workTabExists() {
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
 
         executeOnLauncher(launcher -> launcher.getStateManager().goToState(ALL_APPS));
 
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddConfigWidgetTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddConfigWidgetTest.java
index dc72bda9a3..3206a69bbf 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddConfigWidgetTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddConfigWidgetTest.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public class AddConfigWidgetTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
         lockRotation(true);
 
         clearHomescreen();
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
 
         final Widgets widgets = mLauncher.getWorkspace().openAllWidgets();
 
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddWidgetTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddWidgetTest.java
index 4529a80d1d..276c6144a2 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddWidgetTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/AddWidgetTest.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class AddWidgetTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
 
     private void performTest() throws Throwable {
         clearHomescreen();
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
 
         final LauncherAppWidgetProviderInfo widgetInfo =
                 TestViewHelpers.findWidgetProvider(this, false /* hasConfigureScreen */);
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/BindWidgetTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/BindWidgetTest.java
index d36126bb17..3a7df64e81 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/BindWidgetTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/BindWidgetTest.java
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public class BindWidgetTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
         resetLoaderState();
 
         // Launch the home activity
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
         waitForModelLoaded();
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/RequestPinItemTest.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/RequestPinItemTest.java
index 6122daec2c..a9a5090988 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/RequestPinItemTest.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/ui/widget/RequestPinItemTest.java
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ public class RequestPinItemTest extends AbstractLauncherUiTest {
         lockRotation(true);
 
         clearHomescreen();
-        mActivityMonitor.startLauncher();
+        mDevice.pressHome();
 
         // Open Pin item activity
         BlockingBroadcastReceiver openMonitor = new BlockingBroadcastReceiver(
diff --git a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/util/rule/LauncherActivityRule.java b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/util/rule/LauncherActivityRule.java
index 2aba7a56de..204240324e 100644
--- a/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/util/rule/LauncherActivityRule.java
+++ b/tests/src/com/android/launcher3/util/rule/LauncherActivityRule.java
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@
  */
 package com.android.launcher3.util.rule;
 
-import static com.android.launcher3.tapl.TestHelpers.getHomeIntentInPackage;
-
-import static androidx.test.InstrumentationRegistry.getInstrumentation;
-import static androidx.test.InstrumentationRegistry.getTargetContext;
-
 import android.app.Activity;
 import android.app.Application;
 import android.app.Application.ActivityLifecycleCallbacks;
@@ -52,26 +47,15 @@ public class LauncherActivityRule implements TestRule {
     }
 
     public Callable<Boolean> itemExists(final ItemOperator op) {
-        return new Callable<Boolean>() {
-
-            @Override
-            public Boolean call() throws Exception {
-                Launcher launcher = getActivity();
-                if (launcher == null) {
-                    return false;
-                }
-                return launcher.getWorkspace().getFirstMatch(op) != null;
+        return () -> {
+            Launcher launcher = getActivity();
+            if (launcher == null) {
+                return false;
             }
+            return launcher.getWorkspace().getFirstMatch(op) != null;
         };
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Starts the launcher activity in the target package.
-     */
-    public void startLauncher() {
-        getInstrumentation().startActivitySync(getHomeIntentInPackage(getTargetContext()));
-    }
-
     private class MyStatement extends Statement implements ActivityLifecycleCallbacks {
 
         private final Statement mBase;