diff --git a/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/caps.js b/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/caps.js
index 804ef802fb5c4..a71916c83a660 100644
--- a/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/caps.js
+++ b/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/caps.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const ios = {
 exports.iosLocal = {
 	...ios,
 	deviceName: 'iPhone 11',
+	wdaLaunchTimeout: 240000,
 };
 
 exports.iosServer = {
diff --git a/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/utils.js b/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/utils.js
index 50654b582ee43..8810756ee7a86 100644
--- a/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/utils.js
+++ b/packages/react-native-editor/__device-tests__/helpers/utils.js
@@ -55,6 +55,18 @@ const isLocalEnvironment = () => {
 	return testEnvironment.toLowerCase() === 'local';
 };
 
+const getIOSPlatformVersions = () => {
+	const { runtimes = [] } = JSON.parse(
+		childProcess.execSync( 'xcrun simctl list runtimes --json' ).toString()
+	);
+
+	return runtimes
+		.reverse()
+		.filter(
+			( { name, isAvailable } ) => name.startsWith( 'iOS' ) && isAvailable
+		);
+};
+
 // Initialises the driver and desired capabilities for appium
 const setupDriver = async () => {
 	const branch = process.env.CIRCLE_BRANCH || '';
@@ -105,6 +117,28 @@ const setupDriver = async () => {
 		desiredCaps.app = `sauce-storage:Gutenberg-${ safeBranchName }.app.zip`; // App should be preloaded to sauce storage, this can also be a URL
 		if ( isLocalEnvironment() ) {
 			desiredCaps = _.clone( iosLocal );
+
+			const iosPlatformVersions = getIOSPlatformVersions();
+			if ( iosPlatformVersions.length === 0 ) {
+				throw new Error(
+					'No iOS simulators available! Please verify that you have iOS simulators installed.'
+				);
+			}
+			// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+			console.log(
+				'Available iOS platform versions:',
+				iosPlatformVersions.map( ( { name } ) => name )
+			);
+
+			if ( ! desiredCaps.platformVersion ) {
+				desiredCaps.platformVersion = iosPlatformVersions[ 0 ].version;
+
+				// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+				console.log(
+					`Using iOS ${ desiredCaps.platformVersion } platform version`
+				);
+			}
+
 			desiredCaps.app = path.resolve( localIOSAppPath );
 		}
 	}