diff --git a/lib/desired-caps.js b/lib/desired-caps.js
index 16385956..aa55bc67 100644
--- a/lib/desired-caps.js
+++ b/lib/desired-caps.js
@@ -144,9 +144,6 @@ let commonCapConstraints = {
   recreateChromeDriverSessions: {
     isBoolean: false
   },
-  autoLaunch: {
-    isBoolean: true
-  },
   nativeWebScreenshot: {
     isBoolean: true
   },
@@ -284,7 +281,7 @@ let uiautomatorCapConstraints = {
 let desiredCapConstraints = {};
 
 Object.assign(desiredCapConstraints, commonCapConstraints,
-              uiautomatorCapConstraints);
+  uiautomatorCapConstraints);
 
 export default desiredCapConstraints;
 export { commonCapConstraints };
diff --git a/lib/driver.js b/lib/driver.js
index d3363b23..f1db5fe9 100644
--- a/lib/driver.js
+++ b/lib/driver.js
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ class AndroidDriver extends BaseDriver {
         disableAndroidWatchers: false,
         tmpDir: await tempDir.staticDir(),
         fullReset: false,
-        autoLaunch: true,
         adbPort: DEFAULT_ADB_PORT,
         bootstrapPort: DEVICE_PORT,
         androidInstallTimeout: 90000,
@@ -284,11 +283,6 @@ class AndroidDriver extends BaseDriver {
     if (this.isChromeSession) {
       // start a chromedriver session and proxy to it
       await this.startChromeSession();
-    } else {
-      if (this.opts.autoLaunch) {
-        // start app
-        await this.startAUT();
-      }
     }
 
     if (util.hasValue(this.opts.orientation)) {
diff --git a/test/functional/commands/file-movement-e2e-specs.js b/test/functional/commands/file-movement-e2e-specs.js
index b289528d..3b4a1b5c 100644
--- a/test/functional/commands/file-movement-e2e-specs.js
+++ b/test/functional/commands/file-movement-e2e-specs.js
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ import path from 'path';
 chai.should();
 chai.use(chaiAsPromised);
 
-let caps = _.defaults({
-  autoLaunch: false
-}, DEFAULT_CAPS);
+let caps = _.defaults(DEFAULT_CAPS);
 
 describe('file movement', function () {
   let driver;
diff --git a/test/functional/driver-e2e-specs.js b/test/functional/driver-e2e-specs.js
index a1a1f333..9e253c14 100644
--- a/test/functional/driver-e2e-specs.js
+++ b/test/functional/driver-e2e-specs.js
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ describe('createSession', function () {
     let caps = Object.assign({}, defaultCaps);
     caps.appPackage = 'io.appium.android.apis';
     caps.appActivity = '.view.SplitTouchView';
-    caps.autoLaunch = false;
     await driver.createSession(caps);
     let {appPackage, appActivity} = await getPackageAndActivity(driver);
     expect(appPackage).to.not.equal(caps.appPackage);
diff --git a/test/unit/driver-specs.js b/test/unit/driver-specs.js
index 19689872..aeb6d7a5 100644
--- a/test/unit/driver-specs.js
+++ b/test/unit/driver-specs.js
@@ -409,16 +409,6 @@ describe('driver', function () {
       await driver.startAndroidSession();
       helpers.unlock.calledOnce.should.be.true;
     });
-    it('should start AUT if auto launching', async function () {
-      driver.opts.autoLaunch = true;
-      await driver.startAndroidSession();
-      driver.startAUT.calledOnce.should.be.true;
-    });
-    it('should not start AUT if not auto launching', async function () {
-      driver.opts.autoLaunch = false;
-      await driver.startAndroidSession();
-      driver.startAUT.calledOnce.should.be.false;
-    });
     it('should set the context if autoWebview is requested', async function () {
       driver.opts.autoWebview = true;
       await driver.startAndroidSession();