diff --git a/e2e/SideMenu.test.js b/e2e/SideMenu.test.js
index 8e86ff9587..99417b9e62 100644
--- a/e2e/SideMenu.test.js
+++ b/e2e/SideMenu.test.js
@@ -3,89 +3,105 @@ import TestIDs from '../playground/src/testIDs';
 
 const {elementByLabel, elementById, expectImagesToBeEqual} = Utils;
 
-describe.each(['aboveContent', 'pushContent'])('SideMenu', (openMode) => {
-  beforeEach(async () => {
-    await device.launchApp({newInstance: true});
-    await elementById(TestIDs.SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-
-    if (openMode === 'aboveContent') {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.TOGGLE_SIDE_MENU_OPEN_MODE_BTN).tap();
-    }
-  });
-
-  describe(`Open mode '${openMode}'`, () => {
-    it('close SideMenu and push to stack with static id', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.PUSHED_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.POP_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CENTER_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
+describe('SideMenu', () => {
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+        await device.launchApp({newInstance : true});
+        await elementById(TestIDs.SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
     });
 
-    it('Push to stack with static id and close SideMenu with screen options', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_AND_CLOSE_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.PUSHED_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.POP_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CENTER_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
-    });
+    describe.each(['aboveContent', 'pushContent'])('Open mode %s', (openMode) => {
+        beforeEach(async () => {
+            if (openMode === 'pushContent') {
+                await elementById(TestIDs.TOGGLE_SIDE_MENU_OPEN_MODE_BTN).tap();
+            }
+        });
 
-    it('side menu visibility - left', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN)).toBeNotVisible();
-    });
+        it('close SideMenu and push to stack with static id', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.PUSHED_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.POP_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CENTER_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
+        });
 
-    it('side menu visibility - right', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN)).toBeNotVisible();
-    });
+        it('Push to stack with static id and close SideMenu with screen options', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_AND_CLOSE_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.PUSHED_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.POP_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CENTER_SCREEN_HEADER)).toBeVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e('should rotate', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await device.setOrientation('landscape');
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_BTN)).toBeVisible();
-    });
+        it('side menu visibility - left', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN)).toBeNotVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e(':ios: rotation should update drawer height', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 869')).toBeVisible();
-      await device.setOrientation('landscape');
-      await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 428')).toBeVisible();
-      await device.setOrientation('portrait');
-      await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 869')).toBeVisible();
-    });
+        it('side menu visibility - right', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.CLOSE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN)).toBeNotVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e('should set left drawer width', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementById(TestIDs.SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_HEIGHT_TEXT)).toBeVisible();
-      await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer width: 250')).toBeVisible();
-    });
+        it.e2e('should rotate', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await device.setOrientation('landscape');
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.LEFT_SIDE_MENU_PUSH_BTN)).toBeVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e('should change left drawer width', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.CHANGE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_WIDTH_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer width: 50')).toBeVisible();
-    });
+        it.e2e(':ios: rotation should update drawer height', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 869')).toBeVisible();
+            await device.setOrientation('landscape');
+            await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 428')).toBeVisible();
+            await device.setOrientation('portrait');
+            await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer height: 869')).toBeVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e('should set right drawer width', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementByLabel('right drawer width: 250')).toBeVisible();
-    });
+        it.e2e('should set left drawer width', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementById(TestIDs.SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_HEIGHT_TEXT)).toBeVisible();
+            await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer width: 250')).toBeVisible();
+        });
+
+        it.e2e('should change left drawer width', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.CHANGE_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_WIDTH_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementByLabel('left drawer width: 50')).toBeVisible();
+        });
+
+        it.e2e('should set right drawer width', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementByLabel('right drawer width: 250')).toBeVisible();
+        });
 
-    it.e2e('should change right drawer width', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.CHANGE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_WIDTH_BTN).tap();
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      await expect(elementByLabel('right drawer width: 50')).toBeVisible();
+        it.e2e('should change right drawer width', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.CHANGE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_WIDTH_BTN).tap();
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            await expect(elementByLabel('right drawer width: 50')).toBeVisible();
+        });
+
+        it.e2e(':ios: should render side menu correctly', async () => {
+            await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+            const snapshottedImagePath = `./e2e/assets/side_menu.${openMode}.png`;
+            const actual =
+                await elementById('SideMenuContainer').takeScreenshot(`side_menu_${openMode}`);
+            expectImagesToBeEqual(actual, snapshottedImagePath);
+        });
     });
 
-    it.e2e(':ios: should render side menu correctly', async () => {
-      await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
-      const snapshottedImagePath = `./e2e/assets/side_menu.${openMode}.png`;
-      const actual = await elementById('SideMenuContainer').takeScreenshot(`side_menu_${openMode}`);
-      expectImagesToBeEqual(actual, snapshottedImagePath);
+    it.e2e(':ios: should open as push-content by default', async () => {
+        await elementById(TestIDs.TOGGLE_SIDE_MENU_OPEN_MODE_BTN).tap(); // aboveContent --> pushContent
+        await elementById(TestIDs.TOGGLE_SIDE_MENU_OPEN_MODE_BTN).tap(); // pushContent --> undefined
+        await expect(elementByLabel('Open mode: undefined')).toBeVisible();
+
+        await elementById(TestIDs.OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN).tap();
+
+        const snapshottedImagePath = `./e2e/assets/side_menu.undefined.png`;
+        const actual =
+          await elementById('SideMenuContainer').takeScreenshot(`side_menu_undefined`);
+        expectImagesToBeEqual(actual, snapshottedImagePath);
     });
-  });
 });
diff --git a/e2e/assets/side_menu.undefined.png b/e2e/assets/side_menu.undefined.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c97b309384
Binary files /dev/null and b/e2e/assets/side_menu.undefined.png differ
diff --git a/playground/src/screens/SideMenuCenterScreen.tsx b/playground/src/screens/SideMenuCenterScreen.tsx
index 68c59c1f8b..7e393cef6f 100644
--- a/playground/src/screens/SideMenuCenterScreen.tsx
+++ b/playground/src/screens/SideMenuCenterScreen.tsx
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ const {
   CHANGE_RIGHT_SIDE_MENU_WIDTH_BTN,
   DISABLE_DRAWERS,
   ENABLE_DRAWERS,
-  CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER
+  SIDE_MENU_CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER,
 } = testIDs;
 
 interface ScreenState {
-  openMode: 'aboveContent' | 'pushContent';
+  openMode: 'aboveContent' | 'pushContent' | undefined;
 }
 
 export default class SideMenuCenterScreen extends NavigationComponent {
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export default class SideMenuCenterScreen extends NavigationComponent {
   constructor(props: NavigationProps) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {
-      openMode: 'pushContent',
+      openMode: 'aboveContent',
     };
     Navigation.events().bindComponent(this);
   }
@@ -69,17 +69,11 @@ export default class SideMenuCenterScreen extends NavigationComponent {
     }
   }
 
-  toggleAboveContent = () => {
-    this.setState((state: ScreenState) => ({
-      openMode: state.openMode === 'pushContent' ? 'aboveContent' : 'pushContent',
-    }));
-  };
-
   render() {
     const { openMode } = this.state;
 
     return (
-      <Root componentId={this.props.componentId} testID={CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER}>
+      <Root componentId={this.props.componentId} testID={SIDE_MENU_CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER}>
         <Button
           label="Open Left"
           testID={OPEN_LEFT_SIDE_MENU_BTN}
@@ -112,11 +106,11 @@ export default class SideMenuCenterScreen extends NavigationComponent {
         />
 
         <TouchableOpacity
-          onPress={this.toggleAboveContent}
+          onPress={this.toggleOpenMode}
           testID={TOGGLE_SIDE_MENU_OPEN_MODE_BTN}
           style={{ margin: 10, padding: 10, backgroundColor: '#ddd', borderRadius: 5 }}
         >
-          <Text>Open mode: {openMode}</Text>
+          <Text>Open mode: {openMode || 'undefined'}</Text>
         </TouchableOpacity>
       </Root>
     );
@@ -135,6 +129,17 @@ export default class SideMenuCenterScreen extends NavigationComponent {
     });
   };
 
+  toggleOpenMode = () => {
+    this.setState((state: ScreenState) => ({
+      openMode:
+        state.openMode === 'aboveContent'
+          ? 'pushContent'
+          : state.openMode === 'pushContent'
+          ? undefined
+          : 'aboveContent',
+    }));
+  };
+
   open = (side: 'left' | 'right') =>
     Navigation.mergeOptions(this, {
       sideMenu: {
diff --git a/playground/src/testIDs.ts b/playground/src/testIDs.ts
index dab5c40d09..a92d08ace3 100644
--- a/playground/src/testIDs.ts
+++ b/playground/src/testIDs.ts
@@ -211,14 +211,14 @@ const testIDs = {
   SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_HEIGHT_TEXT: 'SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_HEIGHT_TEXT',
   SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_WIDTH_TEXT: 'SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_WIDTH_TEXT',
   SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_CONTAINER: 'SIDE_MENU_LEFT_DRAWER_CONTAINER',
-  CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER: 'CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER',
+  SIDE_MENU_CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER: 'SIDE_MENU_CENTER_SCREEN_CONTAINER',
   SIDE_MENU_RIGHT_DRAWER_WIDTH_TEXT: 'SIDE_MENU_RIGHT_DRAWER_WIDTH_TEXT',
   TOGGLE_REACT_DECLARED_MODAL: 'TOGGLE_REACT_DECLARED_MODAL',
   REPLACE_TAB_TEST_ID: 'REPLACE_TAB_TEST_ID',
   REPLACED_TAB: 'REPLACED_TAB',
   MOUNTED_SCREENS_TEXT: 'MOUNTED_SCREENS_TEXT',
 
-  //External Component Buttons
+  // External Component Buttons
   EXTERNAL_DISMISS_MODAL_BTN: 'EXTERNAL_DISMISS_MODAL_BTN',
   EXTERNAL_TOP_BAR_RIGHT_BTN: 'EXTERNAL_TOP_BAR_RIGHT_BTN',
   GOTO_SHARED_ELEMENT_SCREEN: 'GOTO_SHARED_ELEMENT_SCREEN',