diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-utils.test.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-utils.test.ts
index 121ecb1623..d439bc7391 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-utils.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-utils.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,28 @@
-import { test, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { test, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
 import type { SessionState } from '../../types.ts';
 
 import {
   refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded,
   selectorTargetsSessionDevice,
 } from '../session-device-utils.ts';
+import { getRunnerSessionSnapshot } from '../../../platforms/apple/core/runner/runner-client.ts';
+import { resolveTargetDevice } from '../../../core/dispatch.ts';
+
+vi.mock('../../../platforms/apple/core/runner/runner-client.ts', () => ({
+  getRunnerSessionSnapshot: vi.fn(() => null),
+}));
+vi.mock('../../../core/dispatch.ts', () => ({
+  resolveTargetDevice: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+const mockGetRunnerSessionSnapshot = vi.mocked(getRunnerSessionSnapshot);
+const mockResolveTargetDevice = vi.mocked(resolveTargetDevice);
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  mockGetRunnerSessionSnapshot.mockReset();
+  mockGetRunnerSessionSnapshot.mockReturnValue(null);
+  mockResolveTargetDevice.mockReset();
+});
 
 const iosSimulatorSession: SessionState = {
   name: 'ios-sim',
@@ -37,6 +55,30 @@ test('refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded keeps iOS simulator session device on non-mac
   expect(device).toBe(iosSimulatorSession.device);
 });
 
+test('refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded skips re-resolve while the iOS runner session is alive', async () => {
+  mockGetRunnerSessionSnapshot.mockReturnValue({ sessionId: 'sim-1:1234:1', alive: true });
+
+  const device = await withMockedPlatform('darwin', async () =>
+    refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded(iosSimulatorSession.device),
+  );
+
+  expect(device).toEqual({ ...iosSimulatorSession.device, booted: true });
+  expect(mockResolveTargetDevice).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
+
+test('refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded re-resolves when the iOS runner session is gone', async () => {
+  mockGetRunnerSessionSnapshot.mockReturnValue({ sessionId: 'sim-1:1234:1', alive: false });
+  const resolved = { ...iosSimulatorSession.device, booted: true, name: 'renamed' };
+  mockResolveTargetDevice.mockResolvedValue(resolved);
+
+  const device = await withMockedPlatform('darwin', async () =>
+    refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded(iosSimulatorSession.device),
+  );
+
+  expect(device).toBe(resolved);
+  expect(mockResolveTargetDevice).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+});
+
 test('selectorTargetsSessionDevice uses session selector conflicts for simulator set selectors', () => {
   const session: SessionState = {
     ...iosSimulatorSession,
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session.test.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session.test.ts
index 8e708c606c..6ce1809ae3 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session.test.ts
@@ -3237,7 +3237,7 @@ test('open --relaunch on iOS stops runner before close/open', async () => {
   expect(calls).toEqual(['stop-runner', 'close:com.example.app', 'open:com.example.app']);
 });
 
-test('open --relaunch on iOS simulator stops runner before close/open', async () => {
+test('open --relaunch on iOS simulator keeps runner hot across close/open', async () => {
   const sessionStore = makeSessionStore();
   const sessionName = 'ios-simulator-session';
   sessionStore.set(sessionName, {
@@ -3283,7 +3283,7 @@ test('open --relaunch on iOS simulator stops runner before close/open', async ()
 
   expect(response).toBeTruthy();
   expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
-  expect(calls).toEqual(['stop-runner', 'close:com.example.app', 'open:com.example.app']);
+  expect(calls).toEqual(['close:com.example.app', 'open:com.example.app']);
 });
 
 test('open --relaunch includes timing and waits for iOS runner prewarm after opening app', async () => {
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/session-device-utils.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/session-device-utils.ts
index 12deae796a..e87fb39d97 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/session-device-utils.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/session-device-utils.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { isIosFamily, type DeviceInfo } from '../../kernel/device.ts';
 import { AppError } from '../../kernel/errors.ts';
 import { ensureDeviceReady } from '../device-ready.ts';
+import { getRunnerSessionSnapshot } from '../../platforms/apple/core/runner/runner-client.ts';
 import { resolveTargetDevice } from '../../core/dispatch.ts';
 import type { DaemonRequest, DaemonResponse, SessionState } from '../types.ts';
 import { hasExplicitDeviceSelector } from '../device-selector-intent.ts';
@@ -63,6 +64,12 @@ export async function refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded(device: DeviceInfo): Promise<
   if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
     return device;
   }
+  // A live XCUITest runner session is attached to this exact UDID, which
+  // proves the simulator still exists and is booted — the two facts the
+  // ~0.7s re-resolve inventory listing exists to establish.
+  if (getRunnerSessionSnapshot(device.id)?.alive) {
+    return { ...device, booted: true };
+  }
 
   const exactSelector: NonNullable<DaemonRequest['flags']> = {
     platform: 'ios',
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/session-open.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/session-open.ts
index 95ffbc0cd8..1e3e17720c 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/session-open.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/session-open.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
 import {
   IOS_SIMULATOR_POST_CLOSE_SETTLE_MS,
   IOS_SIMULATOR_POST_OPEN_SETTLE_MS,
+  isIosSimulator,
   refreshSessionDeviceIfNeeded,
   settleIosSimulator,
 } from './session-device-utils.ts';
@@ -71,7 +72,13 @@ async function relaunchCloseApp(params: {
   context: Parameters<typeof dispatchCommand>[4];
 }): Promise<void> {
   const { device, closeTarget, outFlag, context } = params;
-  if (device.platform !== 'android') {
+  // Simulator close/open go through simctl and never touch the XCUITest
+  // runner, so a healthy runner session survives the relaunch (~6s saved per
+  // open --relaunch). A runner that does go stale is caught by the readiness
+  // preflight and restarted via invalidateRunnerSession/restart-and-replay.
+  // Real devices keep the conservative teardown: their runner transport rides
+  // the device tunnel, which app relaunches can disturb.
+  if (device.platform !== 'android' && !isIosSimulator(device)) {
     await stopIosRunnerSession(device.id);
   }
   await dispatchCommand(device, 'close', [closeTarget], outFlag, context);
diff --git a/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/index.test.ts b/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/index.test.ts
index 24d94fdfca..9452121b58 100644
--- a/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/index.test.ts
+++ b/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/index.test.ts
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ const mockPrepareStatusBarForScreenshot = vi.mocked(prepareStatusBarForScreensho
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   vi.resetAllMocks();
+  simulatorActual.__resetSimulatorBootedMemoForTests();
   invalidateSimulatorStatusBarOverrideCache(IOS_TEST_SIMULATOR);
   mockRunCmd.mockImplementation(execActual.runCmd);
   mockRetryWithPolicy.mockImplementation(retryActual.retryWithPolicy);
diff --git a/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/simulator-booted-memo.test.ts b/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/simulator-booted-memo.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5f615b1b57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/platforms/apple/core/__tests__/simulator-booted-memo.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
+import type { DeviceInfo } from '../../../../kernel/device.ts';
+import {
+  __resetSimulatorBootedMemoForTests,
+  ensureBootedSimulator,
+  shutdownSimulator,
+  SIMULATOR_BOOTED_MEMO_TTL_MS,
+} from '../simulator.ts';
+import { runXcrun } from '../tool-provider.ts';
+
+vi.mock('../tool-provider.ts', () => ({
+  runAppleToolCommand: vi.fn(async () => ({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 })),
+  runXcrun: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+const mockRunXcrun = vi.mocked(runXcrun);
+
+const simulator: DeviceInfo = {
+  platform: 'apple',
+  id: 'sim-1',
+  name: 'iPhone 17 Pro',
+  kind: 'simulator',
+  target: 'mobile',
+  booted: true,
+};
+
+function bootedListResult() {
+  return {
+    stdout: JSON.stringify({
+      devices: { 'iOS 26.2': [{ udid: 'sim-1', state: 'Booted' }] },
+    }),
+    stderr: '',
+    exitCode: 0,
+  };
+}
+
+function countSimctlListCalls(): number {
+  return mockRunXcrun.mock.calls.filter(([args]) => args.includes('list')).length;
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.useFakeTimers({ now: 1_000 });
+  __resetSimulatorBootedMemoForTests();
+  mockRunXcrun.mockReset();
+  mockRunXcrun.mockImplementation(async () => bootedListResult());
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+});
+
+test('ensureBootedSimulator skips the state listing within the booted memo TTL', async () => {
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(1);
+
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(1);
+
+  vi.advanceTimersByTime(SIMULATOR_BOOTED_MEMO_TTL_MS + 1);
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(2);
+});
+
+test('shutdownSimulator invalidates the booted memo', async () => {
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(1);
+
+  await shutdownSimulator(simulator);
+
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(2);
+});
+
+test('booted memo is scoped per simulator set path', async () => {
+  await ensureBootedSimulator(simulator);
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(1);
+
+  await ensureBootedSimulator({ ...simulator, simulatorSetPath: '/custom/set' });
+  expect(countSimctlListCalls()).toBe(2);
+});
diff --git a/src/platforms/apple/core/simulator.ts b/src/platforms/apple/core/simulator.ts
index 0e2df46816..82ce13eadb 100644
--- a/src/platforms/apple/core/simulator.ts
+++ b/src/platforms/apple/core/simulator.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,42 @@ type EnsureBootedSimulatorOptions = {
   onColdBootStart?: (device: DeviceInfo) => void;
 };
 
+// Recently-observed-Booted memo. `simctl list devices -j` costs ~0.7s per
+// spawn, and a single open --relaunch used to pay it three times (resolve,
+// close, launch). Mirrors the DEVICE_READY_CACHE_TTL_MS tradeoff at the daemon
+// layer: a simulator shut down externally inside the window surfaces the raw
+// simctl error instead of an auto-boot. Transitions we own update the memo.
+// Exported so unit tests can assert TTL behavior without duplicating the value.
+export const SIMULATOR_BOOTED_MEMO_TTL_MS = 5_000;
+const simulatorBootedMemo = new Map<string, number>();
+
+function simulatorBootedMemoKey(device: DeviceInfo): string {
+  return `${device.id}|${device.simulatorSetPath ?? ''}`;
+}
+
+function readSimulatorBootedMemo(device: DeviceInfo): boolean {
+  const key = simulatorBootedMemoKey(device);
+  const observedAt = simulatorBootedMemo.get(key);
+  if (observedAt === undefined) return false;
+  if (Date.now() - observedAt > SIMULATOR_BOOTED_MEMO_TTL_MS) {
+    simulatorBootedMemo.delete(key);
+    return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+function markSimulatorBooted(device: DeviceInfo): void {
+  simulatorBootedMemo.set(simulatorBootedMemoKey(device), Date.now());
+}
+
+function clearSimulatorBootedMemo(device: DeviceInfo): void {
+  simulatorBootedMemo.delete(simulatorBootedMemoKey(device));
+}
+
+export function __resetSimulatorBootedMemoForTests(): void {
+  simulatorBootedMemo.clear();
+}
+
 export function requireSimulatorDevice(device: DeviceInfo, command: string): void {
   if (device.kind !== 'simulator') {
     throw new AppError('UNSUPPORTED_OPERATION', `${command} is only supported on iOS simulators`);
@@ -49,8 +85,9 @@ export async function ensureBootedSimulator(
 ): Promise<void> {
   if (device.kind !== 'simulator') return;
 
-  const state = await getSimulatorState(device);
+  const state = readSimulatorBootedMemo(device) ? 'Booted' : await getSimulatorState(device);
   if (state === 'Booted') {
+    markSimulatorBooted(device);
     if (options.focusExisting) {
       await openIosSimulatorApp({
         background: options.deviceHub,
@@ -182,6 +219,7 @@ export async function ensureBootedSimulator(
     });
   }
 
+  markSimulatorBooted(device);
   await openIosSimulatorApp({ deviceHub: options.deviceHub });
 }
 
@@ -191,6 +229,7 @@ export async function shutdownSimulator(device: DeviceInfo): Promise<{
   stdout: string;
   stderr: string;
 }> {
+  clearSimulatorBootedMemo(device);
   const args = buildSimctlArgsForDevice(device, ['shutdown', device.id]);
   const result = await runXcrun(args, { allowFailure: true, timeoutMs: 15_000 });
   return {
diff --git a/test/integration/provider-scenarios/tvos-remote.test.ts b/test/integration/provider-scenarios/tvos-remote.test.ts
index 19381bc973..0f1d83257c 100644
--- a/test/integration/provider-scenarios/tvos-remote.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/provider-scenarios/tvos-remote.test.ts
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ test('Provider-backed integration tvOS remote flow maps navigation commands to r
       assertRpcOk(close);
 
       runnerTranscript.assertComplete();
+      // One state listing per flow: the launch and terminate boot checks hit
+      // the recently-observed-Booted memo instead of re-listing devices.
       assert.deepEqual(appleTool.calls, [
-        ['simctl', 'list', 'devices', '-j'],
         ['simctl', 'list', 'devices', '-j'],
         ['simctl', 'launch', 'tv-sim-1', 'com.example.tv'],
-        ['simctl', 'list', 'devices', '-j'],
         ['simctl', 'terminate', 'tv-sim-1', 'com.example.tv'],
       ]);
     },