From e464d2c3ddd1590e378a73591c8084c98d201965 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: szdziedzic <szymon@expo.dev>
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:38:08 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] [eas-cli] Add Android simulator system image option

---
 packages/eas-cli/README.md                    |  45 ++++---
 .../simulator/__tests__/index.test.ts         | 116 +++++++++++++++++-
 .../eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/index.ts   |  67 +++++++++-
 .../mutations/DeviceRunSessionMutation.ts     |  15 ++-
 4 files changed, 221 insertions(+), 22 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/eas-cli/README.md b/packages/eas-cli/README.md
index af76b1a497..0175abfc06 100644
--- a/packages/eas-cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/eas-cli/README.md
@@ -2556,10 +2556,11 @@ _See code: [packages/eas-cli/src/commands/project/new.ts](https://github.com/exp
 
 ```
 USAGE
-  $ eas sim [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--build-id <value> |
-    --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg <value>...] [--open-url
-    <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only] [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes
-    <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force] [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
+  $ eas sim [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--system-image-package <value>]
+    [--build-id <value> | --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg
+    <value>...] [--open-url <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only]
+    [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force]
+    [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
 
 FLAGS
   -p, --platform=<option>                Device platform
@@ -2569,7 +2570,7 @@ FLAGS
       --build-id=<value>                 EAS Build to install and launch before the simulator session is ready.
       --device=<value>                   Virtual device to start for the session. On iOS, a Simulator device name or
                                          UDID (e.g. "iPhone 16 Pro"). On Android, an AVD hardware profile id (e.g.
-                                         "pixel_7"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
+                                         "pixel_9"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
       --expo-go                          Install and launch Expo Go matching the current project's Expo SDK before the
                                          simulator session is ready.
       --[no-]force                       [default: true] Create a new simulator session even when an existing simulator
@@ -2596,6 +2597,10 @@ FLAGS
                                          Defaults to "latest" when omitted.
       --sdk-version=<value>              Expo SDK version used to select Expo Go when --expo-go is passed. Defaults to
                                          the current project SDK.
+      --system-image-package=<value>     Android SDK system image package to use for the emulator (e.g.
+                                         "system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64"). Only supported for
+                                         Android and must use the x86_64 architecture required by EAS
+                                         nested-virtualization runners.
       --type=<option>                    [default: agent-device] Type of simulator session to create. All session types
                                          include a web preview. agent-device, appium, and argent also include an
                                          automation interface; web-preview-only includes no automation interface.
@@ -2723,10 +2728,11 @@ ALIASES
 
 ```
 USAGE
-  $ eas sim:start [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--build-id <value> |
-    --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg <value>...] [--open-url
-    <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only] [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes
-    <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force] [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
+  $ eas sim:start [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--system-image-package <value>]
+    [--build-id <value> | --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg
+    <value>...] [--open-url <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only]
+    [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force]
+    [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
 
 FLAGS
   -p, --platform=<option>                Device platform
@@ -2736,7 +2742,7 @@ FLAGS
       --build-id=<value>                 EAS Build to install and launch before the simulator session is ready.
       --device=<value>                   Virtual device to start for the session. On iOS, a Simulator device name or
                                          UDID (e.g. "iPhone 16 Pro"). On Android, an AVD hardware profile id (e.g.
-                                         "pixel_7"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
+                                         "pixel_9"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
       --expo-go                          Install and launch Expo Go matching the current project's Expo SDK before the
                                          simulator session is ready.
       --[no-]force                       [default: true] Create a new simulator session even when an existing simulator
@@ -2763,6 +2769,10 @@ FLAGS
                                          Defaults to "latest" when omitted.
       --sdk-version=<value>              Expo SDK version used to select Expo Go when --expo-go is passed. Defaults to
                                          the current project SDK.
+      --system-image-package=<value>     Android SDK system image package to use for the emulator (e.g.
+                                         "system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64"). Only supported for
+                                         Android and must use the x86_64 architecture required by EAS
+                                         nested-virtualization runners.
       --type=<option>                    [default: agent-device] Type of simulator session to create. All session types
                                          include a web preview. agent-device, appium, and argent also include an
                                          automation interface; web-preview-only includes no automation interface.
@@ -2803,10 +2813,11 @@ ALIASES
 
 ```
 USAGE
-  $ eas simulator:start [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--build-id <value> |
-    --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg <value>...] [--open-url
-    <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only] [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes
-    <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force] [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
+  $ eas simulator:start [-p android|ios] [--name <value>] [--device <value>] [--system-image-package <value>]
+    [--build-id <value> | --application-archive-url <value> | --expo-go] [--sdk-version <value>] [--launch-arg
+    <value>...] [--open-url <value>] [--type agent-device|appium|argent|web-preview-only]
+    [--package-version <value>] [--max-duration-minutes <value>] [--max-idle-time-minutes <value>] [--force]
+    [--out-config-type env|dotenv] [--json] [--non-interactive]
 
 FLAGS
   -p, --platform=<option>                Device platform
@@ -2816,7 +2827,7 @@ FLAGS
       --build-id=<value>                 EAS Build to install and launch before the simulator session is ready.
       --device=<value>                   Virtual device to start for the session. On iOS, a Simulator device name or
                                          UDID (e.g. "iPhone 16 Pro"). On Android, an AVD hardware profile id (e.g.
-                                         "pixel_7"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
+                                         "pixel_9"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.
       --expo-go                          Install and launch Expo Go matching the current project's Expo SDK before the
                                          simulator session is ready.
       --[no-]force                       [default: true] Create a new simulator session even when an existing simulator
@@ -2843,6 +2854,10 @@ FLAGS
                                          Defaults to "latest" when omitted.
       --sdk-version=<value>              Expo SDK version used to select Expo Go when --expo-go is passed. Defaults to
                                          the current project SDK.
+      --system-image-package=<value>     Android SDK system image package to use for the emulator (e.g.
+                                         "system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64"). Only supported for
+                                         Android and must use the x86_64 architecture required by EAS
+                                         nested-virtualization runners.
       --type=<option>                    [default: agent-device] Type of simulator session to create. All session types
                                          include a web preview. agent-device, appium, and argent also include an
                                          automation interface; web-preview-only includes no automation interface.
diff --git a/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/__tests__/index.test.ts b/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/__tests__/index.test.ts
index 8a9f7ab0ee..f3ce1971d2 100644
--- a/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/__tests__/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/__tests__/index.test.ts
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ describe(Simulator, () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it('forwards --device to the create mutation as deviceIdentifier', async () => {
+  it('forwards an iOS --device through the iOS-specific input', async () => {
     const { command } = createCommand([
       '--platform',
       'ios',
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ describe(Simulator, () => {
 
     expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       graphqlClient,
-      expect.objectContaining({ deviceIdentifier: 'iPhone 16 Pro' })
+      expect.objectContaining({ ios: { deviceIdentifier: 'iPhone 16 Pro' } })
     );
   });
 
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ describe(Simulator, () => {
 
     expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       graphqlClient,
-      expect.objectContaining({ deviceIdentifier: 'iPhone 16 Pro' })
+      expect.objectContaining({ ios: { deviceIdentifier: 'iPhone 16 Pro' } })
     );
   });
 
@@ -544,10 +544,118 @@ describe(Simulator, () => {
     const { command } = createCommand(['--platform', 'ios', '--non-interactive', '--device', '  ']);
     await command.runAsync();
 
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync.mock.calls[0][1]).not.toHaveProperty('ios');
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync.mock.calls[0][1]).not.toHaveProperty('android');
+  });
+
+  it('forwards Android device and system image options through the Android-specific input', async () => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'android',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--device',
+      '  pixel_8  ',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      '  system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64  ',
+    ]);
+    await command.runAsync();
+
     expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       graphqlClient,
-      expect.objectContaining({ deviceIdentifier: undefined })
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        android: {
+          deviceIdentifier: 'pixel_8',
+          systemImagePackage: 'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64',
+        },
+      })
     );
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync.mock.calls[0][1]).not.toHaveProperty('deviceIdentifier');
+  });
+
+  it('forwards --system-image-package without requiring --device', async () => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'android',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      'system-images;android-36-ext1;google_apis_ps16k;x86_64',
+    ]);
+    await command.runAsync();
+
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      graphqlClient,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        android: {
+          systemImagePackage: 'system-images;android-36-ext1;google_apis_ps16k;x86_64',
+        },
+      })
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('rejects --system-image-package for iOS', async () => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'ios',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64',
+    ]);
+
+    await expect(command.runAsync()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'The --system-image-package flag is only supported for Android simulator sessions.'
+    );
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('rejects a blank --system-image-package', async () => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'android',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      '   ',
+    ]);
+
+    await expect(command.runAsync()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'The --system-image-package value cannot be blank.'
+    );
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore',
+    'platforms;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64',
+    'system-images;36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64',
+    'system-images;android-36;google apis;x86_64',
+    'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64;extra',
+  ])('rejects malformed --system-image-package %s', async systemImagePackage => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'android',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      systemImagePackage,
+    ]);
+
+    await expect(command.runAsync()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Expected an Android SDK package coordinate in the form'
+    );
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('rejects a non-x86_64 Android system image', async () => {
+    const { command } = createCommand([
+      '--platform',
+      'android',
+      '--non-interactive',
+      '--system-image-package',
+      'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;arm64-v8a',
+    ]);
+
+    await expect(command.runAsync()).rejects.toThrow(
+      'must be x86_64 because EAS Android simulator sessions use x86_64 nested-virtualization runners'
+    );
+    expect(mockCreateDeviceRunSessionAsync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it('omits resourceClass when --resource-class is not set', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/index.ts b/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/index.ts
index b1f950bd5f..b59febe28a 100644
--- a/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/index.ts
+++ b/packages/eas-cli/src/commands/simulator/index.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ const APP_PLATFORM_BY_FLAG_VALUE: Record<PlatformFlagValue, AppPlatform> = {
   android: AppPlatform.Android,
   ios: AppPlatform.Ios,
 };
+const ANDROID_SYSTEM_IMAGE_PACKAGE_EXAMPLE =
+  'system-images;android-36;google_apis_playstore;x86_64';
 
 export default class Simulator extends EasCommand {
   static override hidden = true;
@@ -73,7 +75,12 @@ export default class Simulator extends EasCommand {
     }),
     device: Flags.string({
       description:
-        'Virtual device to start for the session. On iOS, a Simulator device name or UDID (e.g. "iPhone 16 Pro"). On Android, an AVD hardware profile id (e.g. "pixel_7"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.',
+        'Virtual device to start for the session. On iOS, a Simulator device name or UDID (e.g. "iPhone 16 Pro"). On Android, an AVD hardware profile id (e.g. "pixel_9"). Defaults to a device chosen by the runner.',
+    }),
+    'system-image-package': Flags.string({
+      description:
+        `Android SDK system image package to use for the emulator (e.g. "${ANDROID_SYSTEM_IMAGE_PACKAGE_EXAMPLE}"). ` +
+        'Only supported for Android and must use the x86_64 architecture required by EAS nested-virtualization runners.',
     }),
     'build-id': Flags.string({
       description: 'EAS Build to install and launch before the simulator session is ready.',
@@ -212,6 +219,10 @@ export default class Simulator extends EasCommand {
     }
 
     const platform = await resolvePlatformAsync(flags.platform, nonInteractive);
+    const androidSystemImagePackage = resolveAndroidSystemImagePackage(
+      flags['system-image-package'],
+      platform
+    );
     const expoGoSdkVersion = flags['expo-go']
       ? await resolveExpoGoSdkVersionAsync({ projectDir, sdkVersion: sdkVersionFromFlag })
       : undefined;
@@ -236,7 +247,17 @@ export default class Simulator extends EasCommand {
         platform,
         type: DEVICE_RUN_SESSION_TYPE_BY_FLAG_VALUE[flags.type],
         packageVersion: flags['package-version'],
-        deviceIdentifier,
+        ...(platform === AppPlatform.Android && (deviceIdentifier || androidSystemImagePackage)
+          ? {
+              android: {
+                ...(deviceIdentifier ? { deviceIdentifier } : {}),
+                ...(androidSystemImagePackage
+                  ? { systemImagePackage: androidSystemImagePackage }
+                  : {}),
+              },
+            }
+          : {}),
+        ...(platform === AppPlatform.Ios && deviceIdentifier ? { ios: { deviceIdentifier } } : {}),
         ...(buildId ? { buildId } : {}),
         ...(applicationArchiveUrlFromFlag
           ? { applicationArchiveUrl: applicationArchiveUrlFromFlag }
@@ -395,6 +416,48 @@ export default class Simulator extends EasCommand {
   }
 }
 
+function resolveAndroidSystemImagePackage(
+  rawSystemImagePackage: string | undefined,
+  platform: AppPlatform
+): string | undefined {
+  if (rawSystemImagePackage === undefined) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  const systemImagePackage = rawSystemImagePackage.trim();
+  if (!systemImagePackage) {
+    throw new EasCommandError(
+      `The --system-image-package value cannot be blank. Pass a package such as "${ANDROID_SYSTEM_IMAGE_PACKAGE_EXAMPLE}", or omit the flag to use the default.`
+    );
+  }
+  if (platform !== AppPlatform.Android) {
+    throw new EasCommandError(
+      'The --system-image-package flag is only supported for Android simulator sessions. Use --platform android or omit the flag.'
+    );
+  }
+
+  const [namespace, androidVersion, imageFlavor, architecture, ...extraSegments] =
+    systemImagePackage.split(';');
+  const isValidCoordinate =
+    namespace === 'system-images' &&
+    /^android-[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/.test(androidVersion ?? '') &&
+    /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/.test(imageFlavor ?? '') &&
+    architecture !== undefined &&
+    extraSegments.length === 0;
+  if (!isValidCoordinate) {
+    throw new EasCommandError(
+      `Invalid --system-image-package "${systemImagePackage}". Expected an Android SDK package coordinate in the form "system-images;android-<API>;image-flavor;x86_64", for example "${ANDROID_SYSTEM_IMAGE_PACKAGE_EXAMPLE}".`
+    );
+  }
+  if (architecture !== 'x86_64') {
+    throw new EasCommandError(
+      `The --system-image-package architecture must be x86_64 because EAS Android simulator sessions use x86_64 nested-virtualization runners; received "${architecture}".`
+    );
+  }
+
+  return systemImagePackage;
+}
+
 async function resolvePlatformAsync(
   platform: PlatformFlagValue | undefined,
   nonInteractive: boolean
diff --git a/packages/eas-cli/src/graphql/mutations/DeviceRunSessionMutation.ts b/packages/eas-cli/src/graphql/mutations/DeviceRunSessionMutation.ts
index 043ac005e0..28352fbe98 100644
--- a/packages/eas-cli/src/graphql/mutations/DeviceRunSessionMutation.ts
+++ b/packages/eas-cli/src/graphql/mutations/DeviceRunSessionMutation.ts
@@ -3,13 +3,26 @@ import gql from 'graphql-tag';
 import { ExpoGraphqlClient } from '../../commandUtils/context/contextUtils/createGraphqlClient';
 import { withErrorHandlingAsync } from '../client';
 import {
-  CreateDeviceRunSessionInput,
   CreateDeviceRunSessionMutation,
   CreateDeviceRunSessionMutationVariables,
   EnsureDeviceRunSessionStoppedMutation,
   EnsureDeviceRunSessionStoppedMutationVariables,
+  CreateDeviceRunSessionInput as GeneratedCreateDeviceRunSessionInput,
 } from '../generated';
 
+export type CreateDeviceRunSessionInput = Omit<
+  GeneratedCreateDeviceRunSessionInput,
+  'deviceIdentifier'
+> & {
+  android?: {
+    deviceIdentifier?: string;
+    systemImagePackage?: string;
+  };
+  ios?: {
+    deviceIdentifier?: string;
+  };
+};
+
 export const DeviceRunSessionMutation = {
   async createDeviceRunSessionAsync(
     graphqlClient: ExpoGraphqlClient,

From ee650e744ff163f1e5200801fb585f4cb6d3b6da Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: szdziedzic <szymon@expo.dev>
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:39:22 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] [eas-cli] Add simulator system image changelog entry

---
 CHANGELOG.md | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ba0404274a..d45b8c473c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This is the log of notable changes to EAS CLI and related packages.
 
 ### 🎉 New features
 
+- [eas-cli] Add `--system-image-package` to `eas simulator` for selecting a validated x86_64 Android emulator system image. ([#4317](https://github.com/expo/eas-cli/pull/4317) by [@szdziedzic](https://github.com/szdziedzic))
 - [eas-cli] Update workflow run logs in real time, instead of every 10 seconds. ([#4228](https://github.com/expo/eas-cli/pull/4228) by [@AHGIJMKLKKZNPJKQR](https://github.com/AHGIJMKLKKZNPJKQR))
 - [build-tools] Add `expo-device-hub` web previews to Android web-preview-only, Agent Device, Argent, and Appium remote sessions. ([#4304](https://github.com/expo/eas-cli/pull/4304) by [@krystofwoldrich](https://github.com/krystofwoldrich))
 - [eas-cli] Add `eas workflow:ssh <workflow-job-id> [command...]` to open an ssh session on the worker running a workflow job. ([#4032](https://github.com/expo/eas-cli/pull/4032) by [@gwdp](https://github.com/gwdp))