Appium cannot start flutter app in debug mode in iOS14

The problem

We are using Appium to test the app built by Flutter. When Appium loads the app built by flutter build ios --flavor=firebase --debug on a real iPhone, the UI only shows:

In iOS 14+, debug mode Flutter apps can only be launched from Flutter tooling, IDEs with Flutter plugins or from Xcode. Alternatively, build in profile or release modes to enable launching from the home screen.
Is this due to the reasons above? If so, does it mean there is NO way at all to test flutter apps using Appium on a real device with iOS14+?

The flutter documentations (https://flutter.dev/docs/development/ios-14) says:

Due to changes in debugger mechanisms, once a Flutter debug application is installed on the device (either by using flutter run a Flutter-enabled IDE, or from Xcode), the application can no longer be re-launched by tapping the application’s icon in the home screen in iOS 14 on physical devices.

Is this the reason why I cannot test it in Appium? If so, does it mean there is NO way at all to test flutter apps using Appium on a real device with iOS14+?

Environment

• Appium version (or git revision) that exhibits the issue: 1.20.0
• Last Appium version that did not exhibit the issue (if applicable):
• Desktop OS/version used to run Appium: MacOS Big Sur
• Node.js version (unless using Appium.app|exe): v12.16.2
• Npm or Yarn package manager: npm 6.14.11
• Mobile platform/version under test: iOS14.3
• Real device or emulator/simulator: Real iPhone XS
• Appium CLI or Appium.app|exe: Both CLI and Appium desktop

Code To Reproduce Issue [ Good To Have ]

• Build the flutter app with flutter build ios --flavor=firebase --debug.
• In Appium, using the following desired capabilities:

{
"platformName": "iOS",
"platformVersion": "14.3",
"deviceName": "iPhone XS",
"automationName": "XCUITest",
"xcodeOrgId": "******",
"xcodeSigningId": "Apple Development",
"udid": "uniq-device-id",
"app": "/Runner.app"
}

The app is launched on the phone and shows:

In iOS 14+, debug mode Flutter apps can only be launched from Flutter tooling, IDEs with Flutter plugins or from Xcode. Alternatively, build in profile or release modes to enable launching from the home screen.

(PS: the issue was originally reported in the flutter project but closed because the owner thinks it is an Appium issue: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/73935)

[mykola-mokhnach]

I assume Apple did some breaking changed to iOS 14, which affected the Flutter-based apps automation. I would try to report the issue to flutter driver repository. We did not change anything related to the application deployment in xcuitest driver.

[mykola-mokhnach]

Closing this issue as third party one. Flutter requires their apps to be executed in a hacky way, which is different from the standard one. As a workaround I would probably try to prelaunch the app on the device and then run xcuitest driver with noReset option enabled.