[BUG] ExposedDropdownMenu (AutoCompleteTextView) popup items not in hierarchy under maestro-runner, but works under stock maestro

[ConorGarry]

Description

Dropdown items from a Material ExposedDropdownMenu are not visible to Maestro when run via maestro-runner, but are visible when run via the stock maestro CLI on the same device/app. The field itself is found and tappable in both; only the popup items differ.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Minimal app: a single TextInputLayout styled …ExposedDropdownMenu wrapping an AutoCompleteTextView backed by a 4-item ArrayAdapter (full repro below).
2. Run via stock maestro: maestro test flow.yaml.
3. Run via maestro-runner: maestro-runner test flow.yaml.

Expected Behavior

Both runners tap the field, the popup opens, and Option 1 is found and tapped.

Actual Behavior

• stock maestro: ✅ taps Option 1, dropdown selection fires.
• maestro-runner: ❌ field opens (visible overscroll/popup on screen) but Option 1 is never found, Element not found.

Environment

• Mac 0S 26.5.1
• maestro-runner: 1.1.16

Flow File

  appId: <pkg>
   ---
   - launchApp
   - tapOn:
       id: "actv_dropdown_question"
   - tapOn: "Option 1"

Error Output

 Element not found: context deadline exceeded: no such element: An element could not be located on the page using the given search parameters (cause: context deadline exceeded: no such element: An element could not be located on the page using the given search parameters)

Additional Context

Repro App:

<com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout
    android:id="@+id/til_dropdown_question"
    style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.TextInputLayout.OutlinedBox.ExposedDropdownMenu"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:hint="Dropdown">
    <AutoCompleteTextView
        android:id="@+id/actv_dropdown_question"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:inputType="none" />
</com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout>

// MainActivity.kt
with(bind.actvDropdownQuestion) {
    setAdapter(
        ArrayAdapter(
            context,
            android.R.layout.simple_dropdown_item_1line,
            listOf("Option 1", "Option 2", "Option 3", "Option 4")
        )
    )
    onItemClickListener = AdapterView.OnItemClickListener { _, _, position, _ ->
        println("selected: $position")
    }
}

I guess it's due to this View using PopUpWindow API under the hood?

[omnarayan]

@ConorGarry Thank you for detail report, we ll work on it