diff --git a/lib/commands/app-management.js b/lib/commands/app-management.js
index 1827125f..47554987 100644
--- a/lib/commands/app-management.js
+++ b/lib/commands/app-management.js
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ commands.queryAppState = async function queryAppState (appId) {
  */
 commands.activateApp = async function activateApp (appId) {
   this.log.debug(`Activating '${appId}'`);
+  const apiLevel = await this.adb.getApiLevel();
   // Fallback to Monkey in older APIs
-  if (await this.adb.getApiLevel() < 24) {
+  if (apiLevel < 24) {
+    // The monkey command could raise an issue as https://stackoverflow.com/questions/44860475/how-to-use-the-monkey-command-with-an-android-system-that-doesnt-have-physical
+    // but '--pct-syskeys 0' could cause another background process issue. https://github.com/appium/appium/issues/16941#issuecomment-1129837285
     const cmd = ['monkey',
-      // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/44860475/how-to-use-the-monkey-command-with-an-android-system-that-doesnt-have-physical
-      '--pct-syskeys', '0',
       '-p', appId,
       '-c', 'android.intent.category.LAUNCHER',
       '1'];
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ commands.activateApp = async function activateApp (appId) {
   }
 
   const stdout = await this.adb.shell([
-    'am', 'start',
+    'am', (apiLevel < 26) ? 'start' : 'start-activity',
     '-a', 'android.intent.action.MAIN',
     '-c', 'android.intent.category.LAUNCHER',
     // FLAG_ACTIVITY_REORDER_TO_FRONT | FLAG_ACTIVITY_BROUGHT_TO_FRONT | FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK