diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/CHANGELOG.md b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/CHANGELOG.md
index 95f237481..1b5c53d99 100644
--- a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
 * Fixed "The type `MixedReality.Toolkit.Core MixedReality.Toolkit.Experimental.BubbleChildHoverEvents/TrickleChildHoverEvents/BubbleChildSelectEvents/TrickleChildSelectEvents` is being serialized by `[SerializeReference]`, but is missing the `[Serializable]` attribute." on Unity 6.3. [PR #1107](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1107)
 * Fixed object identity API usages and obsolete sorting warnings for Unity 6.4 and newer in `FindObjectUtility`. [PR #1136](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1136)
+* Fixed PlayMode tests failing when XR is initialized by ensuring XR is disabled during test runs. [PR #1141](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1141)
 
 ## Deprecated
 
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/BaseRuntimeTests.cs b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/BaseRuntimeTests.cs
index e136cbfe1..0ef495608 100644
--- a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/BaseRuntimeTests.cs
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/BaseRuntimeTests.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ namespace MixedReality.Toolkit.Core.Tests
     /// <summary>
     /// Base class to handle typical code setup/teardown and test utilities
     /// </summary>
+    [PrebuildSetup(typeof(PlayModeTestXRDisabler))]
+    [PostBuildCleanup(typeof(PlayModeTestXRDisabler))]
     public abstract class BaseRuntimeTests
     {
         int originalTargetFrameRate = 0;
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/MRTK.Core.TestUtilities.asmdef b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/MRTK.Core.TestUtilities.asmdef
index ac3cc28ee..8e7d3f29a 100644
--- a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/MRTK.Core.TestUtilities.asmdef
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/MRTK.Core.TestUtilities.asmdef
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
         "Unity.InputSystem",
         "UnityEditor.TestRunner",
         "UnityEngine.TestRunner",
-        "Unity.asset-store-validation.Editor"
+        "Unity.asset-store-validation.Editor",
+        "Unity.XR.Management",
+        "Unity.XR.Management.Editor"
     ],
     "includePlatforms": [],
     "excludePlatforms": [],
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a05fdc35e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+// Copyright (c) Mixed Reality Toolkit Contributors
+// Licensed under the BSD 3-Clause
+
+// Disable "missing XML comment" warning for tests. While nice to have, this documentation is not required.
+#pragma warning disable CS1591
+
+using System;
+using UnityEngine;
+using UnityEngine.TestTools;
+
+#if UNITY_EDITOR
+using UnityEditor;
+using UnityEditor.XR.Management;
+using UnityEngine.XR.Management;
+#endif
+
+namespace MixedReality.Toolkit.Core.Tests
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Ensures XR initialization on start is disabled during PlayMode tests so that input simulation
+    /// and synthetic hands function properly without being suppressed by active OpenXR or XR displays.
+    /// State is maintained in memory without dirtying project settings on disk, and restored to its original value upon test completion or exit.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal class PlayModeTestXRDisabler : IPrebuildSetup, IPostBuildCleanup
+    {
+        private const string WasXRDisabledByTestKey = "MRTK_PlayModeTest_XRDisabledByTest";
+        private static bool isSubscribed;
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        void IPrebuildSetup.Setup()
+        {
+#if UNITY_EDITOR
+            SubscribePlayModeStateChanged();
+            DisableXRIfEnabled();
+#endif
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        void IPostBuildCleanup.Cleanup()
+        {
+#if UNITY_EDITOR
+            UnsubscribePlayModeStateChanged();
+            RestoreXR();
+#endif
+        }
+
+        [RuntimeInitializeOnLoadMethod(RuntimeInitializeLoadType.SubsystemRegistration)]
+        private static void OnSubsystemRegistration()
+        {
+#if UNITY_EDITOR
+            if (SessionState.GetBool(WasXRDisabledByTestKey, false))
+            {
+                ApplyDisableXR();
+            }
+#endif
+        }
+
+#if UNITY_EDITOR
+        private static void SubscribePlayModeStateChanged()
+        {
+            if (!isSubscribed)
+            {
+                EditorApplication.playModeStateChanged += OnPlayModeStateChanged;
+                isSubscribed = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void UnsubscribePlayModeStateChanged()
+        {
+            if (isSubscribed)
+            {
+                EditorApplication.playModeStateChanged -= OnPlayModeStateChanged;
+                isSubscribed = false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void OnPlayModeStateChanged(PlayModeStateChange state)
+        {
+            if (state == PlayModeStateChange.EnteredEditMode)
+            {
+                UnsubscribePlayModeStateChanged();
+                RestoreXR();
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static XRGeneralSettings GetTargetSettings()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                BuildTargetGroup targetGroup = BuildPipeline.GetBuildTargetGroup(EditorUserBuildSettings.activeBuildTarget);
+                return XRGeneralSettingsPerBuildTarget.XRGeneralSettingsForBuildTarget(targetGroup);
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Debug.LogWarning($"[PlayModeTestXRDisabler] Failed to get XRGeneralSettings: {e.Message}");
+                return null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void DisableXRIfEnabled()
+        {
+            XRGeneralSettings settings = GetTargetSettings();
+            bool isEnabledOnTarget = settings != null && settings.InitManagerOnStart;
+            bool isEnabledOnInstance = XRGeneralSettings.Instance != null && XRGeneralSettings.Instance.InitManagerOnStart;
+
+            if (isEnabledOnTarget || isEnabledOnInstance)
+            {
+                SessionState.SetBool(WasXRDisabledByTestKey, true);
+                ApplyDisableXR();
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void ApplyDisableXR()
+        {
+            if (XRGeneralSettings.Instance != null)
+            {
+                XRGeneralSettings.Instance.InitManagerOnStart = false;
+            }
+
+            XRGeneralSettings settings = GetTargetSettings();
+            if (settings != null)
+            {
+                settings.InitManagerOnStart = false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void RestoreXR()
+        {
+            if (!SessionState.GetBool(WasXRDisabledByTestKey, false))
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            SessionState.EraseBool(WasXRDisabledByTestKey);
+
+            XRGeneralSettings settings = GetTargetSettings();
+            if (settings != null)
+            {
+                settings.InitManagerOnStart = true;
+            }
+
+            if (XRGeneralSettings.Instance != null)
+            {
+                XRGeneralSettings.Instance.InitManagerOnStart = true;
+            }
+        }
+#endif
+    }
+}
+#pragma warning restore CS1591
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs.meta b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b3d4aeae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.core/Tests/TestUtilities/PlayModeTestXRDisabler.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 270301c6dca942958f7a6c42db4652fa
+MonoImporter:
+  externalObjects: {}
+  serializedVersion: 2
+  defaultReferences: []
+  executionOrder: 0
+  icon: {instanceID: 0}
+  userData: 
+  assetBundleName: 
+  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/CHANGELOG.md b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/CHANGELOG.md
index f5b02e2d5..b5ac52eb0 100644
--- a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
 * Fixed "leaked managed shell" issue in `UGUIInputAdapter`. [PR #1096](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1096)
 * Fixed "Attribute 'SerializeField' is not valid on this declaration type. It is only valid on 'field' declarations" error on `DialogButton` in Unity 6.3. [PR #1108](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1108)
+* Fixed `SeeItSayItLabelEnablerTests` failure when running on platforms without speech recognition support. [PR #1141](https://github.com/MixedRealityToolkit/MixedRealityToolkit-Unity/pull/1141)
 
 ## [3.3.0] - 2025-11-12
 
diff --git a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/Tests/Runtime/SeeItSayItLabelEnablerTests.cs b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/Tests/Runtime/SeeItSayItLabelEnablerTests.cs
index f92b9b7de..d4f54030e 100644
--- a/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/Tests/Runtime/SeeItSayItLabelEnablerTests.cs
+++ b/org.mixedrealitytoolkit.uxcore/Tests/Runtime/SeeItSayItLabelEnablerTests.cs
@@ -34,10 +34,7 @@ public IEnumerator TestEnableAndSetLabel()
             interactor.gameObject.SetActive(true);
 
             yield return null;
-            if (Application.isBatchMode)
-            {
-                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
-            }
+            ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException();
 
             Transform sublabel = label.transform.GetChild(0);
             Assert.IsTrue(label.gameObject.activeSelf, "Label is enabled");
@@ -64,10 +61,7 @@ public IEnumerator TestAutoUpdateLabel()
             interactor.gameObject.SetActive(true);
 
             yield return null;
-            if (Application.isBatchMode)
-            {
-                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
-            }
+            ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException();
 
             Transform sublabel = label.transform.GetChild(0);
             TMP_Text text = label.gameObject.GetComponentInChildren<TMP_Text>(true);
@@ -84,10 +78,7 @@ public IEnumerator TestAutoUpdateLabel()
             // Wait for a frame to give Unity a change to actually destroy the object
             yield return null;
             // The speech recognition keyword change will trigger this exception at next update when speech recognition is not supported
-            if (Application.isBatchMode)
-            {
-                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
-            }
+            ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException();
         }
 
         [UnityTest]
@@ -115,10 +106,7 @@ public IEnumerator TestPositionCanvasLabel()
             interactor.gameObject.SetActive(true);
 
             yield return null;
-            if (Application.isBatchMode)
-            {
-                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
-            }
+            ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException();
 
             RectTransform sublabel = label.transform.GetChild(0) as RectTransform;
             Assert.AreEqual(sublabel.anchoredPosition3D, new Vector3(10, -30, -10), "Label is positioned correctly");
@@ -142,10 +130,7 @@ public IEnumerator TestPositionNonCanvasLabel()
             interactor.gameObject.SetActive(true);
 
             yield return null;
-            if (Application.isBatchMode)
-            {
-                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
-            }
+            ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException();
 
             Assert.AreEqual(label.transform.localPosition, new Vector3(10f, -.504f, -.004f), "Label is positioned correctly");
 #else
@@ -203,6 +188,16 @@ private GameObject SetUpButton(bool allowSelectByVoice, Control control)
             return testButton;
         }
 
+        private static void ExpectSpeechRecognitionNotSupportedException()
+        {
+#if MRTK_INPUT_PRESENT && MRTK_SPEECH_PRESENT && (UNITY_STANDALONE_WIN || UNITY_WSA || UNITY_EDITOR_WIN)
+            if (!UnityEngine.Windows.Speech.PhraseRecognitionSystem.isSupported)
+            {
+                LogAssert.Expect(LogType.Exception, new Regex("Speech recognition is not supported on this machine"));
+            }
+#endif
+        }
+
         private enum Control
         {
             None,