diff --git a/circle.yml b/circle.yml
index 4c1d01b60c4a..2456aced5c4b 100644
--- a/circle.yml
+++ b/circle.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ mainBuildFilters: &mainBuildFilters
       only:
         - develop
         - 10.0-release
-        - marktnoonan/backmerge-develop-3-8-22
+        - UNIFY-1294-specs-list-flake
 
 # usually we don't build Mac app - it takes a long time
 # but sometimes we want to really confirm we are doing the right thing
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ macWorkflowFilters: &mac-workflow-filters
     or:
     - equal: [ develop, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
     - equal: [ '10.0-release', << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
-    - equal: [ marktnoonan/backmerge-develop-3-8-22, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
+    - equal: [ UNIFY-1294-specs-list-flake, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
     - matches:
           pattern: "-release$"
           value: << pipeline.git.branch >>
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ windowsWorkflowFilters: &windows-workflow-filters
     or:
     - equal: [ develop, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
     - equal: [ '10.0-release', << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
-    - equal: [ marktnoonan/backmerge-develop-3-8-22, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
+    - equal: [ UNIFY-1294-specs-list-flake, << pipeline.git.branch >> ]
     - matches:
           pattern: "-release$"
           value: << pipeline.git.branch >>
@@ -1689,7 +1689,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - clone-repo-and-checkout-branch:
           repo: cypress-example-kitchensink
-          pull_request_id: 524
       - install-required-node
       - run:
           name: Remove cypress.json
@@ -2005,7 +2004,6 @@ jobs:
       - test-binary-against-repo:
           repo: cypress-example-kitchensink
           browser: "electron"
-          pull_request_id: 524
 
   test-binary-against-kitchensink-firefox:
     <<: *defaults
@@ -2013,7 +2011,6 @@ jobs:
       - test-binary-against-repo:
           repo: cypress-example-kitchensink
           browser: firefox
-          pull_request_id: 524
 
   test-binary-against-kitchensink-chrome:
     <<: *defaults
@@ -2021,7 +2018,6 @@ jobs:
       - test-binary-against-repo:
           repo: cypress-example-kitchensink
           browser: chrome
-          pull_request_id: 524
 
   test-binary-against-todomvc-firefox:
     <<: *defaults
diff --git a/cli/__snapshots__/cli_spec.js b/cli/__snapshots__/cli_spec.js
index a3ecb387346a..e9f539f87e70 100644
--- a/cli/__snapshots__/cli_spec.js
+++ b/cli/__snapshots__/cli_spec.js
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ exports['shows help for open --foo 1'] = `
                                      cypress.config.{ts|js}.
     -C, --config-file <config-file>  path to script file where configuration
                                      values are set. defaults to
-                                     "cypress.config.{ts|js}". pass "false" to
-                                     disable.
+                                     "cypress.config.{ts|js}".
     -d, --detached [bool]            runs Cypress application in detached mode
     --e2e                            runs end to end tests
     -e, --env <env>                  sets environment variables. separate
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ exports['shows help for run --foo 1'] = `
     --ci-build-id <id>                         the unique identifier for a run on your CI provider. typically a "BUILD_ID" env var. this value is automatically detected for most CI providers
     --component                                runs component tests
     -c, --config <config>                      sets configuration values. separate multiple values with a comma. overrides any value in cypress.config.{ts|js}.
-    -C, --config-file <config-file>            path to script file where configuration values are set. defaults to "cypress.config.{ts|js}". pass "false" to disable.
+    -C, --config-file <config-file>            path to script file where configuration values are set. defaults to "cypress.config.{ts|js}".
     --e2e                                      runs end to end tests
     -e, --env <env>                            sets environment variables. separate multiple values with a comma. overrides any value in cypress.config.{ts|js} or cypress.env.json
     --group <name>                             a named group for recorded runs in the Cypress Dashboard
diff --git a/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js b/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
index e085d953df00..12048eb9a2de 100644
--- a/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
+++ b/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ exports['errors individual has the following errors 1'] = [
   "incompatibleTestTypeFlags",
   "incompatibleTestingTypeAndFlag",
   "invalidCacheDirectory",
+  "invalidConfigFile",
   "invalidCypressEnv",
   "invalidOS",
   "invalidRunProjectPath",
diff --git a/cli/__snapshots__/run_spec.js b/cli/__snapshots__/run_spec.js
index 5889b5b1b55e..1d9b1bb4bf72 100644
--- a/cli/__snapshots__/run_spec.js
+++ b/cli/__snapshots__/run_spec.js
@@ -21,13 +21,6 @@ exports['exec run .processRunOptions passes --record option 1'] = [
   "my record id"
 ]
 
-exports['exec run .processRunOptions passes --config-file false option 1'] = [
-  "--run-project",
-  null,
-  "--config-file",
-  false
-]
-
 exports['exec run .processRunOptions defaults to e2e testingType 1'] = [
   "--run-project",
   null
diff --git a/cli/lib/cli.js b/cli/lib/cli.js
index b4ecf5de5297..8c473558452f 100644
--- a/cli/lib/cli.js
+++ b/cli/lib/cli.js
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ function unknownOption (flag, type = 'option') {
 }
 commander.Command.prototype.unknownOption = unknownOption
 
-const coerceFalseOrString = (arg) => {
-  return arg !== 'false' ? arg : false
-}
-
 const coerceFalse = (arg) => {
   return arg !== 'false'
 }
@@ -106,7 +102,7 @@ const descriptions = {
   ciBuildId: 'the unique identifier for a run on your CI provider. typically a "BUILD_ID" env var. this value is automatically detected for most CI providers',
   component: 'runs component tests',
   config: 'sets configuration values. separate multiple values with a comma. overrides any value in cypress.config.{ts|js}.',
-  configFile: 'path to script file where configuration values are set. defaults to "cypress.config.{ts|js}". pass "false" to disable.',
+  configFile: 'path to script file where configuration values are set. defaults to "cypress.config.{ts|js}".',
   detached: 'runs Cypress application in detached mode',
   dev: 'runs cypress in development and bypasses binary check',
   e2e: 'runs end to end tests',
@@ -315,10 +311,6 @@ const castCypressOptions = (opts) => {
     castOpts.port = coerceAnyStringToInt(opts.port)
   }
 
-  if (_.has(opts, 'configFile')) {
-    castOpts.configFile = coerceFalseOrString(opts.configFile)
-  }
-
   return castOpts
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/lib/errors.js b/cli/lib/errors.js
index 2530e231cf8b..941aa10fa125 100644
--- a/cli/lib/errors.js
+++ b/cli/lib/errors.js
@@ -230,6 +230,11 @@ const incompatibleTestingTypeAndFlag = {
   solution: 'Either set `testingType` or pass a testing type flag, but not both.',
 }
 
+const invalidConfigFile = {
+  description: '`--config-file` cannot be false.',
+  solution: 'Either pass a relative path to a valid Cypress config file or remove this option.',
+}
+
 /**
  * This error happens when CLI detects that the child Test Runner process
  * was killed with a signal, like SIGBUS
@@ -424,5 +429,6 @@ module.exports = {
     invalidTestingType,
     incompatibleTestTypeFlags,
     incompatibleTestingTypeAndFlag,
+    invalidConfigFile,
   },
 }
diff --git a/cli/lib/exec/open.js b/cli/lib/exec/open.js
index 4708d276db4d..8765670b3685 100644
--- a/cli/lib/exec/open.js
+++ b/cli/lib/exec/open.js
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ const debug = require('debug')('cypress:cli')
 const util = require('../util')
 const spawn = require('./spawn')
 const verify = require('../tasks/verify')
-const { processTestingType } = require('./shared')
+const { processTestingType, checkConfigFile } = require('./shared')
+const { exitWithError } = require('../errors')
 
 /**
  * Maps options collected by the CLI
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ const processOpenOptions = (options = {}) => {
   }
 
   if (options.configFile !== undefined) {
+    checkConfigFile(options)
     args.push('--config-file', options.configFile)
   }
 
@@ -67,14 +69,22 @@ const processOpenOptions = (options = {}) => {
 module.exports = {
   processOpenOptions,
   start (options = {}) {
-    const args = processOpenOptions(options)
-
     function open () {
-      return spawn.start(args, {
-        dev: options.dev,
-        detached: Boolean(options.detached),
-        stdio: 'inherit',
-      })
+      try {
+        const args = processOpenOptions(options)
+
+        return spawn.start(args, {
+          dev: options.dev,
+          detached: Boolean(options.detached),
+          stdio: 'inherit',
+        })
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (err.details) {
+          return exitWithError(err.details)()
+        }
+
+        throw err
+      }
     }
 
     if (options.dev) {
diff --git a/cli/lib/exec/run.js b/cli/lib/exec/run.js
index b8644b7a2921..e070205901b1 100644
--- a/cli/lib/exec/run.js
+++ b/cli/lib/exec/run.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const util = require('../util')
 const spawn = require('./spawn')
 const verify = require('../tasks/verify')
 const { exitWithError, errors } = require('../errors')
-const { processTestingType, throwInvalidOptionError } = require('./shared')
+const { processTestingType, throwInvalidOptionError, checkConfigFile } = require('./shared')
 
 /**
  * Typically a user passes a string path to the project.
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ const processRunOptions = (options = {}) => {
   }
 
   if (options.configFile !== undefined) {
+    checkConfigFile(options)
     args.push('--config-file', options.configFile)
   }
 
@@ -164,10 +165,14 @@ module.exports = {
     })
 
     function run () {
-      let args
-
       try {
-        args = processRunOptions(options)
+        const args = processRunOptions(options)
+
+        debug('run to spawn.start args %j', args)
+
+        return spawn.start(args, {
+          dev: options.dev,
+        })
       } catch (err) {
         if (err.details) {
           return exitWithError(err.details)()
@@ -175,12 +180,6 @@ module.exports = {
 
         throw err
       }
-
-      debug('run to spawn.start args %j', args)
-
-      return spawn.start(args, {
-        dev: options.dev,
-      })
     }
 
     if (options.dev) {
diff --git a/cli/lib/exec/shared.js b/cli/lib/exec/shared.js
index b3723d195266..3be0243dd9db 100644
--- a/cli/lib/exec/shared.js
+++ b/cli/lib/exec/shared.js
@@ -47,7 +47,19 @@ const processTestingType = (options) => {
   return []
 }
 
+/**
+ * Throws an error if configFile is string 'false' or boolean false
+ * @param {*} options
+ */
+const checkConfigFile = (options) => {
+  // CLI will parse as string, module API can pass in boolean
+  if (options.configFile === 'false' || options.configFile === false) {
+    throwInvalidOptionError(errors.invalidConfigFile)
+  }
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   throwInvalidOptionError,
   processTestingType,
+  checkConfigFile,
 }
diff --git a/cli/test/lib/cypress_spec.js b/cli/test/lib/cypress_spec.js
index 829c42f3e492..44579d7ac926 100644
--- a/cli/test/lib/cypress_spec.js
+++ b/cli/test/lib/cypress_spec.js
@@ -53,18 +53,6 @@ describe('cypress', function () {
         expect(args).to.deep.eq({ config: JSON.stringify(config) })
       })
     })
-
-    it('passes configFile: false', () => {
-      const opts = {
-        configFile: false,
-      }
-
-      return cypress.open(opts)
-      .then(getStartArgs)
-      .then((args) => {
-        expect(args).to.deep.eq(opts)
-      })
-    })
   })
 
   context('.run fails to write results file', function () {
@@ -152,18 +140,6 @@ describe('cypress', function () {
       return cypress.run().then(snapshot)
     })
 
-    it('passes configFile: false', () => {
-      const opts = {
-        configFile: false,
-      }
-
-      return cypress.run(opts)
-      .then(getStartArgs)
-      .then((args) => {
-        expect(args).to.deep.eq(opts)
-      })
-    })
-
     it('rejects if project is an empty string', () => {
       return expect(cypress.run({ project: '' })).to.be.rejected
     })
@@ -223,15 +199,6 @@ describe('cypress', function () {
         })
       })
 
-      it('coerces --config-file false to boolean', async () => {
-        const args = 'cypress run --config-file false'.split(' ')
-        const options = await cypress.cli.parseRunArguments(args)
-
-        expect(options).to.deep.equal({
-          configFile: false,
-        })
-      })
-
       it('coerces --config-file cypress.config.js to string', async () => {
         const args = 'cypress run --config-file cypress.config.js'.split(' ')
         const options = await cypress.cli.parseRunArguments(args)
@@ -241,15 +208,6 @@ describe('cypress', function () {
         })
       })
 
-      it('parses config file false', async () => {
-        const args = 'cypress run --config-file false'.split(' ')
-        const options = await cypress.cli.parseRunArguments(args)
-
-        expect(options).to.deep.equal({
-          configFile: false,
-        })
-      })
-
       it('parses config', async () => {
         const args = 'cypress run --config baseUrl=localhost,video=true'.split(' ')
         const options = await cypress.cli.parseRunArguments(args)
diff --git a/cli/test/lib/exec/open_spec.js b/cli/test/lib/exec/open_spec.js
index fcb975f8dd9c..d351771ce06c 100644
--- a/cli/test/lib/exec/open_spec.js
+++ b/cli/test/lib/exec/open_spec.js
@@ -56,15 +56,6 @@ describe('exec open', function () {
       })
     })
 
-    it('spawns with --config-file false', function () {
-      return open.start({ configFile: false })
-      .then(() => {
-        expect(spawn.start).to.be.calledWith(
-          ['--config-file', false],
-        )
-      })
-    })
-
     it('spawns with --config-file set', function () {
       return open.start({ configFile: 'special-cypress.config.js' })
       .then(() => {
@@ -142,7 +133,11 @@ describe('exec open', function () {
     })
 
     it('throws if --testing-type is invalid', () => {
-      expect(() => open.start({ testingType: 'randomTestingType' })).to.throw()
+      expect(() => open.processOpenOptions({ testingType: 'randomTestingType' })).to.throw()
+    })
+
+    it('throws if --config-file is false', () => {
+      expect(() => open.processOpenOptions({ configFile: 'false' })).to.throw()
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/cli/test/lib/exec/run_spec.js b/cli/test/lib/exec/run_spec.js
index 340330ec4d3e..a79d1a6e0067 100644
--- a/cli/test/lib/exec/run_spec.js
+++ b/cli/test/lib/exec/run_spec.js
@@ -53,14 +53,6 @@ describe('exec run', function () {
       snapshot(args)
     })
 
-    it('passes --config-file false option', () => {
-      const args = run.processRunOptions({
-        configFile: false,
-      })
-
-      snapshot(args)
-    })
-
     it('does not allow setting paradoxical --headed and --headless flags', () => {
       os.platform.returns('linux')
       process.exit.returns()
@@ -112,6 +104,10 @@ describe('exec run', function () {
     it('throws if both testingType and component are set', () => {
       expect(() => run.processRunOptions({ testingType: 'component', component: true })).to.throw()
     })
+
+    it('throws if --config-file is false', () => {
+      expect(() => run.processRunOptions({ configFile: 'false' })).to.throw()
+    })
   })
 
   context('.start', function () {
@@ -148,15 +144,6 @@ describe('exec run', function () {
       })
     })
 
-    it('spawns with --config-file false', function () {
-      return run.start({ configFile: false })
-      .then(() => {
-        expect(spawn.start).to.be.calledWith(
-          ['--run-project', process.cwd(), '--config-file', false],
-        )
-      })
-    })
-
     it('spawns with --config-file set', function () {
       return run.start({ configFile: 'special-cypress.config.js' })
       .then(() => {
diff --git a/cli/types/cypress-npm-api.d.ts b/cli/types/cypress-npm-api.d.ts
index 7d256f591d59..4647d6983306 100644
--- a/cli/types/cypress-npm-api.d.ts
+++ b/cli/types/cypress-npm-api.d.ts
@@ -142,11 +142,9 @@ declare namespace CypressCommandLine {
     /**
      * Path to the config file to be used.
      *
-     * If `false` is passed, no config file will be used.
-     *
      * @default "cypress.config.{ts|js}"
      */
-    configFile: string | false
+    configFile: string
     /**
      * Specify environment variables.
      * TODO: isn't this duplicate of config.env?!
diff --git a/cli/types/cypress.d.ts b/cli/types/cypress.d.ts
index b9fe2a822538..195c0d8e798f 100644
--- a/cli/types/cypress.d.ts
+++ b/cli/types/cypress.d.ts
@@ -2882,9 +2882,9 @@ declare namespace Cypress {
    */
   interface RuntimeConfigOptions extends Partial<RuntimeServerConfigOptions> {
     /**
-     * Absolute path to the config file (default: <projectRoot>/cypress.config.{ts|js}) or false
+     * Absolute path to the config file (default: <projectRoot>/cypress.config.{ts|js})
      */
-    configFile: string | false
+    configFile: string
     /**
      * CPU architecture, from Node `os.arch()`
      *
diff --git a/cli/types/tests/cypress-npm-api-test.ts b/cli/types/tests/cypress-npm-api-test.ts
index d7979e17a39a..dd2bbd9f29f8 100644
--- a/cli/types/tests/cypress-npm-api-test.ts
+++ b/cli/types/tests/cypress-npm-api-test.ts
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ cypress.run().then(results => {
 cypress.open() // $ExpectType Promise<void>
 cypress.run() // $ExpectType Promise<CypressRunResult | CypressFailedRunResult>
 
-cypress.open({
-  configFile: false
-})
-
 cypress.run({
   configFile: "abc123"
 })
diff --git a/cli/types/tests/plugins-config.ts b/cli/types/tests/plugins-config.ts
index 1a86a0a3d110..2292a8e42fa4 100644
--- a/cli/types/tests/plugins-config.ts
+++ b/cli/types/tests/plugins-config.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const pluginConfig: Cypress.PluginConfig = (on, config) => {}
 // allows synchronous returns
 const pluginConfig2: Cypress.PluginConfig = (on, config) => {
   config // $ExpectType PluginConfigOptions
-  config.configFile // $ExpectType string | false
+  config.configFile // $ExpectType string
   config.fixturesFolder // $ExpectType string | false
   config.screenshotsFolder // $ExpectType string | false
   config.videoCompression // $ExpectType number | false
diff --git a/npm/create-cypress-tests/src/component-testing/config-file-updater/configFileUpdater.test.ts b/npm/create-cypress-tests/src/component-testing/config-file-updater/configFileUpdater.test.ts
index 0168ad9d95ef..c1a568ba0a06 100644
--- a/npm/create-cypress-tests/src/component-testing/config-file-updater/configFileUpdater.test.ts
+++ b/npm/create-cypress-tests/src/component-testing/config-file-updater/configFileUpdater.test.ts
@@ -44,21 +44,6 @@ const stripIndent = (strings: any, ...args: any) => {
 }
 
 describe('lib/util/config-file-updater', () => {
-  context('with configFile: false', () => {
-    beforeEach(function () {
-      this.projectRoot = path.join(projectRoot, '_test-output/path/to/project/')
-    })
-
-    it('.insertValuesInConfigFile does not create a file', function () {
-      return insertValuesInConfigFile(this.projectRoot, {})
-      .then(() => {
-        throw Error('file shuold not have been created here')
-      }).catch((err) => {
-        expect(err.code).to.equal('ENOENT')
-      })
-    })
-  })
-
   context('with js files', () => {
     describe('#insertValueInJSString', () => {
       describe('es6 vs es5', () => {
diff --git a/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/cypressBuilderOptions.ts b/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/cypressBuilderOptions.ts
index bbbc51c88a97..9194fa1ba219 100644
--- a/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/cypressBuilderOptions.ts
+++ b/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/cypressBuilderOptions.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { JsonObject } from '@angular-devkit/core'
 
 export interface CypressBuilderOptions extends JsonObject {
   baseUrl: string
-  configFile: string | false
+  configFile: string
   browser: 'electron' | 'chrome' | 'chromium' | 'canary' | 'firefox' | 'edge' | string
   devServerTarget: string
   env: Record<string, string>
diff --git a/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/schema.json b/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/schema.json
index ea563eee0712..a09e8aee37c3 100644
--- a/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/schema.json
+++ b/npm/cypress-schematic/src/builders/cypress/schema.json
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
     },
     "configFile": {
       "type": [
-        "string",
-        "boolean"
+        "string"
       ],
       "description": "Specify a path to a JSON file where configuration values are set or pass false to disable the use of a configuration file entirely."
     },
diff --git a/packages/app/README.md b/packages/app/README.md
index 0ec237e9e18c..20309930bd23 100644
--- a/packages/app/README.md
+++ b/packages/app/README.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Route configuration that might typically appear in `router.ts` can be set in a `
 ```ts
 <route>
   {
-    name: 'SpecsRunner',
+    name: 'SpecRunner',
     meta: {
       header: false,
       navBarExpandedAllowed: false
diff --git a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-component.cy.ts b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-component.cy.ts
index 50bff4857d29..35f5e81402e3 100644
--- a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-component.cy.ts
+++ b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-component.cy.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import defaultMessages from '@packages/frontend-shared/src/locales/en-US.json'
+import { getPathForPlatform } from '../../src/paths'
 import { snapshotAUTPanel } from './support/snapshot-aut-panel'
 
-describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
+describe('Cypress In Cypress CT', { viewportWidth: 1500, defaultCommandTimeout: 10000 }, () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     cy.scaffoldProject('cypress-in-cypress')
     cy.findBrowsers()
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
   })
 
   it('navigation between specs and other parts of the app works', () => {
+    cy.visitApp()
     cy.contains('TestComponent.spec').click()
     cy.get('[data-model-state="passed"]').should('contain', 'renders the test component')
 
@@ -79,11 +81,11 @@ describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
     const { noSpecErrorTitle, noSpecErrorIntro, noSpecErrorExplainer } = defaultMessages.specPage
     const badFilePath = 'src/DoesNotExist.spec.js'
 
-    cy.visit(`http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs/runner?file=${badFilePath}`)
+    cy.visitApp(`/specs/runner?file=${getPathForPlatform(badFilePath)}`)
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorTitle).should('be.visible')
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorIntro).should('be.visible')
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorExplainer).should('be.visible')
-    cy.contains(badFilePath).should('be.visible')
+    cy.contains(getPathForPlatform(badFilePath)).should('be.visible')
     cy.location()
     .its('href')
     .should('eq', 'http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs')
@@ -98,21 +100,21 @@ describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
 
     const goodFilePath = 'src/TestComponent.spec.jsx'
 
-    // TODO: Figure out why test is flaky without wait
-    // see: https://cypress-io.atlassian.net/browse/UNIFY-1294
-    cy.wait(2000)
-    cy.visit(`http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs/runner?file=${goodFilePath}`)
+    cy.visitApp(`/specs/runner?file=${getPathForPlatform(goodFilePath)}`)
 
     cy.contains('renders the test component').should('be.visible')
 
     cy.withCtx((ctx) => {
-      ctx.actions.project.setSpecs([])
+      // rename relative path for any specs that happen to be found
+      const specs = ctx.project.specs.map((spec) => ({ ...spec, relative: `${spec.relative}-updated` }))
+
+      ctx.actions.project.setSpecs(specs)
       ctx.emitter.toApp()
     }).then(() => {
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorTitle).should('be.visible')
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorIntro).should('be.visible')
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorExplainer).should('be.visible')
-      cy.contains(goodFilePath).should('be.visible')
+      cy.contains(getPathForPlatform(goodFilePath)).should('be.visible')
       cy.location()
       .its('href')
       .should('eq', 'http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs')
diff --git a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-e2e.cy.ts b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-e2e.cy.ts
index e6d5bc15bc63..0f6b98e3db60 100644
--- a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-e2e.cy.ts
+++ b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/cypress-in-cypress-e2e.cy.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import defaultMessages from '@packages/frontend-shared/src/locales/en-US.json'
 import { snapshotAUTPanel } from './support/snapshot-aut-panel'
+import { getPathForPlatform } from '../../src/paths'
 
-describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
+describe('Cypress In Cypress E2E', { viewportWidth: 1500, defaultCommandTimeout: 10000 }, () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     cy.scaffoldProject('cypress-in-cypress')
     cy.findBrowsers()
@@ -99,11 +100,11 @@ describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
     const { noSpecErrorTitle, noSpecErrorIntro, noSpecErrorExplainer } = defaultMessages.specPage
     const badFilePath = 'cypress/e2e/does-not-exist.spec.js'
 
-    cy.visit(`http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs/runner?file=${badFilePath}`)
+    cy.visitApp(`/specs/runner?file=${getPathForPlatform(badFilePath)}`)
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorTitle).should('be.visible')
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorIntro).should('be.visible')
     cy.contains(noSpecErrorExplainer).should('be.visible')
-    cy.contains(badFilePath).should('be.visible')
+    cy.contains(getPathForPlatform(badFilePath)).should('be.visible')
     cy.location()
     .its('href')
     .should('eq', 'http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs')
@@ -120,21 +121,22 @@ describe('Cypress In Cypress', { viewportWidth: 1500 }, () => {
 
     const goodFilePath = 'cypress/e2e/dom-content.spec.js'
 
-    // TODO: Figure out why test is flaky without wait
-    // see: https://cypress-io.atlassian.net/browse/UNIFY-1294
-    cy.wait(2000)
-    cy.visit(`http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs/runner?file=${goodFilePath}`)
+    cy.visit(`http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs/runner?file=${getPathForPlatform(goodFilePath)}`)
 
     cy.contains('Dom Content').should('be.visible')
 
     cy.withCtx((ctx) => {
-      ctx.actions.project.setSpecs([])
+      // rename relative path for any specs that happen to be found
+
+      const specs = ctx.project.specs.map((spec) => ({ ...spec, relative: `${spec.relative}-updated` }))
+
+      ctx.actions.project.setSpecs(specs)
       ctx.emitter.toApp()
     }).then(() => {
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorTitle).should('be.visible')
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorIntro).should('be.visible')
       cy.contains(noSpecErrorExplainer).should('be.visible')
-      cy.contains(goodFilePath).should('be.visible')
+      cy.contains(getPathForPlatform(goodFilePath)).should('be.visible')
       cy.location()
       .its('href')
       .should('eq', 'http://localhost:4455/__/#/specs')
diff --git a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/settings.cy.ts b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/settings.cy.ts
index 0f2222fa6961..849927a90558 100644
--- a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/settings.cy.ts
+++ b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/settings.cy.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@ describe('App: Settings', () => {
       cy.findByText('Project Settings').click()
       cy.get('[data-cy="file-match-indicator"]').contains('2 Matches')
       cy.get('[data-cy="spec-pattern"]').contains('**/*.cy.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}')
+
+      cy.get('[data-cy="settings-specPatterns"').within(() => {
+        cy.validateExternalLink({
+          name: 'Learn more.',
+          href: 'https://on.cypress.io/test-type-options',
+        })
+      })
     })
 
     it('shows the Spec Patterns section (edited specPattern value)', () => {
@@ -125,10 +132,53 @@ describe('App: Settings', () => {
       cy.findByText('Settings').click()
       cy.findByText('Project Settings').click()
       cy.get('[data-cy="settings-experiments"]').within(() => {
-        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalFetchPolyfill"]')
-        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalInteractiveRunEvents"]')
-        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalSessionSupport"]')
-        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalSourceRewriting"]')
+        cy.validateExternalLink({
+          name: 'Learn more.',
+          href: 'https://on.cypress.io/experiments',
+        })
+
+        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalFetchPolyfill"]').within(() => {
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'cy.intercept()',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/intercept',
+          })
+        })
+
+        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalInteractiveRunEvents"]').within(() => {
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'before:run',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/before-run',
+          })
+
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'after:run',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/after-run',
+          })
+
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'before:spec',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/before-spec',
+          })
+
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'after:spec',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/after-spec',
+          })
+        })
+
+        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalSessionSupport"]').within(() => {
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: 'cy.session()',
+            href: 'https://on.cypress.io/session',
+          })
+        })
+
+        cy.get('[data-cy="experiment-experimentalSourceRewriting"]').within(() => {
+          cy.validateExternalLink({
+            name: '#5273',
+            href: 'https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/issues/5273',
+          })
+        })
       })
     })
 
diff --git a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/specs.cy.ts b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/specs.cy.ts
index 4e050fa84579..5a190e9c10c3 100644
--- a/packages/app/cypress/e2e/specs.cy.ts
+++ b/packages/app/cypress/e2e/specs.cy.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
 import defaultMessages from '@packages/frontend-shared/src/locales/en-US.json'
-
-function getPathForPlatform (posixPath: string) {
-  if (Cypress.platform === 'win32') return posixPath.replaceAll('/', '\\')
-
-  return posixPath
-}
+import { getPathForPlatform } from '../../src/paths'
 
 function getRunnerHref (specPath: string) {
   specPath = getPathForPlatform(specPath)
diff --git a/packages/app/src/pages/Specs/Runner.vue b/packages/app/src/pages/Specs/Runner.vue
index dcfff8e0c0a7..0eac5b7e6be1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/pages/Specs/Runner.vue
+++ b/packages/app/src/pages/Specs/Runner.vue
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <!--
       Run Mode is a more minimal UI.
       It does not render things like the SpecList,
-      Side and Top Nav, etc.
+      Side Nav, etc.
       It also has no GraphQL dependency.
     -->
     <SpecRunnerContainerRunMode
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     <!--
       Open Mode is the full Cypress runner UI -
       including things like the SpecList,
-      Side and Top Nav, Selector Playground etc.
+      Side Nav, Selector Playground etc.
       It is driven by GraphQL and urql.
     -->
     <SpecRunnerContainerOpenMode
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const specs = window.__RUN_MODE_SPECS__
 
 <route>
   {
-    name: 'SpecsRunner',
+    name: 'SpecRunner',
     meta: {
       header: false,
       navBarExpandedAllowed: false
diff --git a/packages/app/src/runner/SpecRunnerContainerOpenMode.vue b/packages/app/src/runner/SpecRunnerContainerOpenMode.vue
index 7efc8980dbed..90cd60677a4b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/runner/SpecRunnerContainerOpenMode.vue
+++ b/packages/app/src/runner/SpecRunnerContainerOpenMode.vue
@@ -1,19 +1,17 @@
 <template>
-  <div v-if="specStore.activeSpec">
-    <SpecRunnerOpenMode
-      v-if="initialized"
-      :gql="props.gql"
-    />
-  </div>
+  <SpecRunnerOpenMode
+    v-if="initialized && specStore.activeSpec"
+    :gql="props.gql"
+  />
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts" setup>
-import { computed, watchEffect } from 'vue'
+import { computed } from 'vue'
 import type { SpecRunnerFragment } from '../generated/graphql'
 import { useSpecStore } from '../store'
 import SpecRunnerOpenMode from './SpecRunnerOpenMode.vue'
 import { useUnifiedRunner } from './unifiedRunner'
-import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
+import { useRouter, useRoute } from 'vue-router'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   gql: SpecRunnerFragment
@@ -21,6 +19,7 @@ const props = defineProps<{
 
 const specStore = useSpecStore()
 const router = useRouter()
+const route = useRoute()
 
 const { initialized, watchSpec } = useUnifiedRunner()
 
@@ -30,13 +29,21 @@ const specs = computed(() => {
 
 watchSpec(specs)
 
-watchEffect(() => {
-  const specPath = router.currentRoute.value.query.file
+specStore.$subscribe((mutation, state) => {
+  const file = route.query.file as string
 
-  if (specPath && !specStore.activeSpec) {
-    router.push({ name: 'Specs', params: {
-      unrunnable: router.currentRoute.value.query.file as string,
-    } })
+  const shouldRedirect = route.name === 'SpecRunner' && file && state.activeSpec === null
+
+  if (shouldRedirect) {
+    router.push({
+      name: 'Specs',
+      params: {
+        unrunnable: file,
+      },
+    })
   }
+}, {
+  immediate: true,
 })
+
 </script>
diff --git a/packages/app/src/runner/unifiedRunner.ts b/packages/app/src/runner/unifiedRunner.ts
index 3e0938e57920..c2228fe3f547 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/runner/unifiedRunner.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/runner/unifiedRunner.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function useUnifiedRunner () {
       const route = useRoute()
       const selectorPlaygroundStore = useSelectorPlaygroundStore()
 
-      watch(() => specs.value, () => {
+      watch(() => specs.value, (newVal) => {
         const fileParam = route.query.file
 
         if (!fileParam) {
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export function useUnifiedRunner () {
           return
         }
 
-        const activeSpecInSpecsList = specs.value.find((x) => x.relative === fileParam)
+        const activeSpecInSpecsList = newVal.find((x) => x.relative === fileParam)
 
         if (!activeSpecInSpecsList) {
           // the specs list no longer contains the spec being shown
diff --git a/packages/app/src/runner/useEventManager.ts b/packages/app/src/runner/useEventManager.ts
index f585ce4c4a5b..06f6be53b960 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/runner/useEventManager.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/runner/useEventManager.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export function useEventManager () {
 
   function runSpec () {
     if (!specStore.activeSpec) {
-      throw Error(`Cannot run spec when specStore.active spec is null!`)
+      throw Error(`Cannot run spec when specStore.active spec is null or undefined!`)
     }
 
     autStore.setScriptError(null)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function useEventManager () {
   }
 
   const startSpecWatcher = () => {
-    return watch(() => specStore.activeSpec, (spec) => {
+    return watch(() => specStore.activeSpec, () => {
       runSpec()
     }, { immediate: true, flush: 'post' })
   }
diff --git a/packages/app/src/specs/generators/component/ComponentGeneratorStepOne.vue b/packages/app/src/specs/generators/component/ComponentGeneratorStepOne.vue
index 37da995453ef..7c20b1d85f59 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/specs/generators/component/ComponentGeneratorStepOne.vue
+++ b/packages/app/src/specs/generators/component/ComponentGeneratorStepOne.vue
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
         >
           <router-link
             class="outline-none"
-            :to="{ name: 'SpecsRunner', query: { file: result.file.relative }, params: { shouldShowTroubleRenderingAlert: true } }
+            :to="{ name: 'SpecRunner', query: { file: result.file.relative }, params: { shouldShowTroubleRenderingAlert: true } }
             "
           >
             <Button
diff --git a/packages/app/src/store/specs-store.ts b/packages/app/src/store/specs-store.ts
index 04226756d302..1f9b64021792 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/store/specs-store.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/store/specs-store.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type { SpecFile } from '@packages/types/src'
 import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
 
 export interface SpecState {
-  activeSpec: SpecFile | null
+  activeSpec: SpecFile | null | undefined
 }
 
 export const useSpecStore = defineStore({
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export const useSpecStore = defineStore({
 
   state (): SpecState {
     return {
-      activeSpec: null,
+      activeSpec: undefined,
     }
   },
 
diff --git a/packages/config/src/options.ts b/packages/config/src/options.ts
index b0b2d67861b6..d7d5a50ba5d8 100644
--- a/packages/config/src/options.ts
+++ b/packages/config/src/options.ts
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ const runtimeOptions: Array<RuntimeConfigOption> = [
   }, {
     name: 'configFile',
     defaultValue: 'cypress.config.js',
-    validation: validate.isStringOrFalse,
+    validation: validate.isString,
     // not truly internal, but can only be set via cli,
     // so we don't consider it a "public" option
     isInternal: true,
diff --git a/packages/data-context/src/data/ProjectLifecycleManager.ts b/packages/data-context/src/data/ProjectLifecycleManager.ts
index feaff864b21d..177733927f3e 100644
--- a/packages/data-context/src/data/ProjectLifecycleManager.ts
+++ b/packages/data-context/src/data/ProjectLifecycleManager.ts
@@ -536,10 +536,6 @@ export class ProjectLifecycleManager {
   // }
 
   async getConfigFileContents () {
-    if (this.ctx.modeOptions.configFile === false) {
-      return {}
-    }
-
     if (this._configResult.state === 'loaded') {
       return this._configResult.value.initialConfig
     }
@@ -1126,10 +1122,6 @@ export class ProjectLifecycleManager {
       hasCypressEnvFile: fs.existsSync(this._pathToFile('cypress.env.json')),
     }
 
-    if (configFile === false) {
-      return metaState
-    }
-
     try {
       // Find the suggested framework, starting with meta-frameworks first
       const packageJson = this.ctx.fs.readJsonSync(this._pathToFile('package.json'))
@@ -1148,7 +1140,7 @@ export class ProjectLifecycleManager {
       // No need to handle
     }
 
-    if (typeof configFile === 'string') {
+    if (configFile) {
       metaState.hasSpecifiedConfigViaCLI = this._pathToFile(configFile)
       if (configFile.endsWith('.json')) {
         metaState.needsCypressJsonMigration = true
diff --git a/packages/driver/cypress/e2e/commands/request.cy.js b/packages/driver/cypress/e2e/commands/request.cy.js
index 97d759ca88db..562d414aeabf 100644
--- a/packages/driver/cypress/e2e/commands/request.cy.js
+++ b/packages/driver/cypress/e2e/commands/request.cy.js
@@ -853,26 +853,6 @@ describe('src/cy/commands/request', () => {
         cy.request('/foo/bar')
       })
 
-      it('throws when url is not FQDN, notes that configFile is disabled', {
-        baseUrl: null,
-        configFile: false,
-      }, function (done) {
-        cy.stub(cy, 'getRemoteLocation').withArgs('origin').returns('')
-
-        cy.on('fail', (err) => {
-          const { lastLog } = this
-
-          assertLogLength(this.logs, 1)
-          expect(lastLog.get('error')).to.eq(err)
-          expect(lastLog.get('state')).to.eq('failed')
-          expect(err.message).to.eq('`cy.request()` must be provided a fully qualified `url` - one that begins with `http`. By default `cy.request()` will use either the current window\'s origin or the `baseUrl` in `cypress.config.{ts|js}` (currently disabled by --config-file=false). Neither of those values were present.')
-
-          done()
-        })
-
-        cy.request('/foo/bar')
-      })
-
       it('throws when url is not FQDN, notes that configFile is non-default', {
         baseUrl: null,
         configFile: 'foo.json',
diff --git a/packages/driver/src/cypress/error_messages.ts b/packages/driver/src/cypress/error_messages.ts
index 02d1e26d0c72..d25f7e58c1ac 100644
--- a/packages/driver/src/cypress/error_messages.ts
+++ b/packages/driver/src/cypress/error_messages.ts
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@ function removeLeadingSlash (str: string) {
   return str.substring(li + 1)
 }
 
-const formatConfigFile = (projectRoot: string, configFile: string | false) => {
-  if (configFile === false) {
-    return '`cypress.config.{ts|js}` (currently disabled by --config-file=false)'
-  }
-
+const formatConfigFile = (projectRoot: Cypress.Config['projectRoot'], configFile: Cypress.Config['configFile']) => {
   configFile = removeLeadingSlash(configFile.replace(projectRoot, ''))
 
   return `\`${format(configFile)}\``
diff --git a/packages/errors/src/errors.ts b/packages/errors/src/errors.ts
index c3f255c0155b..0ce4912ce835 100644
--- a/packages/errors/src/errors.ts
+++ b/packages/errors/src/errors.ts
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ export const AllCypressErrors = {
         https://on.cypress.io/dashboard`
   },
   // TODO: make this relative path, not absolute
-  NO_PROJECT_ID: (configFilePath: string | false) => {
+  NO_PROJECT_ID: (configFilePath: string) => {
     return errTemplate`Can't find ${fmt.highlight(`projectId`)} in the config file: ${fmt.path(configFilePath || '')}`
   },
   NO_PROJECT_FOUND_AT_PROJECT_ROOT: (projectRoot: string) => {
diff --git a/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/examples/UseMarkdownExample.cy.tsx b/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/examples/UseMarkdownExample.cy.tsx
index 670bb59e0a96..b1e11319c4c5 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/examples/UseMarkdownExample.cy.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/examples/UseMarkdownExample.cy.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { ExternalLink_OpenExternalDocument } from '../../generated/graphql'
 import UseMarkdownExample from './UseMarkdownExample.vue'
 
 describe('useMarkdown', () => {
@@ -30,6 +31,10 @@ const heres = {
 }
 \`\`\`
 
+[Simple Link](www.test.com)
+[\`Code Link\`](www.code.com)
+
+
     `
 
     cy.mount(<UseMarkdownExample
@@ -39,5 +44,24 @@ const heres = {
 
     cy.get('ul').should('have.class', 'list-disc')
     cy.get('code').first().should('have.class', 'bg-pink-200').and('have.class', 'text-pink-600')
+
+    const openExternalStub = cy.stub()
+
+    cy.stubMutationResolver(ExternalLink_OpenExternalDocument, (defineResult, { url }) => {
+      openExternalStub(url)
+
+      return defineResult({
+        openExternal: true,
+      })
+    })
+
+    cy.contains('a', 'Simple Link').click()
+    cy.wrap(openExternalStub).should('have.been.calledWith', 'www.test.com')
+
+    cy.contains('a', 'Code Link').within(() => {
+      cy.get('code').click()
+    })
+
+    cy.wrap(openExternalStub).should('have.been.calledWith', 'www.code.com')
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/useMarkdown.ts b/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/useMarkdown.ts
index 2b08110f5279..5c7ea7eec26c 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/useMarkdown.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-shared/src/composables/useMarkdown.ts
@@ -102,8 +102,15 @@ export const useMarkdown = (target: Ref<HTMLElement>, text: MaybeRef<string>, op
 
     whenever(target, () => {
       useEventListener(target, 'click', (e: MouseEvent) => {
+        const link = (e.target as HTMLElement).closest('a[href]')
+
+        if (!link) {
+          return
+        }
+
         e.preventDefault()
-        const url = (e.target as HTMLElement).getAttribute('href')
+
+        const url = link.getAttribute('href')
 
         if (url) {
           open(url)
diff --git a/packages/runner-shared/src/config-file-formatted.tsx b/packages/runner-shared/src/config-file-formatted.tsx
index 4fc087d8e796..3b7ead96bb6d 100644
--- a/packages/runner-shared/src/config-file-formatted.tsx
+++ b/packages/runner-shared/src/config-file-formatted.tsx
@@ -1,22 +1,6 @@
 import React from 'react'
 
 const configFileFormatted = (configFile) => {
-  if (configFile === false) {
-    return (
-      <>
-        <code>
-cypress.config.
-          {`{ts | js}`}
-        </code>
-        {' '}
-file (currently disabled by
-        {' '}
-        <code>--config-file false</code>
-)
-      </>
-    )
-  }
-
   if (['cypress.config.ts', 'cypress.config.js'].includes(configFile)) {
     return (
       <>
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/config.ts b/packages/server/lib/config.ts
index 213957fa7c0c..bc68b2774946 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/config.ts
+++ b/packages/server/lib/config.ts
@@ -247,10 +247,6 @@ export function updateWithPluginValues (cfg, overrides) {
   configUtils.validate(overrides, (validationResult: ConfigValidationFailureInfo | string) => {
     let configFile = getCtx().lifecycleManager.configFile
 
-    if (configFile === false) {
-      configFile = '--config file set to "false" via CLI--'
-    }
-
     if (_.isString(validationResult)) {
       return errors.throwErr('CONFIG_VALIDATION_MSG_ERROR', 'configFile', configFile, validationResult)
     }
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts b/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
index 03549ad1bf8f..6ea618cc90e9 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
+++ b/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
@@ -233,9 +233,7 @@ export class ProjectBase<TServer extends Server> extends EE {
 
     await this.saveState(stateToSave)
 
-    await Promise.all([
-      checkSupportFile({ configFile: cfg.configFile, supportFile: cfg.supportFile }),
-    ])
+    await checkSupportFile(cfg.supportFile)
 
     if (cfg.isTextTerminal) {
       return
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/project_utils.ts b/packages/server/lib/project_utils.ts
index 3e7b9d245945..6d84f96a6767 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/project_utils.ts
+++ b/packages/server/lib/project_utils.ts
@@ -36,13 +36,7 @@ export const getSpecUrl = ({
   return specUrl
 }
 
-export const checkSupportFile = async ({
-  supportFile,
-  configFile,
-}: {
-  supportFile?: string | boolean
-  configFile?: string | false
-}) => {
+export const checkSupportFile = async (supportFile: Cypress.Config['supportFile']) => {
   if (supportFile && typeof supportFile === 'string') {
     const found = await fs.pathExists(supportFile)
 
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/util/args.js b/packages/server/lib/util/args.js
index fc3b6992e423..a73329e38936 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/util/args.js
+++ b/packages/server/lib/util/args.js
@@ -93,10 +93,7 @@ const normalizeBackslashes = (options) => {
     if (typeof options[property] === 'string') {
       options[property] = normalizeBackslash(options[property])
     } else {
-      // configFile is a special case that can be set to false
-      if (property !== 'configFile') {
-        delete options[property]
-      }
+      delete options[property]
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/server/test/integration/cypress_spec.js b/packages/server/test/integration/cypress_spec.js
index a8da0b367a56..4c35f53b4261 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/integration/cypress_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/test/integration/cypress_spec.js
@@ -1170,27 +1170,6 @@ describe('lib/cypress', () => {
     })
 
     describe('--config-file', () => {
-      // NOTE: --config-file=false is not supported
-      it.skip('false does not require cypress.config.js to run', function () {
-        return fs.statAsync(path.join(this.pristinePath, 'cypress.config.js'))
-        .then(() => {
-          throw new Error('cypress.config.js should not exist')
-        }).catch({ code: 'ENOENT' }, () => {
-          return cypress.start([
-            `--run-project=${this.pristinePath}`,
-            '--no-run-mode',
-            '--config-file',
-            'false',
-          ]).then(() => {
-            // uses default specPattern which is cypress/integration/**/*
-            // exits with 1 since there are not specs for this pristine project.
-            this.expectExitWithErr('NO_SPECS_FOUND', 'We searched for specs matching this glob pattern:')
-            this.expectExitWithErr('NO_SPECS_FOUND', 'Can\'t run because no spec files were found')
-            this.expectExitWith(1)
-          })
-        })
-      })
-
       // TODO: fix
       it.skip(`with a custom config file fails when it doesn't exist`, function () {
         this.filename = 'abcdefgh.test.js'
diff --git a/packages/server/test/unit/util/args_spec.js b/packages/server/test/unit/util/args_spec.js
index 3c40da317083..97792bc87da9 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/unit/util/args_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/test/unit/util/args_spec.js
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ describe('lib/util/args', () => {
         // string properties
         project: true,
         appPath: '/foo/bar',
-        // this option can be string or false
-        configFile: false,
         // unknown properties will be preserved
         somethingElse: 42,
       }
@@ -77,7 +75,6 @@ describe('lib/util/args', () => {
 
       expect(output).to.deep.equal({
         appPath: '/foo/bar',
-        configFile: false,
         somethingElse: 42,
       })
     })
diff --git a/packages/server/test/unit/util/settings_spec.js b/packages/server/test/unit/util/settings_spec.js
index 592ed174453a..edfdfac9b4ad 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/unit/util/settings_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/test/unit/util/settings_spec.js
@@ -77,23 +77,6 @@ describe.skip('lib/util/settings', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  context('with configFile: false', () => {
-    beforeEach(function () {
-      this.projectRoot = path.join(projectRoot, '_test-output/path/to/project/')
-
-      this.options = {
-        configFile: false,
-      }
-    })
-
-    it('.read returns empty object', function () {
-      return settings.read(this.projectRoot, { configFile: false })
-      .then((settings) => {
-        expect(settings).to.deep.equal({})
-      })
-    })
-  })
-
   context('with js files', () => {
     it('.read returns from configFile when its a JavaScript file', function () {
       this.projectRoot = path.join(projectRoot, '_test-output/path/to/project/')
diff --git a/packages/types/src/modeOptions.ts b/packages/types/src/modeOptions.ts
index 27bc66d8a6f5..06c38f727f1e 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/modeOptions.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/modeOptions.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ export interface CommonModeOptions {
   invokedFromCli: boolean
   userNodePath?: string
   userNodeVersion?: string
-  configFile?: false | string | null
+  configFile?: string | null
 }
 
 export interface RunModeOptions extends CommonModeOptions {
diff --git a/packages/types/src/server.ts b/packages/types/src/server.ts
index 707b25a0b220..35fc59a94542 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/server.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export interface OpenProjectLaunchOptions {
    */
   skipPluginInitializeForTesting?: boolean
 
-  configFile?: string | false
+  configFile?: string
 
   // spec pattern to use when launching from CLI
   spec?: string