diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d1fa54a24e354..e2ef2d504d6f1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 <!-- ## not yet released 
 
 - [plugin] Avoid pollution of all toolbars by actions contributed by tree views in extensions [#13768](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/13768) - contributed on behalf of STMicroelectronics
+- [plugin] support TestRunRequest preserveFocus API [#13839](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/13839) - contributed on behalf of STMicroelectronics 
 
 <a name="breaking_changes_not_yet_released">[Breaking Changes:](#breaking_changes_not_yet_released)</a> 
 
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/plugin-api-rpc.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/plugin-api-rpc.ts
index e9fdea0194be9..83da0b1d101c1 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/plugin-api-rpc.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/plugin-api-rpc.ts
@@ -2265,7 +2265,7 @@ export interface TestingMain {
 
     // Test runs
 
-    $notifyTestRunCreated(controllerId: string, run: TestRunDTO): void;
+    $notifyTestRunCreated(controllerId: string, run: TestRunDTO, preserveFocus: boolean): void;
     $notifyTestStateChanged(controllerId: string, runId: string, stateChanges: TestStateChangeDTO[], outputChanges: TestOutputDTO[]): void;
     $notifyTestRunEnded(controllerId: string, runId: string): void;
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/test-types.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/test-types.ts
index f73d099266e5d..af87290c87672 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/test-types.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/common/test-types.ts
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ export interface TestRunRequestDTO {
     name: string;
     includedTests: string[][]; // array of paths
     excludedTests: string[][]; // array of paths
+    preserveFocus: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface TestItemReference {
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/test-main.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/test-main.ts
index c3b29024c7fcc..cd50fd4813ddf 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/test-main.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/test-main.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { SimpleObservableCollection, TreeCollection, observableProperty } from '
 import {
     TestController, TestItem, TestOutputItem, TestRun, TestRunProfile, TestService, TestState, TestStateChangedEvent
 } from '@theia/test/lib/browser/test-service';
+import { TestExecutionProgressService } from '@theia/test/lib/browser/test-execution-progress-service';
 import { AccumulatingTreeDeltaEmitter, CollectionDelta, DeltaKind, TreeDelta, TreeDeltaBuilder } from '@theia/test/lib/common/tree-delta';
 import { Emitter, Location, Range } from '@theia/core/shared/vscode-languageserver-protocol';
 import { Range as PluginRange, Location as PluginLocation } from '../../common/plugin-api-rpc-model';
@@ -245,13 +246,14 @@ class TestRunProfileImpl implements TestRunProfile {
         this.proxy.$onConfigureRunProfile(this.controllerId, this.id);
     }
 
-    run(name: string, included: TestItem[], excluded: TestItem[]): void {
+    run(name: string, included: TestItem[], excluded: TestItem[], preserveFocus: boolean): void {
         this.proxy.$onRunControllerTests([{
             controllerId: this.controllerId,
             name,
             profileId: this.id,
             includedTests: included.map(item => itemToPath(item)),
-            excludedTests: excluded.map(item => itemToPath(item))
+            excludedTests: excluded.map(item => itemToPath(item)),
+            preserveFocus
         }]);
     }
 }
@@ -551,12 +553,14 @@ class TestControllerImpl implements TestController {
 
 export class TestingMainImpl implements TestingMain {
     private testService: TestService;
+    private testExecutionProgressService: TestExecutionProgressService;
     private controllerRegistrations = new Map<string, [TestControllerImpl, Disposable]>();
     private proxy: TestingExt;
     canRefresh: boolean;
 
     constructor(rpc: RPCProtocol, container: interfaces.Container, commandRegistry: CommandRegistryMainImpl) {
         this.testService = container.get(TestService);
+        this.testExecutionProgressService = container.get(TestExecutionProgressService);
         this.proxy = rpc.getProxy(MAIN_RPC_CONTEXT.TESTING_EXT);
         commandRegistry.registerArgumentProcessor({
             // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
@@ -614,7 +618,8 @@ export class TestingMainImpl implements TestingMain {
     $removeTestRunProfile(controllerId: string, profileId: string): void {
         this.withController(controllerId).removeProfile(profileId);
     }
-    $notifyTestRunCreated(controllerId: string, run: TestRunDTO): void {
+    $notifyTestRunCreated(controllerId: string, run: TestRunDTO, preserveFocus: boolean): void {
+        this.testExecutionProgressService.onTestRunRequested(preserveFocus);
         this.withController(controllerId).addRun(run.id, run.name, run.isRunning);
     }
     $notifyTestStateChanged(controllerId: string, runId: string, stateChanges: TestStateChangeDTO[], outputChanges: TestOutputDTO[]): void {
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/tests.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/tests.ts
index d39d6f68ab5d6..7390fc82bdb35 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/tests.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/tests.ts
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export class TestControllerImpl implements theia.TestController {
     }
 
     createTestRun(request: theia.TestRunRequest, name?: string, persist: boolean = true): theia.TestRun {
-        return this.testRunStarted(request, name || '', persist, true);
+       return this.testRunStarted(request, name || '', persist, true);
     }
 
     dispose() {
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ export class TestControllerImpl implements theia.TestController {
             return existing;
         }
 
-        const run = new TestRun(this, this.proxy, name, persist, isRunning);
+        const run = new TestRun(this, this.proxy, name, persist, isRunning, request.preserveFocus);
         const endListener = run.onWillFlush(() => {
             // make sure we notify the front end of test item changes before test run state is sent
             this.deltaBuilder.flush();
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ export class TestControllerImpl implements theia.TestController {
         return run;
     }
 
-    runTestsForUI(profileId: string, name: string, includedTests: string[][], excludedTests: string[][]): void {
+    runTestsForUI(profileId: string, name: string, includedTests: string[][], excludedTests: string[][], preserveFocus: boolean): void {
         const profile = this.getProfile(profileId);
         if (!profile) {
             console.error(`No test run profile found for controller ${this.id} with id ${profileId} `);
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ export class TestControllerImpl implements theia.TestController {
             .filter(isDefined);
 
         const request = new TestRunRequest(
-            includeTests, excludeTests, profile, false // don't support continuous run yet
+            includeTests, excludeTests, profile, false /* don't support continuous run yet */, preserveFocus
         );
 
         const run = this.testRunStarted(request, name, false, false);
@@ -258,13 +258,14 @@ class TestRun implements theia.TestRun {
         private readonly proxy: TestingMain,
         readonly name: string,
         readonly isPersisted: boolean,
-        isRunning: boolean) {
+        isRunning: boolean,
+        preserveFocus: boolean) {
         this.id = generateUuid();
 
         this.tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
         this.token = this.tokenSource.token;
 
-        this.proxy.$notifyTestRunCreated(this.controller.id, { id: this.id, name: this.name, isRunning });
+        this.proxy.$notifyTestRunCreated(this.controller.id, { id: this.id, name: this.name, isRunning }, preserveFocus);
     }
     enqueued(test: theia.TestItem): void {
         this.updateTestState(test, { itemPath: checkTestInstance(test).path, state: TestExecutionState.Queued });
@@ -444,7 +445,7 @@ export class TestingExtImpl implements TestingExt {
     }
 
     runTestsForUI(req: TestRunRequestDTO): void {
-        this.withController(req.controllerId).runTestsForUI(req.profileId, req.name, req.includedTests, req.excludedTests);
+        this.withController(req.controllerId).runTestsForUI(req.profileId, req.name, req.includedTests, req.excludedTests, req.preserveFocus);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/types-impl.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/types-impl.ts
index 4209dd20d62d8..0021189f3b8c3 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/types-impl.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/plugin/types-impl.ts
@@ -3329,6 +3329,7 @@ export class TestRunRequest implements theia.TestRunRequest {
         public readonly exclude: theia.TestItem[] | undefined = undefined,
         public readonly profile: theia.TestRunProfile | undefined = undefined,
         public readonly continuous: boolean | undefined = undefined,
+        public readonly preserveFocus: boolean = true
     ) { }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/plugin/src/theia.d.ts b/packages/plugin/src/theia.d.ts
index 07913feef680d..6708e54052b35 100644
--- a/packages/plugin/src/theia.d.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin/src/theia.d.ts
@@ -16253,13 +16253,22 @@ export module '@theia/plugin' {
          */
         readonly continuous?: boolean;
 
+        /**
+         * Controls how test Test Results view is focused.  If true, the editor
+         * will keep the maintain the user's focus. If false, the editor will
+         * prefer to move focus into the Test Results view, although
+         * this may be configured by users.
+         */
+        readonly preserveFocus: boolean;
+
         /**
          * @param include Array of specific tests to run, or undefined to run all tests
          * @param exclude An array of tests to exclude from the run.
          * @param profile The run profile used for this request.
          * @param continuous Whether to run tests continuously as source changes.
+         * @param preserveFocus Whether to preserve the user's focus when the run is started
          */
-        constructor(include?: readonly TestItem[], exclude?: readonly TestItem[], profile?: TestRunProfile, continuous?: boolean);
+        constructor(include?: readonly TestItem[], exclude?: readonly TestItem[], profile?: TestRunProfile, continuous?: boolean, preserveFocus?: boolean);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/packages/preferences/src/browser/util/preference-tree-generator.ts b/packages/preferences/src/browser/util/preference-tree-generator.ts
index e8e1bb6d09c09..1c6e8b392767f 100644
--- a/packages/preferences/src/browser/util/preference-tree-generator.ts
+++ b/packages/preferences/src/browser/util/preference-tree-generator.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ export class PreferenceTreeGenerator {
         ['search', 'features'],
         ['task', 'features'],
         ['terminal', 'features'],
+        ['testing', 'features'],
         ['toolbar', 'features'],
         ['webview', 'features'],
         ['workspace', 'application'],
diff --git a/packages/test/src/browser/test-execution-progress-service.ts b/packages/test/src/browser/test-execution-progress-service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c0e85aa698981
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/test/src/browser/test-execution-progress-service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// *****************************************************************************
+// Copyright (C) 2024 STMicroelectronics and others.
+//
+// This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+// terms of the Eclipse Public License v. 2.0 which is available at
+// http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0.
+//
+// This Source Code may also be made available under the following Secondary
+// Licenses when the conditions for such availability set forth in the Eclipse
+// Public License v. 2.0 are satisfied: GNU General Public License, version 2
+// with the GNU Classpath Exception which is available at
+// https://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/license.html.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: EPL-2.0 OR GPL-2.0-only WITH Classpath-exception-2.0
+// *****************************************************************************
+
+import { inject, injectable } from '@theia/core/shared/inversify';
+import { Widget } from '@theia/core/lib/browser';
+import { TestResultViewContribution } from './view/test-result-view-contribution';
+import { TestViewContribution } from './view/test-view-contribution';
+import { TestPreferences } from './test-preferences';
+
+export interface TestExecutionProgressService {
+    onTestRunRequested(preserveFocus: boolean): Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export const TestExecutionProgressService = Symbol('TestExecutionProgressService');
+
+@injectable()
+export class DefaultTestExecutionProgressService implements TestExecutionProgressService {
+
+    @inject(TestResultViewContribution)
+    protected readonly testResultView: TestResultViewContribution;
+
+    @inject(TestViewContribution)
+    protected readonly testView: TestViewContribution;
+
+    @inject(TestPreferences)
+    protected readonly testPreferences: TestPreferences;
+
+    async onTestRunRequested(preserveFocus: boolean): Promise<void> {
+        if (!preserveFocus) {
+            const openTesting = this.testPreferences['testing.openTesting'];
+            if (openTesting === 'openOnTestStart') {
+                this.openTestResultView();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    async openTestResultView(): Promise<Widget> {
+        return this.testResultView.openView({ activate: true });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/packages/test/src/browser/test-preferences.ts b/packages/test/src/browser/test-preferences.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ad5677d6290e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/test/src/browser/test-preferences.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// *****************************************************************************
+// Copyright (C) 2024 STMicroelectronics and others.
+//
+// This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+// terms of the Eclipse Public License v. 2.0 which is available at
+// http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0.
+//
+// This Source Code may also be made available under the following Secondary
+// Licenses when the conditions for such availability set forth in the Eclipse
+// Public License v. 2.0 are satisfied: GNU General Public License, version 2
+// with the GNU Classpath Exception which is available at
+// https://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/license.html.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: EPL-2.0 OR GPL-2.0-only WITH Classpath-exception-2.0
+// *****************************************************************************
+
+import { interfaces } from '@theia/core/shared/inversify';
+import { createPreferenceProxy, PreferenceProxy, PreferenceService, PreferenceContribution, PreferenceSchema } from '@theia/core/lib/browser';
+import { nls } from '@theia/core/lib/common/nls';
+
+export const TestConfigSchema: PreferenceSchema = {
+    type: 'object',
+    properties: {
+        'testing.openTesting': {
+            type: 'string',
+            enum: ['neverOpen', 'openOnTestStart'],
+            enumDescriptions: [
+                nls.localizeByDefault('Never automatically open the testing views'),
+                nls.localizeByDefault('Open the test results view when tests start'),
+            ],
+            description: nls.localizeByDefault('Controls when the testing view should open.'),
+            default: 'neverOpen',
+            scope: 'resource',
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+export interface TestConfiguration {
+    'testing.openTesting': 'neverOpen' | 'openOnTestStart';
+}
+
+export const TestPreferenceContribution = Symbol('TestPreferenceContribution');
+export const TestPreferences = Symbol('TestPreferences');
+export type TestPreferences = PreferenceProxy<TestConfiguration>;
+
+export function createTestPreferences(preferences: PreferenceService, schema: PreferenceSchema = TestConfigSchema): TestPreferences {
+    return createPreferenceProxy(preferences, schema);
+}
+
+export const bindTestPreferences = (bind: interfaces.Bind): void => {
+    bind(TestPreferences).toDynamicValue(ctx => {
+        const preferences = ctx.container.get<PreferenceService>(PreferenceService);
+        const contribution = ctx.container.get<PreferenceContribution>(TestPreferenceContribution);
+        return createTestPreferences(preferences, contribution.schema);
+    }).inSingletonScope();
+    bind(TestPreferenceContribution).toConstantValue({ schema: TestConfigSchema });
+    bind(PreferenceContribution).toService(TestPreferenceContribution);
+};
diff --git a/packages/test/src/browser/test-service.ts b/packages/test/src/browser/test-service.ts
index 8ed0698de4f95..130e0c7623754 100644
--- a/packages/test/src/browser/test-service.ts
+++ b/packages/test/src/browser/test-service.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export interface TestRunProfile {
     isDefault: boolean;
     readonly canConfigure: boolean;
     readonly tag: string;
-    run(name: string, included: readonly TestItem[], excluded: readonly TestItem[]): void;
+    run(name: string, included: readonly TestItem[], excluded: readonly TestItem[], preserveFocus: boolean): void;
     configure(): void;
 }
 
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ export class DefaultTestService implements TestService {
             }
         }
         if (activeProfile) {
-            activeProfile.run(`Test run #${this.testRunCounter++}`, items, []);
+            activeProfile.run(`Test run #${this.testRunCounter++}`, items, [], true);
         }
     }
 
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ export class DefaultTestService implements TestService {
             if (controller) {
                 this.pickProfile(controller.testRunProfiles, nls.localizeByDefault('Pick a test profile to use')).then(activeProfile => {
                     if (activeProfile) {
-                        activeProfile.run(`Test run #${this.testRunCounter++}`, items, []);
+                        activeProfile.run(`Test run #${this.testRunCounter++}`, items, [], true);
                     }
                 });
             }
diff --git a/packages/test/src/browser/view/test-view-frontend-module.ts b/packages/test/src/browser/view/test-view-frontend-module.ts
index 5ba3d8b860731..f011f676b5d9f 100644
--- a/packages/test/src/browser/view/test-view-frontend-module.ts
+++ b/packages/test/src/browser/view/test-view-frontend-module.ts
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ import { TestRunTree, TestRunTreeWidget } from './test-run-widget';
 import { TestResultViewContribution } from './test-result-view-contribution';
 import { TEST_RUNS_CONTEXT_MENU, TestRunViewContribution } from './test-run-view-contribution';
 import { TestContextKeyService } from './test-context-key-service';
+import { DefaultTestExecutionProgressService, TestExecutionProgressService } from '../test-execution-progress-service';
+import { bindTestPreferences } from '../test-preferences';
 
 export default new ContainerModule(bind => {
-
+    bindTestPreferences(bind);
     bindContributionProvider(bind, TestContribution);
     bind(TestContextKeyService).toSelf().inSingletonScope();
     bind(TestService).to(DefaultTestService).inSingletonScope();
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ export default new ContainerModule(bind => {
     bind(TabBarToolbarContribution).toService(TestRunViewContribution);
     bind(TestExecutionStateManager).toSelf().inSingletonScope();
     bind(TestOutputUIModel).toSelf().inSingletonScope();
-
+    bind(TestExecutionProgressService).to(DefaultTestExecutionProgressService).inSingletonScope();
 });
 
 export function createTestTreeContainer(parent: interfaces.Container): Container {