diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.h b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.h
index b9b76f63e6e385..4886ce60173c09 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.h
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.h
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ typedef NSString * (^RCTDevMenuItemTitleBlock)(void);
  */
 + (instancetype)buttonItemWithTitleBlock:(RCTDevMenuItemTitleBlock)titleBlock handler:(dispatch_block_t)handler;
 
+@property (nonatomic, assign, getter=isDisabled) BOOL disabled;
+
 @end
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.mm b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.mm
index 1a970a7d086952..035355a038eb49 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.mm
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevMenu.mm
@@ -265,18 +265,20 @@ - (void)setDefaultJSBundle
 #if RCT_ENABLE_INSPECTOR
     if (devSettings.isDeviceDebuggingAvailable) {
       // On-device JS debugging (CDP). Render action to open debugger frontend.
-      [items
-          addObject:
-              [RCTDevMenuItem
-                  buttonItemWithTitleBlock:^NSString * {
-                    return @"Open Debugger";
-                  }
-                  handler:^{
-                    [RCTInspectorDevServerHelper
-                            openDebugger:bundleManager.bundleURL
-                        withErrorMessage:
-                            @"Failed to open debugger. Please check that the dev server is running and reload the app."];
-                  }]];
+      BOOL isDisconnected = RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.isPackagerDisconnected;
+      NSString *title = isDisconnected
+          ? [NSString stringWithFormat:@"Connect to %@ to debug JavaScript", RCT_PACKAGER_NAME]
+          : @"Open Debugger";
+      RCTDevMenuItem *item = [RCTDevMenuItem
+          buttonItemWithTitle:title
+                      handler:^{
+                        [RCTInspectorDevServerHelper
+                                openDebugger:bundleManager.bundleURL
+                            withErrorMessage:
+                                @"Failed to open debugger. Please check that the dev server is running and reload the app."];
+                      }];
+      [item setDisabled:isDisconnected];
+      [items addObject:item];
     }
 #endif
   }
@@ -390,9 +392,11 @@ - (void)setDefaultJSBundle
 
   NSArray<RCTDevMenuItem *> *items = [self _menuItemsToPresent];
   for (RCTDevMenuItem *item in items) {
-    [_actionSheet addAction:[UIAlertAction actionWithTitle:item.title
+    UIAlertAction *action = [UIAlertAction actionWithTitle:item.title
                                                      style:UIAlertActionStyleDefault
-                                                   handler:[self alertActionHandlerForDevItem:item]]];
+                                                   handler:[self alertActionHandlerForDevItem:item]];
+    [action setEnabled:!item.isDisabled];
+    [_actionSheet addAction:action];
   }
 
   [_actionSheet addAction:[UIAlertAction actionWithTitle:@"Cancel"
diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.h b/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.h
index 0c4dbc15cf4b8f..1c7ba7bd87ecdb 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.h
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 + (id<RCTInspectorPackagerConnectionProtocol>)connectWithBundleURL:(NSURL *)bundleURL;
 + (void)disableDebugger;
++ (BOOL)isPackagerDisconnected;
 + (void)openDebugger:(NSURL *)bundleURL withErrorMessage:(NSString *)errorMessage;
 @end
 
diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.mm b/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.mm
index 662aa39eca56c7..293782881fd1f8 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.mm
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/DevSupport/RCTInspectorDevServerHelper.mm
@@ -118,6 +118,17 @@ static void sendEventToAllConnections(NSString *event)
   }
 }
 
++ (BOOL)isPackagerDisconnected
+{
+  for (NSString *socketId in socketConnections) {
+    if ([socketConnections[socketId] isConnected]) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
 + (void)openDebugger:(NSURL *)bundleURL withErrorMessage:(NSString *)errorMessage
 {
   NSString *appId = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] bundleIdentifier]