diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/editor_frame/editor_frame.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/editor_frame/editor_frame.test.tsx
index 7d41e326372e5..ad53002a1b0cb 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/editor_frame/editor_frame.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/editor_frame/editor_frame.test.tsx
@@ -5,20 +5,12 @@
  * 2.0.
  */
 
-import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
-import { ReactWrapper } from 'enzyme';
+import React from 'react';
 import { screen, within } from '@testing-library/react';
 import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
 
 import { EditorFrame, EditorFrameProps } from './editor_frame';
-import {
-  DatasourceMap,
-  DatasourcePublicAPI,
-  DatasourceSuggestion,
-  Visualization,
-  VisualizationMap,
-} from '../../types';
-import { act } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { DatasourceMap, DatasourcePublicAPI, Visualization, VisualizationMap } from '../../types';
 import { coreMock } from '@kbn/core/public/mocks';
 import {
   createMockVisualization,
@@ -29,30 +21,16 @@ import {
   renderWithReduxStore,
 } from '../../mocks';
 import { inspectorPluginMock } from '@kbn/inspector-plugin/public/mocks';
-import { Droppable, useDragDropContext } from '@kbn/dom-drag-drop';
 import { uiActionsPluginMock } from '@kbn/ui-actions-plugin/public/mocks';
 import { chartPluginMock } from '@kbn/charts-plugin/public/mocks';
 import { expressionsPluginMock } from '@kbn/expressions-plugin/public/mocks';
-import { mockDataPlugin, mountWithProvider } from '../../mocks';
+import { mockDataPlugin } from '../../mocks';
 import { LensAppState, setState } from '../../state_management';
 import { getLensInspectorService } from '../../lens_inspector_service';
 import { createIndexPatternServiceMock } from '../../mocks/data_views_service_mock';
 import { dataViewPluginMocks } from '@kbn/data-views-plugin/public/mocks';
 import { EventAnnotationServiceType } from '@kbn/event-annotation-plugin/public';
 
-function generateSuggestion(state = {}): DatasourceSuggestion {
-  return {
-    state,
-    table: {
-      columns: [],
-      isMultiRow: true,
-      layerId: 'first',
-      changeType: 'unchanged',
-    },
-    keptLayerIds: ['first'],
-  };
-}
-
 function wrapDataViewsContract() {
   const dataViewsContract = dataViewPluginMocks.createStartContract();
   return {
@@ -437,180 +415,5 @@ describe('editor_frame', () => {
         })
       );
     });
-    describe('legacy tests', () => {
-      let instance: ReactWrapper;
-
-      afterEach(() => {
-        instance.unmount();
-      });
-
-      it('should use the currently selected visualization if possible on field drop', async () => {
-        mockDatasource.getLayers.mockReturnValue(['first', 'second', 'third']);
-        const suggestionVisState = {};
-        const props = {
-          ...getDefaultProps(),
-          visualizationMap: {
-            testVis: {
-              ...mockVisualization,
-              getSuggestions: () => [
-                {
-                  score: 0.2,
-                  state: {},
-                  title: 'Suggestion1',
-                  previewIcon: 'empty',
-                },
-                {
-                  score: 0.6,
-                  state: suggestionVisState,
-                  title: 'Suggestion2',
-                  previewIcon: 'empty',
-                },
-              ],
-            },
-            testVis2: {
-              ...mockVisualization2,
-              getSuggestions: () => [
-                {
-                  score: 0.8,
-                  state: {},
-                  title: 'Suggestion3',
-                  previewIcon: 'empty',
-                },
-              ],
-            },
-          },
-          datasourceMap: {
-            testDatasource: {
-              ...mockDatasource,
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsForField: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsFromCurrentState: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsForVisualizeField: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              DataPanelComponent: jest.fn().mockImplementation(() => <div />),
-            },
-          },
-        } as EditorFrameProps;
-        instance = (
-          await mountWithProvider(<EditorFrame {...props} />, {
-            preloadedState: {
-              datasourceStates: {
-                testDatasource: {
-                  isLoading: false,
-                  state: {
-                    internalState1: '',
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-            },
-          })
-        ).instance;
-
-        instance.update();
-
-        act(() => {
-          instance.find('[data-test-subj="mockVisA"]').find(Droppable).prop('onDrop')!(
-            {
-              indexPatternId: '1',
-              field: {},
-              id: '1',
-              humanData: { label: 'draggedField' },
-            },
-            'field_add'
-          );
-        });
-
-        expect(mockVisualization.getConfiguration).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-          expect.objectContaining({
-            state: suggestionVisState,
-          })
-        );
-      });
-
-      it('should use the highest priority suggestion available', async () => {
-        mockDatasource.getLayers.mockReturnValue(['first', 'second', 'third']);
-        const suggestionVisState = {};
-        const mockVisualization3 = {
-          ...createMockVisualization('testVis3', ['third']),
-          getSuggestions: () => [
-            {
-              score: 0.9,
-              state: suggestionVisState,
-              title: 'Suggestion3',
-              previewIcon: 'empty',
-            },
-            {
-              score: 0.7,
-              state: {},
-              title: 'Suggestion4',
-              previewIcon: 'empty',
-            },
-          ],
-        };
-
-        const props = {
-          ...getDefaultProps(),
-          visualizationMap: {
-            testVis: {
-              ...mockVisualization,
-              // do not return suggestions for the currently active vis, otherwise it will be chosen
-              getSuggestions: () => [],
-            },
-            testVis2: {
-              ...mockVisualization2,
-              getSuggestions: () => [],
-            },
-            testVis3: {
-              ...mockVisualization3,
-            },
-          },
-          datasourceMap: {
-            testDatasource: {
-              ...mockDatasource,
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsForField: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsFromCurrentState: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              getDatasourceSuggestionsForVisualizeField: () => [generateSuggestion()],
-              DataPanelComponent: jest.fn().mockImplementation(() => {
-                const [, dndDispatch] = useDragDropContext();
-                useEffect(() => {
-                  dndDispatch({
-                    type: 'startDragging',
-                    payload: {
-                      dragging: {
-                        id: 'draggedField',
-                        humanData: { label: '1' },
-                      },
-                    },
-                  });
-                }, [dndDispatch]);
-                return <div />;
-              }),
-            },
-          },
-        } as EditorFrameProps;
-
-        instance = (await mountWithProvider(<EditorFrame {...props} />)).instance;
-
-        instance.update();
-
-        act(() => {
-          instance.find(Droppable).filter('[dataTestSubj="lnsWorkspace"]').prop('onDrop')!(
-            {
-              indexPatternId: '1',
-              field: {},
-              id: '1',
-              humanData: {
-                label: 'label',
-              },
-            },
-            'field_add'
-          );
-        });
-
-        expect(mockVisualization3.getConfiguration).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-          expect.objectContaining({
-            state: suggestionVisState,
-          })
-        );
-      });
-    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group1/smokescreen.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group1/smokescreen.ts
index dbe48cdd395da..5cb1e3583db6c 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group1/smokescreen.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group1/smokescreen.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { range } from 'lodash';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const find = getService('find');
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const config = getService('config');
 
   describe('lens smokescreen tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should allow creation of lens xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('Afancilenstest');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('Afancilenstest');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.waitForVisualization('xyVisChart');
 
       expect(await lens.getTitle()).to.eql('Afancilenstest');
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       // Change the IP field to filters
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_splitDimensionPanel > lns-dimensionTrigger',
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.assertLegacyMetric('Maximum of bytes', '19,986');
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       expect(await lens.getDatatableHeaderText()).to.eql('Maximum of bytes');
@@ -106,7 +108,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should transition from a multi-layer stacked bar to a multi-layer line chart and correctly remove all layers', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -150,7 +151,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should transition selected layer in a multi layer bar using layer chart switch', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.removeDimension('lnsXY_splitDimensionPanel');
       await lens.switchToVisualization('line');
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('bar');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -323,7 +323,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should transition from a multi-layer stacked bar to treemap chart using suggestions', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -367,7 +366,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       expect(await lens.hasChartSwitchWarning('pie')).to.eql(true);
       await lens.switchToVisualization('pie');
 
@@ -394,7 +393,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('line');
       expect(await lens.getTitle()).to.eql('lnsXYvis');
       expect(await lens.getDimensionTriggerText('lnsXY_xDimensionPanel')).to.eql('@timestamp');
@@ -410,7 +409,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsPieVis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsPieVis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       expect(await lens.hasChartSwitchWarning('treemap')).to.eql(false);
       await lens.switchToVisualization('treemap');
       expect(await lens.getDimensionTriggersTexts('lnsPie_groupByDimensionPanel')).to.eql([
@@ -425,7 +424,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should create a pie chart and switch to datatable', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('pie');
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsPie_sliceByDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -452,7 +451,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should create a heatmap chart and transition to barchart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('heatmap', 'heat');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -482,7 +481,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should create a valid XY chart with references', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -517,7 +515,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow formatting on references', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -563,7 +561,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should handle edge cases in reference-based operations', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -596,7 +593,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should keep the field selection while transitioning to every reference-based operation', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -633,7 +629,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should not leave an incomplete column in the visualization config with field-based operation', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -646,7 +641,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should revert to previous configuration and not leave an incomplete column in the visualization config with reference-based operations', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -682,7 +676,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should transition from unique count to last value', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -715,7 +708,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow filtering by legend on an xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -745,7 +737,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow filtering by legend on a pie chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('pie');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/field_formatters.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/field_formatters.ts
index 33c2c02e7b372..e7007c7e24604 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/field_formatters.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/field_formatters.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ import { FIELD_FORMAT_IDS } from '@kbn/field-formats-plugin/common';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, header } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'header']);
+  const { visualize, lens, header, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'header',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const fieldEditor = getService('fieldEditor');
   const dataViews = getService('dataViews');
@@ -20,7 +25,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       before(async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
+        await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
         await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       });
 
@@ -115,7 +120,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       before(async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       });
 
@@ -189,7 +193,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       before(async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/layer_actions.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/layer_actions.ts
index cc301c2dd57e5..dc3e669d18a26 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/layer_actions.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/layer_actions.ts
@@ -9,16 +9,18 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const find = getService('find');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const retry = getService('retry');
 
   describe('lens layer actions tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should allow creation of lens xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       // check that no sampling info is shown in the dataView picker
       expect(await testSubjects.exists('lnsChangeIndexPatternSamplingInfo')).to.be(false);
@@ -188,7 +190,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should show visualization modifiers for layer settings when embedded in a dashboard', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       // click on open layer settings
       await lens.openLayerContextMenu();
       await testSubjects.click('lnsLayerSettings');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/partition.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/partition.ts
index f828c65eab284..02f1c58f70d52 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/partition.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/partition.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
 
   describe('lens partition charts', () => {
     before(async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
 
     it('should be able to nest up to 3 levels for Pie charts', async () => {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/persistent_context.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/persistent_context.ts
index 0d34b0f68564d..cb3c2037f651d 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/persistent_context.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/persistent_context.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         ['global_discover_read', 'global_visualize_read', 'test_logstash_reader'],
         { skipBrowserRefresh: true }
       );
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
 
     after(async () => {
@@ -42,7 +43,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         before(async () => {
           await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
           await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-          await lens.goToTimeRange();
           await navigationalSearch.focus();
           await navigationalSearch.searchFor('type:lens lnsTableVis');
           await navigationalSearch.clickOnOption(0);
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
           await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsTableVis');
           await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsTableVis');
-          await lens.goToTimeRange();
           await navigationalSearch.focus();
           await navigationalSearch.searchFor('type:application lens');
           await navigationalSearch.clickOnOption(0);
@@ -109,7 +108,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
         await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsTableVis');
         await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsTableVis');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         // go to empty vis
         await lens.goToListingPageViaBreadcrumbs();
         await visualize.clickNewVisualization();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table.ts
index 7de5645b16b03..d1531cf231461 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table.ts
@@ -9,18 +9,20 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const find = getService('find');
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
 
   describe('lens datatable', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should able to sort a table by a column', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       // Sort by number
       await lens.changeTableSortingBy(2, 'ascending');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table_dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table_dashboard.ts
index a877211030972..77291fe347f52 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table_dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group2/table_dashboard.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { lens, visualize, dashboard } = getPageObjects(['lens', 'visualize', 'dashboard']);
+  const { lens, visualize, dashboard, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'lens',
+    'visualize',
+    'dashboard',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const retry = getService('retry');
 
@@ -35,11 +40,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   };
 
   describe('lens table on dashboard', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should sort a table by column in dashboard edit mode', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       await lens.save('New Table', true, false, false, 'new');
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/add_to_dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/add_to_dashboard.ts
index 9b5d46dd06170..11be375ba6066 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/add_to_dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/add_to_dashboard.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { dashboard, visualize, lens, timeToVisualize, common, header } = getPageObjects([
-    'dashboard',
-    'visualize',
-    'lens',
-    'timeToVisualize',
-    'common',
-    'header',
-  ]);
+  const { dashboard, visualize, lens, timeToVisualize, common, header, timePicker } =
+    getPageObjects([
+      'dashboard',
+      'visualize',
+      'lens',
+      'timeToVisualize',
+      'common',
+      'header',
+      'timePicker',
+    ]);
   const find = getService('find');
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const dashboardAddPanel = getService('dashboardAddPanel');
@@ -27,8 +29,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const createNewLens = async () => {
     await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
     await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-    await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
     await lens.configureDimension({
       dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
       operation: 'average',
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('lnsXYvis');
     await find.clickByButtonText('lnsXYvis');
     await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-    await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
     await dashboard.saveDashboard(dashboardName);
     await dashboard.gotoDashboardLandingPage();
     await listingTable.searchAndExpectItemsCount('dashboard', dashboardName, 1);
@@ -59,12 +57,14 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
     await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
     await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
-    await lens.goToTimeRange();
     await lens.waitForVisualization('legacyMtrVis');
     await lens.assertLegacyMetric('Maximum of bytes', '19,986');
   };
 
   describe('lens add-to-dashboards tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should allow new lens to be added by value to a new dashboard', async () => {
       await createNewLens();
       await lens.save('New Lens from Modal', false, false, false, 'new');
@@ -226,7 +226,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should add a Lens heatmap to the dashboard', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -281,8 +280,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
           it('should not display', async () => {
             await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
             await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-            await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
             await lens.configureDimension({
               dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
               operation: 'average',
@@ -330,7 +327,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
           it('should not display', async () => {
             await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
             await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-            await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
             await lens.configureDimension({
               dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/dashboard_inline_editing.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/dashboard_inline_editing.ts
index 312bddba10eac..bee26829d1b65 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/dashboard_inline_editing.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/dashboard_inline_editing.ts
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
 import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { dashboard, visualize, lens, timeToVisualize } = getPageObjects([
+  const { dashboard, visualize, lens, timeToVisualize, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
     'dashboard',
     'visualize',
     'lens',
     'timeToVisualize',
+    'timePicker',
   ]);
   const find = getService('find');
   const log = getService('log');
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const createNewLens = async () => {
     await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
     await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-    await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
     await lens.configureDimension({
       dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -39,11 +39,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
     await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
     await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-    await lens.goToTimeRange();
     await lens.waitForVisualization('xyVisChart');
   };
 
   describe('lens inline editing tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should allow inline editing of a by value visualization', async () => {
       await createNewLens();
       await lens.save('New Lens from Modal', false, false, false, 'new');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/epoch_millis.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/epoch_millis.ts
index 30f3ffddfcff1..4be779b818286 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/epoch_millis.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/epoch_millis.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const esArchiver = getService('esArchiver');
   const kibanaServer = getService('kibanaServer');
 
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
         'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/lens/epoch_millis.json'
       );
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
 
     after(async () => {
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await lens.switchDataPanelIndexPattern('epoch-millis*');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       const fieldList = await lens.findAllFields();
       expect(fieldList).to.contain('@timestamp');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/runtime_fields.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/runtime_fields.ts
index e04a00a64c81a..bc742cf8686e7 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/runtime_fields.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/runtime_fields.ts
@@ -9,17 +9,24 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, header } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'header']);
+  const { visualize, lens, header, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'header',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
   const fieldEditor = getService('fieldEditor');
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const dataViews = getService('dataViews');
 
   describe('lens runtime fields', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should be able to add runtime field and use it', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       await retry.try(async () => {
         await dataViews.clickAddFieldFromSearchBar();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/terms.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/terms.ts
index 86c43a7549e0e..17db9a2d56252 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/terms.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group3/terms.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ import moment from 'moment';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'common']);
+  const { visualize, lens, common, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'common',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const comboBox = getService('comboBox');
@@ -21,12 +26,14 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const log = getService('log');
 
   describe('lens terms', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     describe('lens multi terms suite', () => {
       it('should allow creation of lens xy chart with multi terms categories', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
         await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
         await lens.configureDimension({
           dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -164,7 +171,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
           await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
           await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-          await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
           await lens.configureDimension({
             dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -282,7 +288,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
         await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await lens.switchDataPanelIndexPattern(esIndexPrefix);
 
         await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/chart_data.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/chart_data.ts
index 512f820e7ed75..a9f2e7e776bbd 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/chart_data.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/chart_data.ts
@@ -11,15 +11,15 @@ import { range } from 'lodash';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
 
   describe('lens chart data', () => {
     before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/color_mapping.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/color_mapping.ts
index 932c628a09afa..d22f505410939 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/color_mapping.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/color_mapping.ts
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ import {
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
 
   describe('lens color mapping', () => {
     before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/colors.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/colors.ts
index 96e1866250da2..7dc06bbd6cb85 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/colors.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/colors.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ import { ElasticBrandPalette } from '@kbn/coloring';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
 
   describe('lens color palette tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should allow to pick legacy color palette in xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -41,7 +43,6 @@ export default function ({ getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow to pick color mapping palette in xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/dashboard.ts
index 563023a6d2ee0..d2a180179fdc7 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/dashboard.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         ],
         { skipBrowserRefresh: true }
       );
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
     after(async () => {
       await security.testUser.restoreDefaults();
@@ -61,7 +62,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
       await find.clickByButtonText('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.assertLegacyMetric('Maximum of bytes', '19,986');
     });
 
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('lnsXYvis');
       await find.clickByButtonText('lnsXYvis');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await retry.try(async () => {
         await clickInChart(30, 5); // hardcoded position of bar, depends heavy on data and charts implementation
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('applyFiltersPopoverButton', { timeout: 2500 });
@@ -98,7 +97,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('lnsXYvis');
       await find.clickByButtonText('lnsXYvis');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await retry.try(async () => {
         // show the tooltip actions
         await rightClickInChart(30, 5); // hardcoded position of bar, depends heavy on data and charts implementation
@@ -122,7 +120,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('lnsXYvis');
       await find.clickByButtonText('lnsXYvis');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await dashboard.saveDashboard('lnsDrilldown');
 
       await panelActions.expectMissingPanelAction(
@@ -139,7 +136,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await find.clickByButtonText('lnsPieVis');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
 
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await clickInChart(5, 5); // hardcoded position of the slice, depends heavy on data and charts implementation
 
       await lens.assertExactText(
@@ -189,7 +185,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboard.clickNewDashboard();
       await dashboardAddPanel.clickCreateNewLink();
       await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
         operation: 'date_histogram',
@@ -251,7 +246,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
       await dashboardAddPanel.clickCreateNewLink();
       await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -282,7 +276,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await dashboardAddPanel.filterEmbeddableNames('lnsXYvis');
       await find.clickByButtonText('lnsXYvis');
       await dashboardAddPanel.closeAddPanel();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       // type an invalid search query, hit refresh
       await queryBar.setQuery('this is > not valid');
       await queryBar.submitQuery();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/share.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/share.ts
index 4d01b3cf65c91..5972a77f3195d 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/share.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/share.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const browser = getService('browser');
   const filterBarService = getService('filterBar');
   const queryBar = getService('queryBar');
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   describe('lens share tests', () => {
     before(async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
 
     afterEach(async () => {
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should disable the share button if no request is made', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       expect(await lens.isShareable()).to.eql(false);
     });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data.ts
index 5caf47a41847d..843caca698b80 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,16 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common, header, discover, unifiedFieldList } = getPageObjects([
-    'visualize',
-    'lens',
-    'common',
-    'header',
-    'discover',
-    'unifiedFieldList',
-  ]);
+  const { visualize, lens, common, header, discover, unifiedFieldList, timePicker } =
+    getPageObjects([
+      'visualize',
+      'lens',
+      'common',
+      'header',
+      'discover',
+      'unifiedFieldList',
+      'timePicker',
+    ]);
   const queryBar = getService('queryBar');
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
@@ -24,11 +26,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const browser = getService('browser');
 
   describe('show underlying data', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should show the open button for a compatible saved visualization', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.waitForVisualization('xyVisChart');
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data_dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data_dashboard.ts
index de563366af3fb..99e7020d6ce18 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data_dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/show_underlying_data_dashboard.ts
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 const OPEN_IN_DISCOVER_DATA_TEST_SUBJ = 'embeddablePanelAction-ACTION_OPEN_IN_DISCOVER';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, dashboard, header, discover, common } = getPageObjects([
+  const { visualize, lens, dashboard, header, discover, common, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
     'visualize',
     'lens',
     'dashboard',
     'header',
     'discover',
     'common',
+    'timePicker',
   ]);
 
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
@@ -30,11 +31,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const retry = getService('retry');
 
   describe('lens show underlying data from dashboard', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should show the open button for a compatible saved visualization', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.save('Embedded Visualization', true, false, false, 'new');
 
       await dashboard.saveDashboard(`Open in Discover Testing ${uuidv4()}`, {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/time_shift.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/time_shift.ts
index 9cbe84f033ff2..9de55809ea906 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/time_shift.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group4/time_shift.ts
@@ -9,13 +9,15 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
 
   describe('time shift', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should able to configure a shifted metric', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsDatatable_rows > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/drag_and_drop.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/drag_and_drop.ts
index 144c9f0b8995f..0b20775870693 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/drag_and_drop.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/drag_and_drop.ts
@@ -9,21 +9,38 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, header } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'header']);
+  const { visualize, lens, header, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'header',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
 
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const xyChartContainer = 'xyVisChart';
 
   describe('lens drag and drop tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     describe('basic drag and drop', () => {
-      it('should construct the basic split xy chart', async () => {
+      it('should construct a bar chart when dropping a field to create top values chart', async () => {
+        await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
+        await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
+        await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
+        await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('machine.os.raw', xyChartContainer);
+        expect(await lens.getDimensionTriggerText('lnsXY_xDimensionPanel')).to.eql(
+          'Top 5 values of machine.os.raw'
+        );
+        expect(await lens.getChartTypeFromChartSwitcher()).to.eql('Bar');
+      });
+      it('should construct a line chart when dropping a time field to create a date histogram chart', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
         await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('@timestamp', xyChartContainer);
-
         expect(await lens.getDimensionTriggerText('lnsXY_xDimensionPanel')).to.eql('@timestamp');
+        expect(await lens.getChartTypeFromChartSwitcher()).to.eql('Line');
       });
 
       it('should allow dropping fields to existing and empty dimension triggers', async () => {
@@ -224,7 +241,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       it('should drop a field to workspace', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
         await lens.dragFieldWithKeyboard('@timestamp');
         expect(await lens.getDimensionTriggerText('lnsXY_xDimensionPanel')).to.eql('@timestamp');
@@ -300,7 +316,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       it('should always nest time dimension in categorical dimension', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
         await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('@timestamp', xyChartContainer);
         await lens.waitForVisualization(xyChartContainer);
@@ -330,7 +345,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
         await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
         await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
         await lens.createLayer('data');
 
@@ -410,7 +424,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
         await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
         await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
         await lens.createLayer('data');
         await lens.dragFieldToDimensionTrigger(
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/formula.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/formula.ts
index 95404faf5a99d..0ad2d3a6c5854 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/formula.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/formula.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'common']);
+  const { visualize, lens, common, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'common',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const find = getService('find');
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const browser = getService('browser');
@@ -19,11 +24,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const dataViews = getService('dataViews');
 
   describe('lens formula', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should transition from count to formula', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('lnsXYvis');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('lnsXYvis');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-dimensionTrigger',
@@ -43,7 +50,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should update and delete a formula', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -64,7 +71,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should insert single quotes and escape when needed to create valid KQL', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -96,7 +103,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should insert single quotes and escape when needed to create valid field name', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
       await dataViews.clickAddFieldFromSearchBar();
       await fieldEditor.setName(`ab' "'`, true, true);
@@ -127,7 +134,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should persist a broken formula on close', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       // Close immediately
@@ -145,7 +152,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should keep the formula when entering expanded mode', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow an empty formula combined with a valid formula', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -184,7 +191,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should duplicate a moving average formula and be a valid table with conditional coloring', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -219,7 +226,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should keep the formula if the user does not fully transition to a quick function', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -240,7 +247,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should keep the formula if the user does not fully transition to a static value', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_yDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
@@ -269,7 +275,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow numeric only formulas', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
@@ -289,7 +295,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should apply a global filter to the current formula', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsDatatable');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/heatmap.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/heatmap.ts
index 7597b0448433d..dfd5bfe2242c5 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/heatmap.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/heatmap.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'common']);
+  const { visualize, lens, common, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'common',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const retry = getService('retry');
@@ -19,7 +24,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/tagcloud.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/tagcloud.ts
index dd718a476a489..f6b5f0531e5a9 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/tagcloud.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/tagcloud.ts
@@ -9,21 +9,23 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, header, tagCloud } = getPageObjects([
+  const { visualize, lens, header, tagCloud, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
     'visualize',
     'lens',
     'header',
     'tagCloud',
+    'timePicker',
   ]);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
 
   describe('lens tagcloud', () => {
     before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsTagcloud', 'Tag cloud');
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/annotations.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/annotations.ts
index 7556440eeb3bb..694093fc9d39e 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/annotations.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/annotations.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common, tagManagement } = getPageObjects([
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker, tagManagement } = getPageObjects([
     'visualize',
     'lens',
-    'common',
+    'timePicker',
     'tagManagement',
   ]);
   const find = getService('find');
@@ -20,15 +20,13 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const toastsService = getService('toasts');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
-  const from = 'Sep 19, 2015 @ 06:31:44.000';
-  const to = 'Sep 23, 2015 @ 18:31:44.000';
 
   describe('lens annotations tests', () => {
     before(async () => {
-      await common.setTime({ from, to });
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
     after(async () => {
-      await common.unsetTime();
+      await timePicker.resetDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
     });
 
     it('should show a disabled annotation layer button if there is no date histogram in data layer', async () => {
@@ -46,7 +44,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
     it('should add manual annotation layer with static date and allow edition', async () => {
       await lens.removeLayer();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('@timestamp', 'xyVisChart');
 
       await lens.createLayer('annotations');
@@ -117,8 +114,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       it('should save annotation group to library', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('@timestamp', 'xyVisChart');
 
         await lens.createLayer('annotations');
@@ -166,8 +161,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       it('should add annotation group from library', async () => {
         await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
         await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-
-        await lens.goToTimeRange();
         await lens.dragFieldToWorkspace('@timestamp', 'xyVisChart');
 
         await lens.createLayer('annotations', ANNOTATION_GROUP_TITLE);
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/disable_auto_apply.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/disable_auto_apply.ts
index 8cccfd759450d..376340f204a25 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/disable_auto_apply.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/disable_auto_apply.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,15 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { lens, visualize } = getPageObjects(['lens', 'visualize']);
+  const { lens, visualize, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['lens', 'visualize', 'timePicker']);
   const browser = getService('browser');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const retry = getService('retry');
 
   describe('lens disable auto-apply tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should persist auto-apply setting across page refresh', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
@@ -47,8 +50,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     });
 
     it('should preserve apply-changes button with full-screen datasource', async () => {
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
       await lens.disableAutoApply();
       await lens.closeSettingsMenu();
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/inspector.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/inspector.ts
index 56d8fd3cdd7b1..3f2715f4f4d05 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/inspector.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/inspector.ts
@@ -8,17 +8,17 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import type { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const elasticChart = getService('elasticChart');
   const inspector = getService('inspector');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
 
   describe('lens inspector', () => {
     before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await elasticChart.setNewChartUiDebugFlag(true);
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/legacy_metric.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/legacy_metric.ts
index 9b404e7f8e531..1a6f7b61b19e1 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/legacy_metric.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/legacy_metric.ts
@@ -9,18 +9,25 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, header } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'header']);
+  const { visualize, lens, header, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'header',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const listingTable = getService('listingTable');
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
 
   describe('lens legacy metric', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should render a numeric metric', async () => {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('Artistpreviouslyknownaslens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.assertLegacyMetric('Maximum of bytes', '19,986');
     });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_reporting.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_reporting.ts
index 4b2a182df741a..7ed7569644e7c 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_reporting.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_reporting.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
           await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
           await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-          await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
           await lens.configureDimension({
             dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_tagging.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_tagging.ts
index 56f97c8751d77..37657b38e6f1b 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_tagging.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/lens_tagging.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('adds a new tag to a Lens visualization', async () => {
       // create lens
       await dashboardAddPanel.clickCreateNewLink();
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
         operation: 'date_histogram',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/metric.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/metric.ts
index fcf8cd6f7e557..6e914649d4f0b 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/metric.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/metric.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens, common } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'common']);
+  const { visualize, lens, common, timePicker } = getPageObjects([
+    'visualize',
+    'lens',
+    'common',
+    'timePicker',
+  ]);
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
   const retry = getService('retry');
@@ -73,10 +78,12 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   };
 
   describe('lens metric', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should render a metric', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsMetric', 'Metric');
 
@@ -349,7 +356,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('does carry custom formatting when transitioning from other visualization', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsLegacyMetric');
       // await lens.clickLegacyMetric();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/reference_lines.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/reference_lines.ts
index 245162b5e4742..309d4d005aeec 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/reference_lines.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/reference_lines.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,15 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const find = getService('find');
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
 
   describe('lens reference lines tests', () => {
+    before(async () => {
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
+    });
     it('should show a disabled reference layer button if no data dimension is defined', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
@@ -29,8 +32,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     });
 
     it('should add a reference layer with a static value in it', async () => {
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
         operation: 'date_histogram',
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/rollup.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/rollup.ts
index c1d3c343350d7..923edcfb54eaa 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/rollup.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/rollup.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow creation of lens xy chart', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
-
       await lens.configureDimension({
         dimension: 'lnsXY_xDimensionPanel > lns-empty-dimension',
         operation: 'date_histogram',
@@ -62,7 +60,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await visualize.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
       await listingTable.searchForItemWithName('Afancilenstest');
       await lens.clickVisualizeListItemTitle('Afancilenstest');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
 
       expect(await lens.getTitle()).to.eql('Afancilenstest');
 
@@ -82,7 +79,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     it('should allow to switch from regular index to rollup index retaining config', async () => {
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
       await lens.switchDataPanelIndexPattern('lens_regular_data');
       await lens.switchToVisualization('lnsLegacyMetric');
       await lens.configureDimension({
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/workspace_size.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/workspace_size.ts
index 0ba44a5249c6e..d9b054ffbe5df 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/workspace_size.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group6/workspace_size.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../../ftr_provider_context';
 
 export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
-  const { visualize, lens } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens']);
+  const { visualize, lens, timePicker } = getPageObjects(['visualize', 'lens', 'timePicker']);
   const browser = getService('browser');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const retry = getService('retry');
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
       await visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
       await visualize.clickVisType('lens');
-      await lens.goToTimeRange();
+      await timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       // Detect here if the Chrome bug is present, and adjust the aspect ratio accordingly if not
       if (!within(width, DEFAULT_WINDOW_SIZE[0]) || !within(height, DEFAULT_WINDOW_SIZE[1])) {
         const { width: containerWidth, height: containerHeight } =
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/page_objects/lens_page.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/page_objects/lens_page.ts
index 310f52f7e651b..f4db890b26952 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/page_objects/lens_page.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/page_objects/lens_page.ts
@@ -915,6 +915,10 @@ export function LensPageProvider({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderCont
         }
       });
     },
+    async getChartTypeFromChartSwitcher() {
+      const chartSwitcher = await testSubjects.find('lnsChartSwitchPopover');
+      return await chartSwitcher.getVisibleText();
+    },
 
     async openChartSwitchPopover(layerIndex = 0) {
       if (await testSubjects.exists('lnsChartSwitchList', { timeout: 50 })) {