diff --git a/core/api/test-current.txt b/core/api/test-current.txt
index b37c9387ede31..f48c717fd1b45 100644
--- a/core/api/test-current.txt
+++ b/core/api/test-current.txt
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ package android {
   public static final class R.bool {
     field public static final int config_assistantOnTopOfDream = 17891333; // 0x1110005
     field public static final int config_perDisplayFocusEnabled = 17891332; // 0x1110004
+    field public static final int config_preventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor;
     field public static final int config_remoteInsetsControllerControlsSystemBars = 17891334; // 0x1110006
   }
 
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index bd0604e03fee5..7d8bceaf89e94 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -2897,6 +2897,10 @@
     <!-- Make the IME killable by the lowmemorykiller by raising its oom_score_adj. -->
     <bool name="config_killableInputMethods">false</bool>
 
+    <!-- Prevent the InputMethodManagerService from starting up the IME unless
+     the currently focused view is a text editor. -->
+    <bool name="config_preventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor">false</bool>
+
     <!-- The list of classes that should be added to the notification ranking pipeline.
      See {@link com.android.server.notification.NotificationSignalExtractor}
       If you add a new extractor to this list make sure to update
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/public.xml b/core/res/res/values/public.xml
index bc127d9c1d063..1f560f42141f3 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/public.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/public.xml
@@ -3313,6 +3313,8 @@
   <staging-public-group type="bool" first-id="0x01cf0000">
     <!-- @hide @SystemApi -->
     <public name="config_systemCaptionsServiceCallsEnabled" />
+    <!-- @hide @TestApi -->
+    <public name="config_preventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor" />
   </staging-public-group>
 
   <staging-public-group type="fraction" first-id="0x01ce0000">
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 7687b93cf760d..ba4aa81766e0e 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -2250,6 +2250,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_autoResetAirplaneMode" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_notificationAccessConfirmationActivity" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_killableInputMethods" />
+  <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_preventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor" />
 
   <java-symbol type="layout" name="resolver_list" />
   <java-symbol type="id" name="resolver_list" />
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodBindingController.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodBindingController.java
index 4c7077626e960..8c88d4c48837e 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodBindingController.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodBindingController.java
@@ -510,8 +510,17 @@ final class InputMethodBindingController {
             return;
         }
 
+        // No IME is currently connected. Reestablish the main connection.
+        if (!mHasConnection) {
+            if (DEBUG) {
+                Slog.d(TAG, "Cannot show input: no IME bound. Rebinding.");
+            }
+            bindCurrentMethodLocked();
+            return;
+        }
+
         long bindingDuration = SystemClock.uptimeMillis() - mLastBindTime;
-        if (mHasConnection && bindingDuration >= TIME_TO_RECONNECT) {
+        if (bindingDuration >= TIME_TO_RECONNECT) {
             // The client has asked to have the input method shown, but
             // we have been sitting here too long with a connection to the
             // service and no interface received, so let's disconnect/connect
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodManagerService.java
index 34ea86be0de12..7d1be14d4d31a 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/inputmethod/InputMethodManagerService.java
@@ -262,6 +262,16 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
     private static final String ACTION_SHOW_INPUT_METHOD_PICKER =
             "com.android.server.inputmethod.InputMethodManagerService.SHOW_INPUT_METHOD_PICKER";
 
+    /**
+     * When set, {@link #startInputUncheckedLocked} will return
+     * {@link InputBindResult#NO_EDITOR} instead of starting an IME connection
+     * unless {@link StartInputFlags#IS_TEXT_EDITOR} is set. This behavior overrides
+     * {@link LayoutParams#SOFT_INPUT_STATE_VISIBLE SOFT_INPUT_STATE_VISIBLE} and
+     * {@link LayoutParams#SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE}
+     * starting from {@link android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES#P}.
+     */
+    private final boolean mPreventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor;
+
     @UserIdInt
     private int mLastSwitchUserId;
 
@@ -1663,6 +1673,8 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
                 mSettings, context);
         mMenuController = new InputMethodMenuController(this);
         mBindingController = new InputMethodBindingController(this);
+        mPreventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor = mRes.getBoolean(
+                com.android.internal.R.bool.config_preventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor);
     }
 
     @GuardedBy("mMethodMap")
@@ -2342,7 +2354,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
     @NonNull
     InputBindResult startInputUncheckedLocked(@NonNull ClientState cs, IInputContext inputContext,
             @NonNull EditorInfo attribute, @StartInputFlags int startInputFlags,
-            @StartInputReason int startInputReason) {
+            @StartInputReason int startInputReason, int unverifiedTargetSdkVersion) {
         // If no method is currently selected, do nothing.
         String selectedMethodId = getSelectedMethodIdLocked();
         if (selectedMethodId == null) {
@@ -2391,6 +2403,18 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
         mCurInputContext = inputContext;
         mCurAttribute = attribute;
 
+        // If configured, we want to avoid starting up the IME if it is not supposed to be showing
+        if (mPreventImeStartupUnlessTextEditor
+                && !InputMethodUtils.isSoftInputModeStateVisibleAllowed(unverifiedTargetSdkVersion,
+                startInputFlags)
+                && !mShowRequested) {
+            if (DEBUG) {
+                Slog.d(TAG, "Avoiding IME startup and unbinding current input method.");
+            }
+            mBindingController.unbindCurrentMethodLocked();
+            return InputBindResult.NO_EDITOR;
+        }
+
         // Check if the input method is changing.
         // We expect the caller has already verified that the client is allowed to access this
         // display ID.
@@ -3334,7 +3358,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
             }
             if (attribute != null) {
                 return startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute, startInputFlags,
-                        startInputReason);
+                        startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
             }
             return new InputBindResult(
                     InputBindResult.ResultCode.SUCCESS_REPORT_WINDOW_FOCUS_ONLY,
@@ -3375,7 +3399,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
         if (isTextEditor && attribute != null
                 && shouldRestoreImeVisibility(windowToken, softInputMode)) {
             res = startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute, startInputFlags,
-                    startInputReason);
+                    startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
             showCurrentInputLocked(windowToken, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT, null,
                     SoftInputShowHideReason.SHOW_RESTORE_IME_VISIBILITY);
             return res;
@@ -3414,7 +3438,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
                     if (DEBUG) Slog.v(TAG, "Unspecified window will show input");
                     if (attribute != null) {
                         res = startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute,
-                                startInputFlags, startInputReason);
+                                startInputFlags, startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
                         didStart = true;
                     }
                     showCurrentInputLocked(windowToken, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT, null,
@@ -3445,7 +3469,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
                             unverifiedTargetSdkVersion, startInputFlags)) {
                         if (attribute != null) {
                             res = startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute,
-                                    startInputFlags, startInputReason);
+                                    startInputFlags, startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
                             didStart = true;
                         }
                         showCurrentInputLocked(windowToken, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT, null,
@@ -3464,7 +3488,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
                     if (!sameWindowFocused) {
                         if (attribute != null) {
                             res = startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute,
-                                    startInputFlags, startInputReason);
+                                    startInputFlags, startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
                             didStart = true;
                         }
                         showCurrentInputLocked(windowToken, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT, null,
@@ -3493,7 +3517,7 @@ public class InputMethodManagerService extends IInputMethodManager.Stub
                     }
                 }
                 res = startInputUncheckedLocked(cs, inputContext, attribute, startInputFlags,
-                        startInputReason);
+                        startInputReason, unverifiedTargetSdkVersion);
             } else {
                 res = InputBindResult.NULL_EDITOR_INFO;
             }