diff --git a/core/java/android/content/res/Configuration.java b/core/java/android/content/res/Configuration.java
index 29e5b5db5b694..c1aac8584acb2 100644
--- a/core/java/android/content/res/Configuration.java
+++ b/core/java/android/content/res/Configuration.java
@@ -1484,6 +1484,16 @@ public final class Configuration implements Parcelable, Comparable<Configuration
         setLocales(loc == null ? LocaleList.getEmptyLocaleList() : new LocaleList(loc));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @hide
+     *
+     * Clears the locale without changing layout direction.
+     */
+    public void clearLocales() {
+        mLocaleList = LocaleList.getEmptyLocaleList();
+        locale = null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Return the layout direction. Will be either {@link View#LAYOUT_DIRECTION_LTR} or
      * {@link View#LAYOUT_DIRECTION_RTL}.
diff --git a/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java b/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
index 1d6ac50b6ad28..237bc28a95976 100755
--- a/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
+++ b/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
@@ -2252,7 +2252,7 @@ public final class Settings {
         public static void clearConfiguration(Configuration inoutConfig) {
             inoutConfig.fontScale = 0;
             if (!inoutConfig.userSetLocale && !inoutConfig.getLocales().isEmpty()) {
-                inoutConfig.setLocales(LocaleList.getEmptyLocaleList());
+                inoutConfig.clearLocales();
             }
         }