diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 01b2c4715a49f..052261d046292 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -2505,4 +2505,8 @@
     <!-- True if the device supports at least one form of multi-window.
          E.g. freeform, split-screen, picture-in-picture. -->
     <bool name="config_supportsMultiWindow">true</bool>
+
+    <!-- True if the device requires AppWidgetService even if it does not have
+         the PackageManager.FEATURE_APP_WIDGETS feature -->
+    <bool name="config_enableAppWidgetService">false</bool>
 </resources>
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 8b78183124951..b89709ddb0263 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_supportsMultiWindow" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_guestUserEphemeral" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_localDisplaysMirrorContent" />
+  <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_enableAppWidgetService" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultPictureInPictureBounds" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_centeredPictureInPictureBounds" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_pictureInPictureBoundsInRecents" />
diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
index 5975405f5216e..a03bdbe2b53e3 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
@@ -1023,7 +1023,8 @@ public final class SystemServer {
                     mSystemServiceManager.startService(BACKUP_MANAGER_SERVICE_CLASS);
                 }
 
-                if (mPackageManager.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_APP_WIDGETS)) {
+                if (mPackageManager.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_APP_WIDGETS)
+                    || context.getResources().getBoolean(R.bool.config_enableAppWidgetService)) {
                     mSystemServiceManager.startService(APPWIDGET_SERVICE_CLASS);
                 }