diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index 76f2cd47b0e87..be9b3c3b32b69 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -5312,6 +5312,7 @@ package android.appwidget {
     field public static final int RESIZE_VERTICAL = 2; // 0x2
     field public static final int WIDGET_CATEGORY_HOME_SCREEN = 1; // 0x1
     field public static final int WIDGET_CATEGORY_KEYGUARD = 2; // 0x2
+    field public static final int WIDGET_CATEGORY_RECENTS = 4; // 0x4
     field public int autoAdvanceViewId;
     field public android.content.ComponentName configure;
     field public int icon;
diff --git a/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetManager.java b/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetManager.java
index dd3a871a2def6..d3e908948e2b6 100644
--- a/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetManager.java
@@ -181,7 +181,8 @@ public class AppWidgetManager {
      * A bundle extra that hints to the AppWidgetProvider the category of host that owns this
      * this widget. Can have the value {@link
      * AppWidgetProviderInfo#WIDGET_CATEGORY_HOME_SCREEN} or {@link
-     * AppWidgetProviderInfo#WIDGET_CATEGORY_KEYGUARD}.
+     * AppWidgetProviderInfo#WIDGET_CATEGORY_KEYGUARD} or {@link
+     * AppWidgetProviderInfo#WIDGET_CATEGORY_RECENTS}.
      */
     public static final String OPTION_APPWIDGET_HOST_CATEGORY = "appWidgetCategory";
 
diff --git a/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetProviderInfo.java b/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetProviderInfo.java
index 8670da776885c..8b9c7f0f5d7d0 100644
--- a/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetProviderInfo.java
+++ b/core/java/android/appwidget/AppWidgetProviderInfo.java
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ public class AppWidgetProviderInfo implements Parcelable {
 
     /**
      * Indicates that the widget can be displayed within recents.
-     * @hide
      */
     public static final int WIDGET_CATEGORY_RECENTS = 4;
 
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/attrs.xml b/core/res/res/values/attrs.xml
index 156276b77d168..0326e18ce5aca 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -5956,11 +5956,12 @@
             <flag name="vertical" value="0x2" />
         </attr>
         <!-- Optional parameter which indicates where this widget can be shown,
-             ie. home screen, keyguard or both.
-             resized. Supports combined values using | operator. -->
+             ie. home screen, keyguard, recents or any combination thereof.
+             Supports combined values using | operator. -->
         <attr name="widgetCategory" format="integer">
             <flag name="home_screen" value="0x1" />
             <flag name="keyguard" value="0x2" />
+            <flag name="recents" value="0x4" />
         </attr>
     </declare-styleable>
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw720dp/config.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw720dp/config.xml
index bf01a8d5ae5da..7cf711a45b736 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw720dp/config.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw720dp/config.xml
@@ -32,5 +32,8 @@
 
     <!-- Min alpha % that recent items will fade to while being dismissed -->
     <integer name="config_recent_item_min_alpha">0</integer>
+
+    <!-- Transposes the search bar layout in landscape -->
+    <bool name="recents_transpose_search_layout_with_orientation">false</bool>
 </resources>
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/config.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/config.xml
index 024f1ebf79a44..c3ccb59c40289 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/config.xml
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@
     <integer name="recents_animate_task_view_info_pane_duration">150</integer>
     <!-- The minimum alpha for the dim applied to cards that go deeper into the stack. -->
     <integer name="recents_max_task_stack_view_dim">96</integer>
+    <!-- Transposes the search bar layout in landscape -->
+    <bool name="recents_transpose_search_layout_with_orientation">true</bool>
 
     <!-- Whether to enable KeyguardService or not -->
     <bool name="config_enableKeyguardService">true</bool>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
index 5a1dc8d01d15d..23a01790b186e 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
     public Rect displayRect = new Rect();
 
     boolean isLandscape;
+    boolean transposeSearchLayoutWithOrientation;
     int searchBarAppWidgetId = -1;
 
     public float animationPxMovementPerSecond;
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
 
         isLandscape = res.getConfiguration().orientation ==
                 Configuration.ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE;
+        transposeSearchLayoutWithOrientation =
+                res.getBoolean(R.bool.recents_transpose_search_layout_with_orientation);
         Console.log(Constants.DebugFlags.UI.MeasureAndLayout,
                 "[RecentsConfiguration|orientation]", isLandscape ? "Landscape" : "Portrait",
                 Console.AnsiGreen);
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
         if (hasSearchBarAppWidget()) {
             Rect searchBarBounds = new Rect();
             getSearchBarBounds(width, height, searchBarBounds);
-            if (isLandscape) {
+            if (isLandscape && transposeSearchLayoutWithOrientation) {
                 // In landscape, the search bar appears on the left, so shift the task rect right
                 taskStackBounds.set(searchBarBounds.width(), 0, width, height);
             } else {
@@ -171,7 +174,7 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
             return;
         }
 
-        if (isLandscape) {
+        if (isLandscape && transposeSearchLayoutWithOrientation) {
             // In landscape, the search bar appears on the left
             searchBarSpaceBounds.set(0, 0, searchBarSpaceHeightPx, height);
         } else {
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/SystemServicesProxy.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/SystemServicesProxy.java
index 68af6635ce7b5..c3b8a20743ca5 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/SystemServicesProxy.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/SystemServicesProxy.java
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ public class SystemServicesProxy {
     UserManager mUm;
     SearchManager mSm;
     String mPackage;
+    ComponentName mAssistComponent;
 
     Bitmap mDummyIcon;
 
@@ -68,6 +69,12 @@ public class SystemServicesProxy {
         mSm = (SearchManager) context.getSystemService(Context.SEARCH_SERVICE);
         mPackage = context.getPackageName();
 
+        // Resolve the assist intent
+        Intent assist = mSm.getAssistIntent(context, false);
+        if (assist != null) {
+            mAssistComponent = assist.getComponent();
+        }
+
         if (Constants.DebugFlags.App.EnableSystemServicesProxy) {
             // Create a dummy icon
             mDummyIcon = Bitmap.createBitmap(1, 1, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
@@ -236,30 +243,14 @@ public class SystemServicesProxy {
      */
     public Pair<Integer, AppWidgetProviderInfo> bindSearchAppWidget(AppWidgetHost host) {
         if (mAwm == null) return null;
+        if (mAssistComponent == null) return null;
 
-        // Ensure we have a global search activity
-        ComponentName globalSearchActivity = mSm.getGlobalSearchActivity();
-        if (globalSearchActivity == null) return null;
-
-        // Resolve the search widget provider from the search activity
-        ActivityInfo searchActivityInfo = getActivityInfo(globalSearchActivity);
-        if (searchActivityInfo == null) return null;
-
-        String key = "com.android.recents.search_widget_provider";
-        ComponentName searchWidgetCn = null;
-        Bundle searchMetaData = searchActivityInfo.metaData;
-        String searchWidgetProvider = searchMetaData.getString(key, "");
-        if (searchWidgetProvider.length() != 0) {
-            searchWidgetCn = ComponentName.unflattenFromString(searchWidgetProvider);
-        } else {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        // Find the first Recents widget from the same package as the global search activity
-        List<AppWidgetProviderInfo> widgets = mAwm.getInstalledProviders();
+        // Find the first Recents widget from the same package as the global assist activity
+        List<AppWidgetProviderInfo> widgets = mAwm.getInstalledProviders(
+                AppWidgetProviderInfo.WIDGET_CATEGORY_RECENTS);
         AppWidgetProviderInfo searchWidgetInfo = null;
         for (AppWidgetProviderInfo info : widgets) {
-            if (info.provider.equals(searchWidgetCn)) {
+            if (info.provider.getPackageName().equals(mAssistComponent.getPackageName())) {
                 searchWidgetInfo = info;
                 break;
             }